The Sidney fire hall and the firefighting equipment have changed over the past 100 years but the spirit of the men — and now women — battling fires in the community is as strong as ever.
Sidney Volunteer Fire Department celebrates its centenary on Saturday with a daylong celebration, including a parade featuring as many as 60 antique and new trucks, an open house and live demonstrations at the fire hall. While it is an opportunity for people to see the latest in fire, rescue and emergency gear, the real story is the members of the community who drop everything when needed.
Fire departments with both career and volunteer members are referred to as “composite.” The Sidney department, led by Chief Jim Tweedhope, is considered a medium-sized one for British Columbia.
On paper, the department shows six full-time members serving a population of 12,000. But in case of a fire, a contingent of 40 fully trained volunteers will leave work or get out of bed to attend.
If needed, a mutual aid agreement ensures resources from fire departments from nearby Victoria International Airport, North Saanich and Central Saanich will also respond.
“We have helped each other out numerous times,” said Hank Michno, assistant fire chief and a 24-year veteran of the department.
He said in the time he has been a firefighter, the biggest change, apart from equipment, has been the training even volunteer firefighters have to undergo.
“It takes on average three years to fully certify a person to the National Fire Protection Association 1001 standard,” he said. The standard identifies the minimum job performance requirements for career and volunteer firefighters. The standard is recognized throughout North America.
The first female firefighter joined the department 12 years ago.
In 1914, Sidney’s 600 permanent residents collected enough money to buy their newly formed fire department a hand-drawn hose reel and 300 metres of 6.35-cm hose.
In case of a fire, the volunteer firefighters of the day would have been alerted by the local lumber mill whistle after the telephone operator received the alarm. Upon reaching the property on fire, they would have attached the hoses to one of six fire hydrants installed two years previously. If the fire was at night, they would have been illuminated by one of six street lights installed in the fledgling town by the sea.
A century later, the department fights fires with three engines, two pumper trucks and one equipped with a 23-metre ladder. The trucks can place 8,000 litres of water per minute on a fire, supplied by 10-cm hoses attached to one of 275 hydrants located between 150 and 300 metres apart in the community.
The whistle has been replaced by the regional 911 system and electronic pagers.
With 40 volunteers on call, the department is fully subscribed, but people move away or retire, so the department accepts recruits at the beginning of every year. The members of the department are sought out by other fire departments whenever a full-time career position opens up.
“It’s a testament of how well the department is regarded,” said Michno, who also does double duty as the training officer for recruits.
The celebration and open house on Saturday is free. The parade starts at 11 a.m. along Beacon Avenue to First Street. After the parade, the engines will remain on display on various side streets off Beacon Avenue and in the park beside the fire hall, 9837 3rd St. The open house runs noon to 4 p.m. at the fire hall with displays also at the Sidney Museum, 2423 Beacon Ave.
For information, go to sidneyfire100year.com.
Campaign supports survivor of rare cancer
Friends of a 23-year-old cancer survivor are organizing a crowdfunding campaign to help raise $40,000 to cover her living and medical costs.
Victoria resident Julia Garford was diagnosed with a rare form of bone cancer called chondrosarcoma in 2012 and has undergone several surgical procedures to remove and replace her right leg’s tibia.
Due to complications, she has undergone four major surgeries and three minor procedures.
If they are successful, she might be able to walk without crutches in the future. If not, she could be looking at another surgery in four months and possibly amputation.
“I can’t imagine the stress and mental anguish of having your life derailed like this,” said Matt Chisholm, a friend and campaign supporter.
“But Julia has remained positive and resilient throughout. She’s still the smart, bubbly, caring person I met before this all started and she deserves every resource possible to help on her healing journey.”
Garford needs money for medication, physiotherapy, travel expenses for appointments and basic living costs.
On top of this, she acquired $20,000 of student debt before having to drop out of university.
Anyone interested in supporting her can visit youcaring.com/juliasjourney, or send a cheque made out to Julia Garford to 1631 Ash Rd., Victoria, B.C. V8N 2T2.
Store for young womenmarks first anniversary
A store that provides free household items for at-risk young women, teen mothers and women in transition recently celebrated its first anniversary.
Anney’s Closet has been providing free store shopping for young women who needed to set up their first small apartments as they leave foster care due to their age.
The store is an initiative of the Soroptimist International Victoria Westshore, a group whose mission is to improve the lives of women and girls.
The group collects previously owned household items, often from seniors who are downsizing, to help women, referred to them by partner social service agencies get a fresh start in setting up their first home. For information, go to anneyscloset.com.
Island student takes silverin culinary competition
Thalia Austin, a student from Vancouver Island University, has won silver in cooking at the recent Skills Canada National Competition held in Toronto.
She was one of 52 Team B.C. skilled trade and technology students who earned 16 medals in transportation, construction, manufacturing, information and technology, service and employment categories.
The team was among 500 competitors from all provinces and territories who attended the June event.
For more information, go to skillscanada.bc.ca.
Dozen from Victoria join international Scouts camp
A dozen young Victorians were among 1,500 scouts from around the world who travelled to Scotland to attend camp.
The Pacific Explorers were part of an international gathering that saw representatives from Zambia, Gibraltar, Spain, Hong Kong, the U.S., Austria, France, Finland, Japan, Iceland and Scotland take part in the 34th Blair Atholl International Jamborette.
The two-week camp is the biggest jamborette, with 77 joint patrols of Scouts and more than 450 volunteer leaders.
It is being held on the grounds of Blair Castle, in highland Perthshire.
For more information, go to pacificexplorers.wordpress.com.
Hospice to get big chequeat today’s Walk for Peace
Dodd’s Furniture and Telus will be presenting a $10,000 cheque to the Victoria Hospice at today’s Walk for Peace.
The cheque will be presented at 10:30 a.m., during the event’s opening ceremonies, at the Cameron Bandshell stage in Beacon Hill Park. The walk will start at 11 a.m. with a free lunch for participants at noon. For information, email gs.dodd@hotmail.com or call 250-360-6662.
Two-day ride raises funds for island hospices
Fifty local cyclists and hospice supporters will be returning to town today after a two-day bike ride to raise awareness and funds for southern Vancouver Island and Gulf Island hospices.
To participate in the Cycle of Life Tour 2014, each cyclist had to raise a minimum of $500 in pledges. Some have significantly exceeded this goal, attracting as much as $3,000. It is estimated the ride will result in a donation of about $50,000 at the conclusion of this year’s event. This is the fourth year of the event, which is organized and operated by Graham Robertson and Beth Turner.
The 200-kilometre route took the cyclists along the Galloping Goose Regional Trail, West Saanich, along the Cowichan Valley’s rural coastline, on a ferry to explore the scenic country roads of Saltspring Island and back.
About half of Victoria Hospice’s annual operating costs are not covered by the health-care system and must be funded through community donations and events. Proceeds from the bicycle tour will support the Victoria Hospice, Saltspring Island Hospice, Cowichan Valley Hospice, Sooke Hospice and Nanaimo Hospice.
The riders are expected to return to the finish line at Dockside Green, 391 Tyee Rd., between 2 and 4 p.m. today. For more information, go to cycleoflifetour.ca.