(Nigel Maxwell/ paNOW Staff)

By Nigel Maxwell

Specialized training

WATCH: PA fire fighters perform training exercise at rail yard

May 14, 2025 | 8:39 AM

Trapped beneath the unforgiving steel wheel of a rail car lies a patient whose only hope lies with members of the Prince Albert Fire Department.

Tuesday’s training scenario at the city’s rail yard represented the last in a series of exercises taught this week by Mike Tesarski, who has come all the way from Toronto to teach the off duty members some very specialized skills.

Tesarski said this will be the heaviest lift rescue they’ll ever encounter during their careers.

The training, which began last week with trench rescue, has also incorporated classroom work and some other heavy lifts using a school donated by the Sask Rivers School Division, as well as vehicles donated by Lakeland Towing.

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In addition to his full time work as a firefighter, Tesarski also works part-time in Toronto with the air ambulance. While teaching and attending courses across the United States, he has also worked with numerous geo-technical engineers and United States rescue services. Tesarski complimented the men and women who work for the Prince Albert Fire Dept.

“They are dramatically understaffed and they are very busy. The whole time we’ve been here, they’ve been running nonstop,” he said. “This is one of the busier departments I’ve been to. As a taxpayer, you guys are getting a lot of return on your investment.”

Tesarski also acknowledged the work of Darcy Rusk, who helped organize and coordinate the training.

“I have a lot of respect respect for this man. He does it for the right reasons and he is genuinely a great human being.”

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nigel.maxwell@pattisonmedia.com

On Blue Sky: @nigelmaxwell.bsky.social