The Manitoba government officially opened the new emergency services training structure at the Manitoba Emergency Services College (MESC) in Brandon, Municipal Relations Minister Eileen Clarke, minister responsible for the Office of the Fire Commissioner, announced here today.
“The Manitoba Emergency Services College here in Brandon has long been recognized as a vital training site for first responders, so ensuring that it is in top form to offer the best teaching tools available will provide emergency response personnel with skills needed to meet the unique challenges of responding to fire and life-safety emergencies,” Clarke said. “The original burn structure has served the responder community well for more than 20 years, but this new building ensures that Manitoba will continue to provide a high-quality training environment for many more years to come.”
The new training structure expands training capacity to meet a wide range of existing and emerging community life-safety pressures seen throughout Manitoba with the addition of high-angle training capabilities, the use of simulated smoke for non-live fire scenario training that reduces firefighter smoke exposure and the addition of confined-space rescue training aids to improve safety. This building provides a unique space where emergency services personnel can learn how to fight fires and experience real-life situations in a safe, controlled environment, the minister noted.
MESC trains first responders of various disciplines supporting firefighters, paramedics and public safety personnel with over 200 Manitoba fire departments and 130 local authorities across the province.
On average more than 300 students complete MESC programming each year including up to 40 students from MESC’s full-time public fire paramedic career program.
(Image – MESC members outside new building)
