With seamless effort, volunteer firefighter Alana Parno swiftly steps into her boots, then puts on her balaclava, coat and helmet.听
She only has 30 seconds to put on gear that, once the air tank is attached, weighs a hefty 60 lb.听
Parno tugs at the buckles attached to the front of her jacket to ensure all the equipment is secure. A red bag at her side contains a face mask.听
鈥淚f you鈥檙e at all concerned when you get to the scene, you should put it on,鈥� warns Parno, who has volunteered with the Squamish Fire Department for three years.听
On call throughout the night, she needs to be ready to jump into action as soon as her pager goes off. Being able to efficiently put on her gear could save a life.听
Today, Parno is at Fire Hall #1 for the demonstration. She steadily climbs into the fire truck and sits down to attach an air tank to her back.听 After one last safety check, she鈥檚 ready to go.
鈥楲ike family鈥�
Parno joins 50 other volunteer firefighters in Squamish who are on call 24/7 but particularly at night when the force鈥檚 five full-time career firefighters are off duty.听
鈥淚 do this to give back,鈥� she says. 鈥淚n a small community, there鈥檚 a good chance you鈥檒l be helping someone you know.鈥�
Chief Bill Stoner, who was recently appointed chief after serving as deputy fire chief, says the main reason many people join the department is the camaraderie. Members support each other after difficult situations.
鈥淵ou will meet some of the best people here. We鈥檙e like family,鈥� says Stoner.听
The number of calls that come in at night vary, but the calls seem to arrive in rashes.听
Sometimes there will be none, while other nights, volunteers will be called out of bed five or six times.听
While the firefighters aren鈥檛 allowed to talk about specific incidents due to privacy concerns, Stoner says each call is important. 鈥淎 lot of calls are routine, but occasionally you have a chance to make an incredible difference.鈥澨�
Squamish鈥檚 50-plus volunteers, who receive the same thorough training as full-time firefighters, have a variety of occupations 鈥� tradespeople, accountants, lawyers, entrepreneurs.听
Parno, who is one of three female volunteers in the department, works as a water conservationist with the District of Squamish, while Grant Murray, who has volunteered for 13 years, works for a highway maintenance company.
Murray recalled his decision to join the department.
鈥淚 ran into a couple of volunteers while I was mountain biking. I asked them why they do this, and what they said interested me,鈥� said Murray, who was intrigued by having the ability to help people in need, many of whom would turn out to be people he knows personally.听
Soon after that, he began an intense, six-month training program to become a firefighter.听
Holding a heavy medal halligan bar, used to pry open doors and test the floor to make sure it won鈥檛 collapse, Murray shows the variety of equipment that firefighters need to know how to use.听
He opens compartments on the fire truck containing axes, chainsaws, bolt cutters, sledge hammers and a drywall tool. A hydraulic ram and the Jaws of Life are also available if needed.听
鈥淭hese are stabilizers,鈥� he says, lifting some equipment. 鈥淭hey鈥檙e used to stabilize a car so you don鈥檛 get crushed by it rolling over.鈥�
Murray says technology hasn鈥檛 changed a great deal since he became a volunteer, but firefighters now approach fires differently.听
鈥淚n the last 10 years, what we know has changed significantly. We know more about how fire behaves in a building.鈥�
Parno says staying updated on firefighting techniques is essential.听
鈥淣o two house fires or accidents are the same,鈥� she adds.听
鈥淲e are taught to use problem solving and can apply our skills anywhere.鈥�
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Dock fire a stressful time
As fire ripped through the Squamish Terminals deepwater port in April, Stoner, who was then deputy fire chief, sprang into action along with dozens of volunteers.听
鈥淲e put our training into use, and it was done flawlessly,鈥� he says proudly.听
The dock鈥檚 creosote-socked wood pilings fueled the fire and it was further spread by the wind. Black smoke spewed into the air, forcing residents indoors.听
Fortunately, not one was hurt, but the dock was destroyed.听
With flames burning continuously for three days, volunteer firefighters had to be resourceful.听
Families traded babysitting to accommodate the long hours, and the Ladies Auxiliary arrived with much-needed food throughout the day.听
While no cause was found, officials said the fire wasn鈥檛 suspicious and was likely the result of an electrical problem.听
鈥淓veryone had to put their own needs aside. We will never forget it,鈥� says Stoner.听
Rebuilding of the dock is now underway.听
It鈥檚 for emergencies like this that Squamish volunteer firefighters spend hundreds of hours training.听
Geoff McDonald, a new recruit who has been with the department for a month, is taking part in the six-month training program. He spends eight hours on Sundays and three hours on Mondays learning the ins and outs of the job.听
After training is complete, he will be ready to be on call.听
鈥淭he volunteer opportunities with Squamish鈥檚 fire department were one of the reasons we moved here,鈥� says McDonald, whose young family left North Vancouver 18 months ago. 鈥淭he training staff have such a breadth and depth of knowledge.鈥�
An industrial safety manager by trade, McDonald has previous training from attending firefighter school in Texas. He is particularly enjoying learning about fire science, which involves examining fire鈥檚 behaviour and molecular structure.听
鈥淚 did this as a way of giving back to the community, especially since I have three young kids. They are so excited to see me riding in a fire truck one day.鈥�
McDonald is one of 10 new volunteers the Squamish fire department took on this year.听
Chief Stoner says more volunteers are needed, especially in the downtown-Valleycliffe areas.听
He is encouraging anyone interested to check the department鈥檚 webpage, linked through squamish.ca, in August and September for the next round of recruitment.听
鈥淵ou need a level of fitness to take part, but most important is the ability to make a commitment and a willingness to learn.鈥澨�
