Yellowknife, N.W.T.-The clouds of smoke you may have seen over the last week weren't cause for alarm. 

The plumes of smoke that had some remarking on social media were caused by certification training for a group of new airport firefighters at the Yellowknife Regional Fire Training Centre.

The fire chief at the Yellowknife Airport, Lee Stroman, said there are six different types of fires that need to be fought as part of firefighter certification.

"They range from the smallest fire, which is just a small pan fire that's suppressed with a hand held fire extinguisher, up to the largest fires that are a five thousand square foot fuel spill type simulated fire that we fight with the truck mounted equipment,” said Stroman.

Stroman said the training fire is completely controlled and there is no opportunity for the fire to spread.

"Every safety opportunity exists,” he said. “We have very significant resources available for fire suppression because that is exactly what we are there to do."

The four trainees have now fully completed their certifications.

This was the first group of new airport firefighters that have been certified at the fire training centre here in Yellowknife.

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