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Hosmer Fire recruitment drive hailed a success
The Chief of the Hosmer Fire Department is cautiously optimistic about the future of the small department after a recent recruitment drive prompted a number of new recruits to come forward.
âItâs encouraging to see such good, quality people come forward,â says Elk Valley & South Country Rural Fire Service Chief Dave Boreen. âIt looks like we have a committed group, and we are going to get their training started with the hopes that we will have enough active firefighters to make the Hosmer Fire Department sustainable.â
During the recruitment drive, a total of nine applications were submitted. Following the application deadline in mid-April, Boreen and his Deputy Chief went through each application in detail and interviewed each recruit to determine their availability and commitment level. âWe didnât get as many recruits as weâd hoped, but we came very close and we believe we have seven new recruits who are fully committed to putting in the time to get trained and serve their community,â adds Boreen.
The recruitment drive started in February after the number of active firefighters with the Department had dropped down to seven. âThe recruitment drive was very successful. Without it, we would not have these great new recruits and the Hosmer Fire Department would not have been able to continue operating,â stresses Boreen. âWe are still lower than we hoped and if there are other Hosmer area residents interested in coming aboard, we would like to hear from them.â
The new recruits have been enrolled in a web-based educational program and will complete training online and during regular training nights as they work to achieving their exterior firefighter certification.
The RDEK will review the status of the Department in six months and again in one year to determine if the number of firefighters attending training and responding to calls is enough to meet the standards for fire protection for the community.
Anyone interested in becoming a recruit or looking for more information on how to apply, can contact Deputy Chief Michael Hockley or Chief Dave Boreen at 250-429-3133.
RDEK
