Key facts
- Program name
- Wildfire prevention and emergency response operations program
- Launch date
- September 2027
- Duration
- Three semesters over two years
- Applications open
- October
- Target enrollment
- 30 to 35 students
- Dean
- Aaron Klooster
Background
Lambton College in Sarnia, Ontario, has received approval for a new wildfire prevention and emergency response advanced diploma program, set to launch in September 2027. The program will be delivered over three semesters across two years and is designed for graduates of pre-service firefighter education and training programs, such as the one already offered at the college.
The college operates a fire school on LaSalle Line and currently provides pre-service firefighter and fire science technology programs. Aaron Klooster, dean of fire science programs, said conversations about developing the new program began more than a year ago. The approval came just days before smoke from Northern Ontario fires blanketed Sarnia and other areas, a timing Klooster described as 'just worked out.'
Current situation
Applications for the new wildfire prevention and emergency response operations program will be accepted starting in October, according to the college. Klooster said the college hopes to attract 30 to 35 students in the fall of 2027, describing the target as 'modestly.'
Currently, about 140 students enter the pre-service program each year, but fewer than 50 proceed to the fire science technology program. Klooster noted that the college lacks capacity to offer spots in the fire science program to every pre-service graduate. With the new program, graduates will have two options to continue their education at Lambton.
Impacts
The new program aims to provide graduates with a pathway into wildland firefighting and emergency response careers. Klooster, who grew up in Sault Ste. Marie and worked in Timmins for 20 years, said seasonal forest fires and flooding were common in those regions. He reached out to contacts in Northern Ontario, leading college officials to see an opportunity for a combined wildfire prevention and emergency response program.
Students in the new program are expected to travel north for 'a number of days' early in the program to prepare for entering the hiring pool for wildfire fighting during the summer before the final fall term. The program will include several certifications that employers in firefighting and emergency management look for, aiming to provide a 'full package' for students so they can 'jump right into emergency response planning for communities.'
Future outlook
Scenario analysis: The possibilities below are not certain predictions.
If the program attracts the expected 30 to 35 students, it could help address a growing need for trained wildfire responders. Klooster said that with the increasing frequency of natural disasters and wildfires, 'we're going to need more people trained in this type of response.'
The program's curriculum will blend coursework and optional additional training in Sarnia and Northern Ontario. If details are finalized as planned, students may gain hands-on experience in Northern Ontario, potentially improving their job prospects. However, the exact structure and enrollment numbers remain to be confirmed as the launch approaches.
Source: woodstocksentinelreview.com
