When Eric Meredith steps into a burning building, not only is he thinking about the dangers that lie ahead, but what he can do to save the lives of those in trouble.
As a volunteer firefighter with the Metchosin Fire Department, the 52-year-old has responded to hundreds of calls in the last 12 years, all with the same goal in mind B次元官网网址� protecting the residents of the district. B次元官网网址淭hereB次元官网网址檚 nothing like helping somebody out,B次元官网网址� said Meredith, who is also an employee of the districtB次元官网网址檚 public works department and volunteer with the Shawnigan Lake Fire Department.
B次元官网网址淲e learn a lot of knowledge and skills [through training]. It really enhances our quality of life. Being a part of the fire hall, I get the chance to save an individual, which is extremely rewarding.B次元官网网址�
As one of the roughly 33 volunteer firefighters with the department, Meredith is on call for several hours a day, responding to motor vehicle incidents, fires and medical calls. They also deal with the more unusual situations that come along with serving more than 17,000 acres of rural municipality, such as horses stuck in mud pits. Sometimes volunteers will respond to three to four calls a day, averaging about 50 calls a month, which has increased from last year when the average amount was between 25 to 32.
With calls on the rise, every day brings something different for the volunteers, but one thing is for sure, when their pager goes off with a call from the Capital Regional DistrictB次元官网网址檚 fire dispatch centre in Langford, theyB次元官网网址檙e ready to go. Volunteers drop what theyB次元官网网址檙e doing B次元官网网址� whether that be shopping for groceries, sleeping or eating out B次元官网网址� and head to the fire hall to gear up.
Seconds can mean the difference between life and death.
While the majority of calls the department receives are medical, such as someone in cardiac arrest, there are many situations that can be extremely dangerous.
A few years ago, a small fire started in the Ferncliff Park area. Capt. Simon Chadwick was the first on scene, followed by Meredith. It was a fast-moving brush fire that had come within five feet of five or six homes, but they were able to extinguish it before it destroyed any houses.
Despite the dangers on the job, itB次元官网网址檚 the thanks volunteers receive from residents that keeps them coming back day in and day out.
B次元官网网址淥ne of the most rewarding pieces is when the person that youB次元官网网址檝e helped B次元官网网址� and that might be a very innocent thing or it might be performing CPR B次元官网网址� is having them come back and say B次元官网网址榯hank you,B次元官网网址橞次元官网网址� said Fire Chief Stephanie Dunlop, who started as a volunteer with the department in 2002 and has since moved her way up the ranks.
B次元官网网址淲e donB次元官网网址檛 want that recognition, but itB次元官网网址檚 so nice to know that your efforts actually changed someoneB次元官网网址檚 life.B次元官网网址�
Chadwick, who has been with the department for the past four years, agreed. B次元官网网址淭o me itB次元官网网址檚 helping people. ThatB次元官网网址檚 what itB次元官网网址檚 about,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淭hatB次元官网网址檚 the nice thing about the job is you donB次元官网网址檛 know whatB次元官网网址檚 going to go on tomorrow or in 10 minutes.B次元官网网址�
The Metchosin Fire Department is currently looking for recruits, after hosting an information session recently.
Those interested must fill out an application and pass a series of tests, before being selected and going through training from January to April.
But before jumping into the position, firefighter Owen Searle said it is a serious commitment.
B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檇 say to anyone who is even thinking about it, think about it and try it out. ItB次元官网网址檚 not for everybody, but if you think itB次元官网网址檚 for you, itB次元官网网址檚 definitely worth the time and effort just for future skills, life skills,B次元官网网址� he said, noting on-going training is constantly being offered.
B次元官网网址淭his is the best free education you can get anywhere.B次元官网网址�
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