Forty-six recruits graduated from the Elgin-Middlesex Regional Fire School on June 24, 2026, ready to strengthen fire protection across communities in the two counties. The ceremony at St. Thomas Central Fire Station celebrated the class’s completion of the NFPA 1001 Firefighter Level I and II training, a necessary step under Ontario’s mandatory certification rules.
The new firefighters bring a wide range of experience to the job. Their backgrounds include policing, paramedicine, corrections, healthcare, skilled trades, agriculture, and business, showing the diverse mix of people stepping up to serve their neighbours.
Ontario made NFPA 1001 certification a requirement for certain firefighting duties on July 1, 2022. The regional fire school, set up in 2021 by the County of Elgin, the Ontario Fire College, and local fire services, has been training recruits to meet that standard ever since. The Class of 2026 marks the latest group to complete the program.
The school runs courses at more than 20 locations across Elgin and Middlesex, from Aylmer to Strathroy, training both new recruits and career firefighters. Last year alone, it delivered 28 courses and trained 471 firefighters from across Ontario.
For more information on firefighter training, contact Jeff Brooks, Manager of Emergency Management and the Elgin-Middlesex Regional Fire School, at [email protected] or 519-631-1460 x123.
