Can you talk about your background in the Estonian community?
My Dad is Estonian, so I grew up going to Estonian school and Jõekääru, mainly for the volleyball camp. I remember going to the fraternity tournaments, which was awesome—I got to meet so many people and build so many connections through those kinds of events.
How do you think they impacted your life?
I met so many cool people I aspired to be like—athletic, strong, always doing some kind of sport. Having that influence growing up really shaped who I am today.
Are you still involved in the community?
Definitely less. I moved to Vancouver last year and there’s not a huge Estonian community here, but I still try my best to stay involved. I joined a folk dancing club and keep in touch with the Estonian friends I grew up with. I’m also trying to learn Estonian too!
Why did you move to Vancouver?
I moved here before I got a job but with the end goal that I was going to be a firefighter. I’ve always loved BC—the mountains, the ocean, the overall vibes—so I moved here and started applying for jobs. I just started with a fire department here around five months ago!
How did you decide to pursue firefighting?
Growing up, I had all of these amazing, strong people in my life; so many athletes that inspired me. I also think it's because of the aspect of helping people, which I find really rewarding. Firefighting seemed perfect: you get to help people and your community, be active, be on your feet and moving. I couldn’t see myself doing a desk job.
What does a typical day look like?
My schedule is insane—you do rotations of 24-hour shifts on and off, and then five consecutive days off. In terms of a typical day, since I'm a junior person I have the responsibilities of making sure the trucks are in order, changing the radio batteries, and making sure we got all the equipment for the day, and so on. We spend our downtime at the “hull”—where we sleep, eat, and do other tasks. The biggest part of the day is going on calls when we receive them! Some days there are alot, others none. In any case, you do your best to help the person in need. Sometimes you'll be at a person's house for up to three hours making sure they are stable—then there's also fires, road accidents, etc. It's hard to describe the structure of a day because there is none—basically, if the city needs you then you go!
Can you talk about how you prepared and qualified to become a firefighter?
It starts when you decide you want to become one and then it's a matter of staying physically and mentally fit. Then you go to school to learn skills and earn your certifications, including your EMR so you can respond to medical calls and your truck driving license. This can be done in different time frames—I finished my schooling in four months. Then you can start applying to different fire departments! Each one has specific hiring processes. For me, I did a panel interview, then a criminal record check, a fitness and strength test. Then you complete the training days where you complete intense skills and drills to make sure you’re fit for the job.
The fitness test was probably the most intense one I’ve ever done in my life. They’re all timed and you have to keep your heart rate below a certain level throughout. After you pass those tests you go on three “ride alongs,” where you work a shift with crews. Next, you do an interview with the chief, and then finally a medical test. If you pass all of those then you’re hired but then have to do another two months of training, which is even harder than the qualifying fitness test. I applied in November 2023 and started working in October 2024, so it was almost a year-long process just to apply.
What advice would you give someone who wants to be a firefighter?
Be patient and be open to learning!
How do you envision the role of the community in your life going forward?
I know there's always people that will be there for me if I want to reach out and chat. I definitely feel like the community will be in my life forever—even if I have taken a step back while I focus on other parts of my life now, I will always support it in any way I can!
Check out Miia’s interview, including videos and photos of her training, available below:
