A Winning Team for Cedar

BY KERITH WADDINGTON

United by experience and purpose, the North Cedar Fire Department (NCFD) is a team in every sense of the word. They practise together regularly and battle the unforgiving nature of time, the elements and the capriciousness of life itself.

But while camaraderie and satisfaction are reward enough for members of this exceptional team, the station recently paused a moment to honour exceptional service by several of its own.

Fire Chief Percy Tipping was himself among those saluted, being presented with a 25-year service award and the British Columbia long service medal by North Cedar Improvement District Chairperson Steve Dives and Improvement District Administrator Jennifer Bradley.

When asked about his accomplishments, however, Fire Chief Tipping is quick to deflect to those of his team.

“Every member of this team is important and provides a vital community service,” he says. “That is no small thing. I am proud of everyone and am honoured to serve with these people.”

At the recent NCFD awards ceremony, Brody Jones, Shaun Greenwell, Shane MacKay and Jason Parsley were presented with five-year service awards. Annette Dimitroff and Allan Sarchuk were honoured with 10-year service awards. Russell Carrick received the best call attendance, most improved fi refighter and fi refighter of the year awards. Austin Paddock was recognized for best training attendance and for completing the department’s Junior Firefighter program. And after more than 23 years of service, Steve Fultz was presented with a retirement gift and a NCFD retirement ring.

Fire Chief Tipping acknowledges that while the work can be taxing at times, the sense of camaraderie that forms among members and the satisfaction of giving back to the community in which you live far outweigh any challenges.

“This has been a passion of mine since I was 16 and living in Crofton,” he says. “And while I’m retiring this coming June, the friends I’ve met along the way and the positive outcomes we’ve played a part in are memories I will always cherish.”

There are over thirty dedicated members with the NCFD. An average year sees the local detachment responding to over 300 calls, but 2022 was a recordbreaking year, says Fire Chief Tipping.

“We had 515 calls this year,” he says. “And the odd thing was the increase wasn’t due to one particular reason or another. It ran the gamut of every type of call.”

And just what kind of situations do NCFD members respond to?

“We get called out for almost everything,” says Fire Chief Tipping, laughing as he adds, “It seems like whenever people aren’t sure who to call, they call the fi re department!”

But he wouldn’t have it any other way. “From structure fi res, motor vehicle accidents, medical emergencies, water rescues, unexpected home births or flood evacuation, we’ve pretty much seen it all,” he says. “The phone is rarely quiet for long in the station house.”

But fi refighters do much more than rescue. When not actively responding to a call, members of the NCFD practise their skills, teach fi re safety to kids, complete fi re inspections and investigations, raise money through their registered society for local families in need and, of course, back-stop the annual Santa Claus Parade with impressive sirens and flashing lights.

And they’ve been doing this in our community for more than 70 years. Certainly, this is a team worth cheering on.

While the NCFD was in the enviable position of not needing to recruit new members in 2022, applications are always welcome and are kept and reviewed as the need arises, says Fire Chief Tipping.

Firefighter

Annette Dimitroff encourages women to think about getting involved.

“I have been the only female member for a while and it has been nothing but a positive experience. If women are reluctant to join, thinking it’s an old boys club, that isn’t the case anymore. And if women are reluctant to join due to physical capabilities, I encourage them to apply. While being physically fit is an important component, due to advances in technology in our homes and in emergency services as a whole, brute strength is no longer the defi ning feature of a fi refighter. We work together as a team, and there are always various roles to fill. I would love to see more females in the fi re service.”

For fi refighter Shaun Greenwell, helping rescue a dog that had broken through the ice on Holden Lake has been a highlight of his work to date.

“I helped carry the dog out of the forest,” he says. “It was an awesome feeling. But let me tell you … when a dog is wet, they are really, really heavy!”

Firefighter Shane Mackay muses that the dramatic change in the number of calls this past year might be related to an aging population or the growing number of Cedar area residents. Whatever the reason, he’s happy to be helping.

“We have a great group of people at the station and I love this community, so being a fi refighter is a win-win,” he says. “Besides, we get to drive big trucks!”

Some of the members of North Cedar Fire Department. Inset: Chief Percy Tipping. Photos: Kerith Waddington