Kamloops Fire and Rescue is putting out its net, hoping to snag some potential recruits to cover expected gaps coming in the next couple of years.

Looking at covering normal loss of staff though things like retirements, Assistant Chief Scott Johnson tells NL News they don’t know how many firefighters they’re going to need just yet.

At this point, he says, KFR is looking to put a list of recruits together which will cover them for the next couple of years.

“Everyone goes through recruitment,” he said. “We take a number we think is going to be adequate to cover retirements over that time and place them on an eligibility list and then we pull them as the list as we have openings.”

However, he suggests this isn’t going to be a simple task, as each recruit has to have gone through firefighter training in places like the Justice Institute of British Columbia.

“Back when I took it, we’re looking at 20 years now, with lost wages and everything, you know I had a small family and I had to take three months off work and pay for tuition, it ended up costing me roughly $30,000,” Johnson added.

“Nowadays, I believe the costs have gone up for the tuition at least, and obviously, cost of living if you’re unable to do it in your area, the costs can be a major factor.”

Johnson notes this recruitment drive is meant only to replace existing staff who will be leaving, noting that adding any additional firefighters to the rolls will be up to the City of Kamloops – and the budget it provides.