A Port Moody high school student is hoping a day as a firefighter will spark a future career choice.
Anna Tershchenko is one of several young women from the Tri-Cities participating in Camp Ignite, an annual camp that introduces them to some of the challenges and rewards of being a firefighter. Three others are from Coquitlam, one is from Port Coquitlam and another is from Anmore.
And while the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has forced the usual week-long camp to be scaled back to just a single day at the Justice Institute’s fire safety facility in Maple Ridge, coordinator Jennifer Dawkins said the prospective young firefighters will still get to experience several aspects of the job, like fire extinguisher drills, hose handling, auto extrication, wearing a breathing apparatus and learning about fitness requirements.
“They’ll be hands-on, but it won’t be quite as extensive,” Dawkins said, adding the group of 28 will be divided into pods of five or six then rotated through the various stations.
In its tenth year, Dawkins said the program has already produced at least a couple of professional firefighters as well as several serving as volunteer firefighters in their communities. She said that number could increase as early graduates hit 27 or 28-years-old, the average age for most new firefighters.
“You still need some schooling and life experience,” she said. “But they have this opportunity at a young age to see what it takes.”
Tereshchenko, who’s going into Grade 11 at Port Moody secondary school in September, said she’s just beginning the process of figuring out her future career path. As an avid volleyball and basketball player, who’s also tried her hand at wrestling, Tereshchenko said she thrives on variety and physical toil.
Earlier this year, she spent a day aboard a search and rescue boat, pulling a dummy from the water, tying ropes, even taking the wheel. She’s also considering her options in the police service and armed forces.
“All these jobs have something different every day,” Tereshchenko said. “I can’t imagine myself working a 9-5 office job.”
Since most of the participants selected for Camp Ignite are seniors, Treshchenko said she’s got a leg up as a junior. Still, she’s already feeling the pressure to set her future path.
“I try to get every opportunity I can to explore my options,” she said.
