Saanich, Langford and View Royal residents can now apply to be firefighters with the Highlands Fire Department.

With a 17-member crew, Dean Ford, acting fire chief, decided he needed to get more creative in building up the department.

B次元官网网址淎n ideal number would be 30,B次元官网网址� he said, adding they rely on mutual aid from Langford and View Royal fire departments.

B次元官网网址淎 lot of our volunteers live in Highlands and work in town (Victoria),B次元官网网址� he said, adding it takes too long for those members to make it back to battle a fire. B次元官网网址淚f there is a fire here and someone who works at Costco is a volunteer they will get here faster than a Highlands resident working in town.B次元官网网址�

For years Highlands and other volunteer departments on the West Shore required volunteers to live in the municipality they apply to serve so other departments donB次元官网网址檛 suffer. Ford says he ensured other departments were on board with this new approach.

Anyone over 18 years old living outside of Highlands can apply, so long as they live or work within a 15-minute drive to either the west fire hall, 1564 Millstream Rdl, or the east fire hall, 3613 Woodridge Place.

Anyone living on Bear Mountain or near Westshore Towncentre would be eligible to apply for the west hall and Saanich residents living as far away as Tillicum Mall-area could apply for the east hall.

Some residents on Bear Mountain may feel they are better suited for the Highlands department.

B次元官网网址淲e shy away from people on Bear Mountain due to response times,B次元官网网址� said fire Chief Bob Beckett, adding the skills each volunteer can bring to the table does play a large factor in their assessment.

Langford has three fire halls and once candidates are shortlisted, the department looks at the location of the potential volunteersB次元官网网址� homes to assess potential response times.

Often when Langford seeks volunteers they may have up to 45 applicants vying for five positions.

B次元官网网址淚f someone wants to be a firefighter in Highlands and live in Langford that doesnB次元官网网址檛 stop them from becoming a Langford firefighter down the road,B次元官网网址� Beckett said. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 a great opportunity for them if they want to help out the Highlands.B次元官网网址�

The Saanich Fire Department is a career department that doesnB次元官网网址檛 accept volunteers, making this is the first time people in Saanich have had the opportunity to be a volunteer firefighter.

Already Highlands has received an application from a Saanich resident within the catchment.

When the Saanich Fire Department begins recruiting it can receive anywhere from 100 to 300 applications from would-be firefighters from across the province.

B次元官网网址淥ut of those maybe 20 or 30 come from residents of Saanich,B次元官网网址� said Frank MacDonald, Saanich deputy fire chief. B次元官网网址淎t the end of the day most volunteer departments are having a tough time finding people.B次元官网网址�

Many of Saanich volunteer groups including Saanich Search and Rescue, Emergency Social Services and Amateur Radio group are made up of members from across Greater Victoria.

Out-of-district applications for Highlands are only accepted from people who want to fight fires. Weekly training sessions are held Thursdays from 6:30 to 10 p.m.

All first responders for medical emergencies must live within the district.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 to make it useful. I donB次元官网网址檛 need people from Westshore Town Centre racing the ambulance to get here,B次元官网网址� Ford said.

Highlands residents can also now volunteer to specifically be a firefighter, a medical first responder or an auxiliary firefighter.

Retired firefighters with at least seven years experience can become auxiliary members to drive trucks and shuttle water, instead of entering burning buildings or other tasks.

B次元官网网址淓very department has been struggling to get volunteers,B次元官网网址� said Ford. B次元官网网址淲e are creating ways to cast a broader net to a broader audience.B次元官网网址�

The deadline to apply is Dec. 15 and training will begin in January. Applications can be found at www.highlands.bc.ca.