Sophie Mcguinness found herself intrigued by the opportunity presented at the Ember Fire Academy after coming across a poster in her office. Joining as one of the 11 participants in the firefighting boot camp, the 24-year-old shared her positive experience, remarking on the valuable skills she acquired. The Ember Fire Academy, established in 2012, focuses on imparting firefighting knowledge to women and non-binary individuals aged 16 and above. This year’s program took place in Teslin, marking its first location shift from Whitehorse.
During the training, Mcguinness engaged in various activities such as rappelling down a five-story building, donning hazmat suits coated in shaving cream, and participating in a small space rescue. Instructor Winie Brehm, who began her firefighting journey as a volunteer and now serves as Yukon’s fire marshal, expressed the program’s commitment to empowering women and underrepresented genders in the fire service.
Kate Peer, another attendee, highlighted the importance of gender diversity in the fire service, emphasizing the progress being made towards inclusivity. Since its inception, the Ember Fire Academy has evolved to have Yukon women leading the program, with Kiara Adams playing a pivotal role in its establishment and continued guidance of new participants.
Veronica Huggard, a past participant who returned to volunteer at the camp shortly after giving birth, shared how her Ember experience influenced her decision to volunteer at her local fire department. Briana Lord, hailing from Old Crow, aimed to bring back newfound skills to her community, recognizing the value of enhancing local resources.
Looking ahead, the staff’s objective is to extend the intensive training offered by the Ember Fire Academy to other Yukon communities with a pressing need for volunteer firefighters.