Published: October 09, 2013 8:00 AM
By Roy Allan
Over the past six years the Watch Lake-North Green Lake community has worked diligently to upgrade its volunteer fire department.
The Watch Lake-North Green Lake Volunteer Department (WLNGLVFD) is not a part of the Cariboo Regional District (CRD) Emergency Services and must rely upon annual dues paid by the property owners to cover operating costs. BC Lottery capital funding and safety and training grants help with major building and equipment expenses, while CRD grants and fundraising have helped with the purchase of newer vehicles.
With considerable volunteer labour and the very kind donations of materials and equipment by many local businesses, both fire halls have been completely rebuilt. A well was dug at the Shorty Horn Memorial Fire Hall and the former changing area is now a comfortable meeting and training room. As funding and volunteer time allows, washroom facilities should be completed by the end of this year.
Grants, fundraising by the Auxiliary (garage/bake sales – a lot of pies) plus very generous donations on the part of the City of Coquitlam and Spectra Energy have enabled the WLNGLVFD to replace all six of its vehicles. At least one of the two pumpers, however, will have to be replaced soon since both are reaching their maximum acceptable age limit.
Through very careful budgeting and a lot of community assistance, we have put together a very competent volunteer fire and first responder emergency service. We have always considered the immediate needs of the community, with an eye on planning for the future in terms of equipment and manpower resources.
Unfortunately, the future is approaching far too rapidly. Rising costs of fuel for the vehicles and for heating, as well as increased costs of insurance have stretched the income from property dues to the limit and we will soon have to go to the membership to consider a modest fee increase.”
Our big problem right now, however, is manpower. On paper, our numbers look good with 28 firefighters, several of whom are also first responders.
However, many of us are getting older and look forward to a few quiet years without pagers and radios on our hips 24 hours a day. Some of our members leave for the winter months to enjoy some warmer weather down south and a few members are only part-time residents.
Although we have an average turnout of 15 members at every emergency and training session, the number of front line firefighters is stretched very thin. We urgently need more members of the community to get involved and take the training required.
As our numbers decline, so too will our quality of service to the point that eventually we will have to look at shutting down completely.”
The staffing problems faced by the WLNGLVFD are not unique to them. Other volunteer departments across the province are faced with the same dilemma – how do you encourage new, younger volunteers to join with their neighbours.
Two hours practice and training time each week doesn’t seem like much to ask in providing a vital service to the community. The monetary value (other than helping to keep insurance costs down) is nil, but the pride of membership and accomplishment is priceless.
Roy Allan is the president of the WLNGLVFD Society.
