Whitecourt Fire Department marks 60 years

 

by Susan Hofforth

 

For sixty years, the men and women of the Whitecourt Fire Department have been keeping this area safe from fires and a lot more of the dangers that are out there. This year they are marking their 60 years of service at community events. Keep an eye out for them this year by following them on social media.

 

Since the start, the Whitecourt Fire Department has been involved in more than disaster response. They have tried to avoid as many disasters as possible before they occur and to provide information on how to prevent a situation from becoming even worse. There is no way to measure how many people, buildings, and businesses did not experience any problems, thanks to the all the volunteer fire departments working throughout the nation.

 

Over the years, the department has shared skills and knowledge in preventing disasters, pain, and injury with the community. They have been there with information on staying safe at work, at home, and at play. They think about what might happen while working at heights, working in the bush, or taking recreation in the forests and on the lakes. The tips they have provided have helped many of us think first and stay safe.

 

In fact, they were formed to keep the area safe, back in 1958. On May 10, 1956, a blaze at the town’s largest employer, the Western Construction and Lumber Company, almost devastated Whitecourt. When the fire broke out, there was no fire department, and the homes of 700 residents were in danger as strong winds pushed the flames towards the community. The call for help went out to Mayerthorpe who did have a fire department at the time, but they too had a significant fire to battle that day. Everyone available fought the flames until they confined the fire to a small area and the company and the community were safe.

 

The Whitecourt Volunteer Fire Department was formed on February 22, 1958 with Allan Millar as Fire Chief and Ed Zutz as deputy. Today, the Fire Department operates with a full-time Fire Chief and 2 deputies, an administration clerk, and 46 paid on-call staff. They respond to over 325 calls each year.

 

Take time this year to say thank you, and to think about safety before you engage in risky behaviour. Everyone wants to get home safely.