‘They shouldn’t be risking their lives during training’

Becoming a firefighter was something Adam Brunt was passionate about — but it was a dream tragically cut short.

Brunt, 30, was killed on Feb. 8, 2015, during an ice and water rescue training exercise provided through a private training firm.

He had been enrolled at the firefighting program at Durham College in Oshawa, Ont., and had signed up for the non-mandatory training course with Herschel Rescue Training Systems. It was not part of his college curriculum.

The tragedy comes five years after a similar incident in Point Edward, Ont., when volunteer firefighter Gary Kendall, 51, was killed during training — also during ice and water rescue training provided by Herschel Rescue.

Because the training was provided by a private firm, it was not subject to government regulation, said Jennifer French, NDP MPP for Oshawa, who is advocating for more government oversight of these programs.

"This is an important issue because what we have is a group of students — in this case, firefighter candidates — who are not protected by the Ministry of Labour or the Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities. They’re in limbo," she said.

Becoming a firefighter can be a competitive process, so many firefighting students and candidates take these additional courses to improve their skills and get a leg up on the competition, so to speak, when they’re applying for jobs, said French.

"They’re very popular, they are optional courses, and they’re very technical — they’re very specific, whether it’s high-angle rescue or, in this case, cold water and swift water (training)," she said.

"Many students take them but because they’re students and they’re taking them through these private training companies, they aren’t covered under the Training, Colleges and Universities Act. And they’re not yet employees — they’re not yet firefighters — so they aren’t covered under the Ministry of Labour.

"So, unfortunately, in both of these instances... these are under very similar circumstances, the same company, and there is no protection, there are no guarantees."

Relatives of Brunt and Kendall, along with other advocates, are calling for government regulation of these courses, which would effectively "close the loophole," said French.

"The changes that we would like to see are that there are regulations in place, standards in place. We’re calling on the government to consult and be informed by experts and stakeholders — the families of the victims, but also those that are in this industry or experts in the field of what those regulations should look like," she said.

"We’re encouraging the government to ask those questions, to do the work, and then to take an action step to actually have those regulations in place so that everyone going forward is protected."

The families are also calling for coroner’s inquests into the two deaths.

Al Brunt, Adam’s father, said Adam would want to make sure the same tragedy does not happen to anyone else.

"He would want to protect the next person... so we’re going to take on that battle," he said at a press conference at Queen’s Park. "We’ll get through it and make the right thing happen, make (something) positive come of it."

The provincial Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities will be reviewing the Private Career Colleges Act in light of the tragedy, said Minister Reza Moridi.

"I was very saddened by this incident and our thoughts continue to be with Adam Brunt’s family and friends during this difficult time," he said in a statement.

"After incidents like this, it is important to take a hard look at any potential improvements that could help prevent future accidents in programs that are currently exempt from regulatory oversight under the Private Career Colleges Act, like single-skill firefighting courses.

"That’s why I directed senior officials at the Ministry of Training Colleges and Universities, including the deputy minister, to begin to review the Private Career Colleges Act and come forward with specific options that I can consider to better ensure the safety of students taking programs that carry a reasonable level of risk.

"We will be working closely with the office of the fire marshal and other relevant stakeholders to address throughout this process."

Queen’s Park has also announced it will look at regulating companies that provide such safety courses for firefighting trainees and first responders.

These companies and trainers are surely well-intentioned but they need to follow basic safety standards and best practices, said French.

"I’m sure everyone involved wants to teach safety skills but, as it stands right now, there is no regulation, there are no standards and it shouldn’t be ‘buyer beware’ when we’re talking about health and safety."

It’s encouraging that the government is considering regulating the industry but, at the same time, it’s important that it actually takes the necessary actions, she said.

"We are encouraged to see that they understand that there is a need for regulation in this industry. There was a review five years ago; we don’t just want to see a review, we want to see that action," she said.

"We’re talking about our first responders here, the people who are willing to risk their lives for us. But they shouldn’t be risking their lives during training.

"They want to keep us safe, and I think it’s our job to ensure that they are kept safe."