Destiny Pfeiffer and Blake Power are both from Ontario. (Image Credit: Derek Cornet/larongeNOW Staff)

By Derek Cornet

Northern Training

Ontario firefighting recruits gain hands-on experience in La Ronge

Jul 20, 2026 | 5:26 PM

Two recruits with the La Ronge Regional Fire Department’s Work Experience Firefighting Program are gaining valuable knowledge in hopes of furthering their careers in the profession.

Blake Power of Oakville, Ont., and Destiny Pfeiffer of Kitchener, Ont., arrived in La Ronge in the beginning of April and will remain in the tri-communities until September. The work experience program is designed to provide recent fire school graduates with hands-on experience and so far they have been involved with community outreach, public education, training and firefighting.

“We’ve kind of had a little bit of everything,” Power explained.

“We had a few car accidents, one structure fire and bushfires here and there. For the main part, so far it has been pretty quiet, which is a great thing for the community.”

Power is fresh out of firefighting school, while Pfeiffer completed her studies a few years ago and has already spent some time as a wildland firefighter in Manitoba. Both recruits stressed it is very competitive to be hired with a full-time department, especially in southern Ontario, and they came to La Ronge to build up their resumes.

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“It seemed like a good option to come out here and work on the job hands-on for seven months and get some experience on real calls,” Powers noted.

“La Ronge being one of the options didn’t really make a difference for me. Just because I am from southern Ontario doesn’t mean I don’t like the woods or anything like that. It’s definitely a very big change, but I’m enjoying it.”

Both recruits have been keeping busy after hours. Fire Chief Keaton Cloud has taken them on a couple fishing trips, while Power has been golfing and playing baseball and Pfeiffer has been playing ball too, as well as coaching CrossFit and she will be coaching soccer soon.

“I feel like everyone has been so welcoming and there are so many opportunities to get involved in things if you look for it, and we have definitely been able to find lots to do,” she said.

—

derek.cornet@pattisonmedia.com

by Derek Cornet

Ontario firefighting recruits gain hands-on experience in La Ronge

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