Youth from School District 43 will spend spring break in Coquitlam’s Junior Firefighter program.
COQUITLAM, B.C., March 13, 2025 – A dozen local youth from School District 43 will spend spring break in a condensed version of basic firefighter training in Coquitlam’s Junior Firefighter program.
A Week of Hands-on Training
Junior Firefighters participate in a packed week of activities (March 14 to 21) at the Coquitlam Fire Training Centre, with the same training space and equipment as regular firefighters. Now in its seventh year, this exciting, hands-on program gives students a shortened version of the typical eight-week basic firefighter training, where they gain familiarity with vehicles and equipment, as well as experiences with:
- Fire extinguishers
- Ladder climbs, high-angle equipment, and rappelling
- Emergency scene assessment
- Basic first aid, CPR, and use of an automated external defibrillator
- Hose and nozzle drills
- Auto extrication
- Public service
Offered in partnership with School District 43, the Grade 11 and 12 students are selected through a competitive process. The 2025 application period began in December 2024 and included fitness testing and an in-depth personal interview.
The Junior Firefighter Program gives youth who are considering a career in the fire service a chance to experience basic firefighter training, as well as the community goodwill, pride, teamwork and camaraderie that come with the role.
The program encourages participation from a diverse range of candidates and is a key part of the Coquitlam Fire/Rescue’s recruitment and community outreach efforts. Details about the program and a video from 2024 can be found at coquitlam.ca/JuniorFirefighter. Since its start, 70 youth have successfully graduated from the program, and Fire/Rescue are looking forward to seeing a few applicants from the Junior Firefighter’s inaugural year in their formal recruitment intake.
Corporate Sponsors
The 2025 Junior Firefighter program received financial support from the following businesses through the City’s Corporate Partners program:
About the Corporate Partners Program
Launched in 2014, Coquitlam's Corporate Partners program builds relationships with the business community and provides revenue to enhance City events, programs and services. Benefits for corporate partners include direct public exposure, a variety of marketing and engagement opportunities, recognition in print and online, and positive relationships with the community. Partnership packages are customized to meet the partner’s needs. For more details, visit coquitlam.ca/CorporatePartners.
Media contact
Chris Fox
Deputy Fire Chief, Operations
Coquitlam Fire/Rescue
604-927-6400
firerescue@coquitlam.ca
We acknowledge with gratitude and respect that the name Coquitlam was derived from the hən̓q̓əmin̓əm̓ (HUN-kuh-MEE-num) word kʷikʷəƛ̓əm (kwee-KWET-lum) meaning “Red Fish Up the River”. The City is honoured to be located on the kʷikʷəƛ̓əm traditional and ancestral lands, including those parts that were historically shared with the q̓ic̓əy̓ (kat-zee), and other Coast Salish Peoples.