Steinbach’s Fire Hall, completed in 2008, has seen another significant addition in January 2010. Construction of a confined spaces training course was completed in the basement of the fire hall and Steinbach’s firefighters have already made extensive use of it.
Deputy Fire Chief Don Smith (left) and firefighter Jesse Loewen (right)
get ready to head through the confined spaces training course.
Deputy Fire Chief, Don Smith, expressed the importance of this new addition, “There are several rescue scenarios that this setup allows our firefighters to simulate and experience. All the scenarios are conducted in pitch-blackness with smoke screens inserted into the masks of the firefighters, creating a more realistic burn situation. Firefighters who have run the course have only said great things about the experience.”
Don Smith shows the smoke screen that is
inserted into the firefighters masks.
Some of the rescue scenarios include looking for trapped victims and/or firefighters, ceiling collapses, entanglements and wall breaches. Smith explained that when a ceiling collapses and there are wires and t-bar at ground level, new risks and challenges are presented to rescue personnel. A portion of the confined spaces course simulates an entanglement situation, providing firefighters with firsthand training on techniques for dealing with those scenarios. Wall breaches involve the breaking of drywall between studs to escape a room when there is no other way out. At times, firefighters must even remove their breathing apparatus temporarily to escape through narrow spaces.
Pictured here is the section of the course that allows firefighters to practice entanglement scenarios.
A sound system has also been set up in the same room as the course and sounds such as breaking glass, popping sounds, and white noise are played during training sessions to create even more realistic situations.
In addition to the scenarios listed above, the new training course also provides valuable lessons for firefighters in conserving air, familiarizing yourself with your surroundings on all sides, and improving communication between firefighters when responding to a fire call or performing a rescue.
Don Smith guides Jesse Loewen through the studs of a wall. In actual training sessions, drywall is tacked up over the studs to simulate actual wall breaches.
It may not look like much from the outside, but this course is helping to better equip Steinbach's firefighters with the skills needed to perform rescues and respond to fire calls and other emergency situations.
The origins of the Steinbach Fire Department can be traced back to 1928 when several local volunteers got together to form a fire brigade. Since that time, the Steinbach Fire Dept. has grown to a 40 member paid-on-call department, meaning firefighters are paid only for the fire calls and training that they attend. Steinbach's Fire Dept. is not a full-time fire department.
The dept.'s fire coverage stretches over a 73 square mile area and includes parts of the R.M. of Hanover, R.M. of Ste.Anne and the towns of Mitchell and Blumenort.
The Steinbach Fire Department personnel consists of Fire Chief Mark Loewen, Deputy Fire Chief Don Smith, Assistant Deputy Chief Kelvin Toews, three Captains, three Lieutenants and 31 other firefighters.
Once again 2008 saw an increase in the number of calls for the Steinbach Fire Department, due in large part to the steady population growth in the area. In 2008 the Fire Department responded to 314 incidents of which 84 were motor vehicle accidents.
Started in June of 2007, the new fire hall is equipped with more storage and better training facilities.
Features include a larger apparatus bay with room for fleet expansion, and a classroom which will also function as the EMO (Emergency Measures Organization) Centre in an emergency situation.
One of the key features of the new fire hall is its tower. While aesthetically pleasing, it also contains a hose drying rack (operated by a power winch), a staircase, and a fire stand pipe used for training purposes. A special door for ladder training as well as new office/reception accommodations and lounge area complete this state-of-the-art facility.
A new fire truck warning sign, complete with flashing lights, has also been installed to warn westbound traffic of emergency vehicle traffic.
Front view of fire hall
The Steinbach Fire Department is not currently hiring. Below are some of the common questions asked by prospective firefighters. For more information regarding the next hiring cycle, contact us via e-mail (below).
What do I need to know about the Steinbach Fire Department?
The Steinbach Fire Department is a paid-on-call department. This means we are paid only for fire calls and training that we attend. We are NOT a full-time department. Our fire district covers an area of approximately 73 square miles and includes the City of Steinbach and the towns of Mitchell and Blumenort.
What can I expect?
During the first 18 months, you will be expected to attend classes every Tuesday night. There will also be the occasional weekend class during this period. When the training period ends, you will be tested to the Manitoba Emergency Services College standards and, if successful, you will receive an IFSTA Level 1 Firefighter certificate. You will also receive training in first aid and CPR. The training is demanding and requires a great deal of commitment but in the end, once you have become a member of the firefighting family, you will find all of the hard work was worth it.
Do I have to live in Steinbach to be a Steinbach Firefighter?
No. You do not have to live in Steinbach to become a member of the Fire Department but it would definitely be an asset. A person living out of town would have a much slower response time to a call than a person living within city limits and as a result our hiring decisions will be weighted in favour of those who work and/or live in the city of Steinbach.
What is expected of me?
The Steinbach Fire Department is looking for firefighters of character! We are looking for enthusiastic people of integrity that possess a good work ethic and a willingness to learn. A solid, community minded individual who can be trusted by their fellow firefighters and by the people they serve.
At various stages of the application process you will be asked to supply a driver’s abstract, a doctor’s note stating your physical fitness and an acceptable RCMP criminal background check. You will also be required to obtain a class 4 drivers’ license with air brake endorsement.
Fire Chief, Mark Loewen 
mloewen@steinbachfire.ca
Fire Prevention Officer, Don Smith
dsmith@steinbachfire.ca
Training Officer, Kelvin Toews
ktoews@steinbachfire.ca
Purchasing, Dale Wiebe
dwiebe@steinbachfire.ca
