Coming from a land of sand and searing heat, Mohammed Mosfar Mohammed admits he wasnB次元官网网址檛 prepared for the white stuff.

The 35-year-old Saudi Arabian firefighter experienced snow for the first time after last weekB次元官网网址檚 blizzard while training at Langford Fire Rescue as part of a B.C. Justice Institute program.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 the first time IB次元官网网址檝e seen snow. ItB次元官网网址檚 very cold for me,B次元官网网址� Mohammed said. B次元官网网址淏ut IB次元官网网址檓 glad weB次元官网网址檙e not in Toronto. IB次元官网网址檝e heard its -30C. In my country, the temperature can reach over 50 C.B次元官网网址�

B次元官网网址淗e canB次元官网网址檛 get over the snow,B次元官网网址� laughed Langford fire Chief Bob Beckett. B次元官网网址淗e loves the country, he canB次元官网网址檛 believe how beautiful it is, but itB次元官网网址檚 a little cold.B次元官网网址�

ItB次元官网网址檚 unusual to host firefighting colleagues from Saudi Arabia, so Beckett and other Langford firefighters made sure to show Mohammed around Victoria and teach him floor hockey, but they also got a bit of work out of him.

When not on course, heB次元官网网址檚 donned turnout gear and has gone on a few calls, such as car collisions on the icy highway.

B次元官网网址淐ar accidents, any call I will go,B次元官网网址� he said with a smile. B次元官网网址淗ere it is very much like family. Everyone is friendly and talks with me.B次元官网网址�

Mohammed works as a emergency response co-ordinator for an industrial chemical plant owned by the Saudi Methanol Company.

B次元官网网址淭he Canadian fire system is very strong,B次元官网网址� Mohammed said. B次元官网网址淲e have to improve our systems there, we need to improve our practices.B次元官网网址�