By Tim Collins

On Jan. 29, Langford Fire Station No. 2 entered a new phase as it was finally assigned a complement of full-time professional staff.

And although the station still has only 25 per cent of the staff that it needs to be fully staffed, Lieutenant Seth Goodwin, the stationB次元官网网址檚 newly appointed commanding officer, is proud of the work that he and the rest of Langford Fire Rescue provide.

B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檙e able to have four full-time firefighters here every day and of course, we have a fantastic group of volunteer firefighters that supplement our service, so weB次元官网网址檙e very motivated. Having this station staffed now is just huge,B次元官网网址� said Goodwin.

This is the latest in changes to Langford Fire Rescue, a service that has seen massive changes from what it was in 2000 when Fire Chief Chris Aubrey first started with the department.

B次元官网网址淏ack then we were seeing about 750 calls a year and it was pretty much all volunteers,B次元官网网址� said Aubrey. B次元官网网址淣ow our population has grown from about 17,000 in 2000 to more than 50,000 and the number of calls to our service has gone up to about 2,400 a year. We now have 29 full-time professional staff and 30 volunteers.B次元官网网址�

Aubrey noted that the other big change in the Westshore community has been the shift from being a largely bedroom community to a vibrant city with 12-story apartment blocks, commercial buildings and large box stores.

B次元官网网址淲e face hugely different challenges these days, in terms of firefighting.B次元官网网址�

The challenges of a growing and changing community have made the staffing of Station No. 2 vitally important, as evidenced by a call that came through just before Goodwin sat down to talk about the service.

B次元官网网址淭he call we just got was out in Wild Ridge, almost at the Metchosin border. We were able to get there much faster from here than from Station 1. That could be a 12- or 15-minute response. We can get there much faster,B次元官网网址� Goodwin said.

Looking around the room, Goodwin took a moment to reflect.

B次元官网网址淧eople should understand that the nature of fires has changed as different building materials come into use. Take this room for example, itB次元官网网址檚 full of synthetics and plasticsB次元官网网址� basically just fuel in solid form. This room could go up in three minutes,B次元官网网址� Goodwin said. B次元官网网址淪o, the minutes that we save getting to a fire can be so important.B次元官网网址�

Of course, fighting structure fires is only a small part of what Langford Fire Rescue does.

B次元官网网址淚 think that we probably do a poor job in marketing ourselves. WeB次元官网网址檙e so much more than a fire departmentB次元官网网址� weB次元官网网址檙e an all-hazards department. We respond to medical emergencies, high-angle rescues, even marine emergencies,B次元官网网址� Aubrey said.

Goodwin agreed, noting that when people have an emergency and donB次元官网网址檛 know who to call, itB次元官网网址檚 Fire Rescue that gets the call.

B次元官网网址淲e rescue pets from drainpipes, help people with smoke alarms, offer advice on CO2 detectors and fire extinguishers, respond to medical emergencies and accidents, and the other day we had to get some young personB次元官网网址檚 drone out of a tree,B次元官网网址� Goodwin said. B次元官网网址淚 guess that last one is sort of the new version of the proverbial cat in a tree.B次元官网网址�

Goodwin is also passionate about the public education side of his job.

B次元官网网址淭he only time you meet a firefighter shouldnB次元官网网址檛 be when youB次元官网网址檙e having the worst day of your life,B次元官网网址� Goodwin said. B次元官网网址淚f a mother and her child are wandering by and looking at the trucks, we invite them in and give them a tour. I still remember coming to a fire hall when I was three years old and getting to sit behind the wheel of a fire truck. Maybe thatB次元官网网址檚 why I got hooked on the career in the end.B次元官网网址�

Goodwin chuckled at the memory but became more serious when asked what he sees as his biggest challenge on the job.

B次元官网网址淚 guess I would have to say that itB次元官网网址檚 public education. A smoke detector is so important, yet we see so many homes that donB次元官网网址檛 have working smoke detectors or no detectors at all. They cost $50 but really, whatB次元官网网址檚 your life worth? We have to get messages like that out there.B次元官网网址�

As Goodwin and Aubrey continue to work toward providing the best fire safety service possible, they are looking to the future as well.

B次元官网网址淭his job is constantly changing, and new challenges are always coming up. You never know what the day is going to bring,B次元官网网址� Aubrey said. B次元官网网址淢aybe thatB次元官网网址檚 what makes the job so special.B次元官网网址�

ItB次元官网网址檚 hoped that the department will add another 15 firefighters in the next few years, and that Fire Station No. 2 will be able to operate with a full staff complement. Until then, Goodwin and his crew stand ready to meet the demands of a growing community and a changing world with ever-new challenges.

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