Carrying people, tools, and dummies while wearing fire equipment for two hours is a tough workout, but for firefighters it’s all just part of the job.

New recruits will get a chance to put their mettle to the test in the same way, as the Calgary Fire Department holds their next Run with a Recruiter and Information Session on July 22, starting at 7:30 a.m.

The department began the runs in June of 2024, as a new way to do outreach to attract applicants to a life in firefighting.

Tanya Tyson, a recruiter for the fire department, said the event was for helping new recruits understand the physicality of being a firefighter.

“Just providing that mentorship piece for people that are in our process. That’s the main goal of the program,” said Tyson.

Some 16 participants are set to do the run tomorrow, alongside a high intensity workout that also incorporated some of the tools and techniques that firefighters use.

“The workout will consist of fireman carries, carrying tools, pulling a hose line, ladder lifts, dragging dummies and more,” said Tyson.

Tyson said since the run was started, it has become a way for potential recruits to meet up with each other regularly, get more information and talk to the recruiters at the event.

“They’ve created friendships. That’s one of the biggest bonuses we’ve seen from Run with a Recruiter,” said Tyson.

“We’re helping mentor them and helping them along the process.”

Helping recruits through a long process to join CFD

The recruitment process can be as long as 12 months.

Over the past five years year, the Calgary Fire Department has hired 500 recruits. Many of those from different industries and backgrounds.

“We just did an intake in March, and we had 2,800 applicants at that intake,” said Tyson.

During the first three months of the year, the run was held every week with all 25 spots being filled each week.

The number of participants has dropped over the summer, in large part due to a pause in applications that occurred in March.

Tyson said the fire department didn’t hold a run for a month after the recruitment period ended.

“After we closed our intake, we took about a month just to sort of reset,” said Tyson.

“Now we’re [doing bi-weekly runs] just because the summer numbers are a little bit lower, and we’re just monitoring it.”

Tyson is unsure when the next CFD recruit intake will open, but it will likely be sometime in 2026.