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n bbmti 1 jj5c j jj- ss fifefighting recruits i bymikeadler staff writer s inside you couldnt really see your hahd in front of your face or the v jfireuritu you wereright on topjof it j y smoke wasjwhatmarkhanv fire ser- vices recruit david swain savvinsidethe trainingtbweras he dragged a hose up c asjtairweuaridtriedtozerdirfona crackling fire you certainly have to keep yoiiv wits about you said swain whosetather- and grandfather were firefighters before him jm v vvi v v histask in the tower wasto contain the firef while other recruits searched jhethreestoreybuudingforanyvic- timsjtp rescue j last wednesday was the first time manyofthedepartments 16 latest recruits fought astructural fire in this case brie deliberately set for their own training behind a scarborough fire hall the next tirheit might be for real you have to be both aggressive and cautiqusin fighting a fire said recruit dan makort who backed swain up on the hose makort joined the military nine years ago to train as a firefighter a childhood dreahy v top 16 of 700 v this yearsrecruit are nine weeks into a 12fweek training course the top 16 of 700 who applied they have beendrilled on how to- put oh breathing apparatus how to catcha hydrant how to pull a hose now instructors say theres every reason tothink all of them will graduate as markham firefighters ovitney walkin as 16 individualsthey- walkbut as a team said lyle qiian the chief training officer l vjkathryn mortonmcdonald the only femalerecruit applied for thejob armed with ia lot of lifeguard rescue and firstaid expriehce i theres a certain personal chafj lehge physically and mentally arid real- lassss lyifeelthatrmiiptbitshesaidr f l encourage tiest fire t he added recruits must meet realis tic physical standards but there is no v minimum height for instanceto be a firefighter i t as long as you can do the job you v- u- j although some current recruits are- r i asy6ungasl9br20mewerageageof a rookie firefighter is increasing- vr iwe find nth maturity in a recruit i we usually have more successsales r markham firefighter trainees david swain left and dan makort wipe sweat from their brows after extingiiishinga fire they walk in as 16 individuals they walk out as a team photc itteveen s its time to take in some water instead of pouring it onto flames during a breakat the toronto fire services east com mand centre where markham recruits train s t- f