At 65, N.W.T. firefighter ready for action after passing gruelling fitness test

Passing the gruelling fitness test to fight wildfires is a big feat for a brawny young firefighter, but for Ernest Tsetso it means so much more.

The 65-year-old from Fort Simpson is a firefighter with the N.W.T.'s Department of Environment and Natural Resources. He's been fighting fires since 1971 when he reportedly made $1.25 an hour.

Tsetso recently took the WFX-FIT a physical endurance test to ensure that firefighters have the stamina to fight a wildland fire. If they pass, they can fight wildfires anywhere in Canada and the U.S.

"First of all you have to carry some weight over the ramp four times," Tsetso explains. "Then after that there's your bag of hose,that must be something like 40 pounds."

During the timed circuit, firefighters have to carry pumps on their back, as well as hoses.

"It is kind of heavy," Tsetso says.

Firefighters must complete the test in under 14 minutes 30 seconds. Tsetso did it in 14 minutes 25 seconds.

"Last year I couldn't do it at first, but this year I was kind of surprised," he says.

'I don't mind hard work'

Over his long career,Tsetso says fighting fires in the U.S. is a memory that stands out for him.

"When we went to the States, the trees are so tall and you had to be really careful. They burn in half and they drop and they're really heavy trees. You really had to watch for it."

He says back then they didn't have the same kind of training they have now, or tests like the WFX-FIT.

"Just going through the course, everything about safety and so on, that really does help."

Tsetso is modest about his motivation to keep fighting fires.

"Cost of living is so high and I like to work, that's my reason.

"I don't mind hard work at all. Most of the winter time I just keep myself busy and go trapping and hunting.

"It's hard work but it's just something that I like doing. And what I enjoy the most is being on the job," Tsetso said, with a laugh.