Squamish Fire Rescue (SFR) needs help and the most urgent need is for potential new volunteer firefighters who live in the Downtown area.
A drive to recruit eight new volunteer firefighters isn't producing the results SFR chief Ray Saurette hoped for. He said only six applications were submitted from potential new local volunteer firefighters after advertisements announcing the recruitment drive were placed in The Chief recently. A non-resident who is willing to move to Squamish as part of his drive to become a career firefighter submitted an additional application.
Saurette is taking his search for new help a step further by publicly appealing for more applicants to put their names forward to go through the screening process to become volunteer firefighters.
Saurette said six applicants just isn't enough. Once applicants go through the screening process and training program, there are always a few people who don't make it beyond those points, so he feels strongly that in order for the recruitment drive to be successful, more applicants are needed.
"The last one we had, again we were short trying to get enough people," said Saurette. "We had eight applicants and we got down to four that we determined would be good for the fire department."
If Saurette doesn't get more applicants, and particularly more from the Downtown area, he said existing volunteers from other neighbourhoods will have to cover the downtown and he is worried that could lead to volunteer burnout.
"Our numbers are down and we know that we are going to lose more people," said the SFR chief.
According to Saurette, the volunteer firefighters are asked to make a firm commitment to SFR. One of the commitments is to attend weekly training sessions, which happens each Monday night.
The main reason the recruitment drive is underway stems from the fact that a number of volunteers have left SFR in recent months and Saurette expects to lose a few more volunteers in the future.
Some of the local firefighters, like Tony Worth, have served for a long time. Mayor Ian Sutherland presented Worth with a service medal for 25 years with Squamish Fire Rescue. He started as a volunteer and then became a career firefighter.
The medal presentation took place at the annual dinner District of Squamish Council hosts for the volunteers.
Anyone interested in becoming a volunteer firefighter needs to visit the firehall on Tantalus Road in the Garibaldi Highlands during business hours and get an application form. Saurette noted that the office is closed during the lunch hour.
Once the application is filled out, potential volunteers go through a screening process that includes a background check, aptitude testing and physical testing. Saurette said he hopes to conduct the background checks by Dec. 7 so those who clear the security check can begin training early next [email protected]
