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Outdoor learning

Group of soldiers and forestry personnel watch a man in yellow coveralls operate a water pump. Most wear hard hats. Water in foreground.

Feature photo:
Instructor Don Mortimer teaches the S100 course to members of the Princess Patricia Canadian Light Infantry.

Photo credit:
James Murray, Salmon Arm Observer, c. 1998

The Princess Patricia Canadian Light Infantry were not immediately sent to work when they arrived in Salmon Arm on August 9^th. They were not qualified firefighters and regulations required that they complete the S100 course before being sent to the front line. The S100 course is a fire suppression and safety class. It is the basic qualification for fighting fires.

Don Mortimer was hired to teach the PPCLI the basics. Trainees learned how to operate a water pump, how to change nozzles, and how to cut off a flow of water. Then soldiers were given hands-on training.

Man in yellow coveralls, red hard hat, tool in hand, foot on hose.

Instructor Don Mortimer teaches soldiers how to use a hose strangler. The tool is used to temporarily cut off the flow of water to change a hose or other appliance.

Man in yellow coveralls and red hard hat demonstrates a nozzle change.

Mortimer demonstrates how to change a hose nozzle.