Many young children dream of being a firefighter. It could be the draw of the big, flashy trucks or it could be a basic human instinct to help others.

Whatever the inspiration, some turn to different career paths as they grow up, but for others that desire to fight fires never fades away.

Four Grade 11 Belmont secondary students were recently given the chance to live out that dream and experience life as a firefighter for a day at Langford Fire RescueB次元官网网址檚 No.1 Hall.

Gavin Aubrey was among those students, but he has a bit of a head start on firefighting knowledge as the son of Assistant Chief Chris Aubrey.

B次元官网网址淕rowing up around the hall was pretty great B次元官网网址� The guys always treated me as one of their own,B次元官网网址� Gavin said. B次元官网网址淚 was in rooms filled with role models my entire life.B次元官网网址�

While he has a pretty good idea what his father does, the recent experience gave him a firsthand glimpse into the realities of the job. B次元官网网址淚 got to see what he did when he first started, all the way up until now. We got the rundown on what itB次元官网网址檚 like to be a firefighter.B次元官网网址�

The student group even got to experience some of those realities. Besides putting on turnout gear again and again until they were fast enough to respond to a call, the boys also got to practise some drills in all that equipment.

B次元官网网址淚 learned a lot about how hot the gear is and how hard they have to work,B次元官网网址� Gavin said. B次元官网网址淲e also got to cut a roof off of a car, which was amazing. It gave us a taste of all aspects.B次元官网网址�

While this opportunity was open to any interested students, it was the four students who have been accepted into the departmentB次元官网网址檚 junior program that took part in the day, as a prelude to their continuous training.

Aubrey, along with Rhys Carby, Jakob Dielschneider and Patrick Dolejs began the multi-year program that will prepare them to become volunteer firefighters once they are old enough. This practical training takes place after school on Fridays from 3 until 4:30 p.m. throughout the school year, with the exception of exam weeks and holidays. TheyB次元官网网址檒l join the rest of the departmentB次元官网网址檚 recruits when they turn 19.

Assistant Chief Scott Davidson, the departmentB次元官网网址檚 chief training officer, was optimistic about this yearB次元官网网址檚 junior program recruits. B次元官网网址淭hey seem like really keen young men willing to learn,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檙e looking for those kids B次元官网网址� that want to better themselves.B次元官网网址�

He said the firefighter for a day program was a way to B次元官网网址渨het their appetiteB次元官网网址� and to see if they were interested in continuing their training.

B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檝e had really good success with our junior program,B次元官网网址� he said.

Since 2003, more than 20 students have gone through the program and some have moved on to career departments in cities including Vancouver, Kamloops and Victoria.

The goals of the junior program are two-fold, said Davidson, the first of which is to develop their skills so they stay on as volunteers or potentially career firefighters in the community. The second is to B次元官网网址減rovide an opportunity to mentor and foster good citizens.B次元官网网址�

The younger Aubrey is one of a few family members who have gone through the program after growing up around the hall. B次元官网网址淚t just shows we are a family-based organization,B次元官网网址� Davidson said.

Aubrey wants sign on as a volunteer as soon as he hits 19, but isnB次元官网网址檛 sure yet about pursuing firefighting as a full-time career. His current aspirations are leading him towards becoming a trauma surgeon, a position for which years of serving as a first responder will go a long way to prepare him.

katie@goldstreamgazette.com