The Township of Russell council recognized an outstanding accomplishment by the Russell Fire Department Monday evening when it opened its regular meeting with a presentation by Ontario Fire Marshal Noël Vaillancourt to a 11 members of the department.

These 11 men, along with firefighter Bruce Woolsey and Richard Hamelin, Jr., who was unable to attend, recently completed the Ontario Firefighter Certification Program, a gruelling and intensive training program that certifies firefighters on a voluntary basis to the Ontario Fire Services Firefighter Standards. The rest of the firefighters are currently taking the certification courses.

Of the 20 men who originally signed up for the course, 13 finished program begun in 1999. The course material covered every aspect of firefighting and emergency response, including practical and theoretical exercises on dealing with hazardous materials, electrical emergencies, vehicle extrication, confined space entry and rescue, emergency patient care, automatic sprinkler systems, water/ice rescue, aerial operations, ropes and knots, and ladders. Although the firefighters were only obliged to complete one of seven specialty modules, they successfully completed all seven, as well as the mandatory module on pumper operations.

"It's a big, big accomplishment," said acting fire chief, Bruce Armstrong, who completed the certification program along with then fire chief, Irvin Sunstrum. "We look at it as a great package, but it was tough. It gives us a great training base for the future, as it covers every section there is in firefighting."

As of February 2004, 186 departments representing 14,715 firefighters had registered with the OFM Certification Office. However, only 905 "career" (full-time) firefighters from 20 departments and 406 volunteer firefighters from 17 departments had met the requirements for certification. Ontario Fire Marshal Noël Vaillancourt explained to council that Ontario is one of the only places in North America with such a refined certification process for firefighters and emphasized the fact that it is entirely voluntary.

"I don't know of any department that has more people certified, even among full-time firefighters, so you should be really proud of your Russell firefighters," he said.

Vaillancourt told the crowd that had packed the council chamber that this was not the first time he has presented awards and certificates to members of the Russell Fire Department.

"Their education process and dedication to their community is without question," he said. "You should be proud because should something happen in your community, these are the people who are going to come to your rescue. They are well-trained and they work hard.

"To have 13 people (attain certification) is excellent ­ and they're volunteers too! I don't know how to express it, how lucky you are. "They have shown leadership in fire services and I'm quite proud when I go to other areas to talk about these guys."