Two members of the Steinbach Fire Department have shared some thoughts on what it takes to be a firefighter. The department is in the middle of a recruiting campaign and hopes to get about 12 new members. Lieutenant Cindy Klassen-Krahn and Kim Petkau say it takes hard work and dedication but add the rewards are great.

Klassen-Krahn says recruits start out with 18 months of intensive, weekly training sessions.

"It's a huge commitment. You have to be dedicated and you have to work hard and try to excel in what you're comfortable in. You're going to find things that you're not comfortable with and that's okay because we are all individually different. You have to be physically fit. Ideally, if you're tall, that helps but us vertically-challenged people tend to have creative ways on how to get things done."

Klassen-Krahn says applicants should also be comfortable with heights and confined spaces. But she emphasizes the most important attributes are dedication, commitment and hard work.

Petkau recalls what it was like when she went through the initial training.

"It was definitely nerve-wracking. It's something new. It's completely different. You don't really know what you are getting yourself into, necessarily, but you'll find that, after all the hard work is done and your time is put in, it is worth every second."

Petkau says, before joining the fire department, she wanted to get into the military. But her dad suggested she instead try the fire department which she did. Klassen-Krahn had a dream to become an RCMP officer but says her dad, who was a firefighter, pushed her to join the fire department and she did. Klassen-Krahn, who is also the department's Fire Safety Officer, reflects on how that turned out to be a great decision.

"I can honestly say that I love the job as much as I did when I started. I never expected to still be here (in Steinbach). I thought I would have moved and gone on, but life happens and I'm very happy that I'm still here."

Petkau says the rewards of serving as a firefighter make it all worthwhile.

"It feels good to help people. But there is a flip side to that. There's not only the stuff that you do outside the hall but inside as well. There's just a huge brotherhood here and an entirely new family that you get when you join. That's something I never expected, at least the bond to be this strong. It's nice knowing that we have each other's backs and it's great to be a part of. It's not something you can fully understand until you're here."

People interested in becoming a firefighter are asked to apply through the City of Steinbach website. Those wanting more information are invited to attend the Steinbach Fire Department's open house next Tuesday evening or an information session on the evening of October 11th at the fire hall.