Meet our Members - Katya Luczanko
This week on Meet our Members, we chat with Recruit Katya Luczanko, who joined Comox Fire Rescue in October 2021
Was there a specific event or reason for you to be interested in becoming a firefighter?
I applied to Comox Fire Rescue after I responded to a car crash outside of my workplace in the spring of 2020. The driver had fallen asleep at the wheel and his car had driven into a utility pole on the old Island highway. I was the first person on scene with first aid training, and after getting the clear from a BC Hydro worker that the power to the power lines touching the ground were shut off, I entered the car and began giving first aid to the driver. Shortly afterwards, a member of the Union Bay Fire Department came on scene and entered the back of the vehicle. We worked together on our primary and secondary surveys while we waited for an ambulance to arrive. After handing off to the paramedics, I was approached by the firefighter, who encouraged me to join the fire department due to my training and capability to respond to an accident.
Tell us about your family?
I live with my Father, a retired Chief Warrant Officer, in Comox. My mom passed away from cancer in 2020, but was an exemplary nurse for over two decades. We all believe that the Comox Valley is the best place to live.
What is your regular “Day Job”
My regular day job is working as a pharmacy assistant, and I am working towards being a licensed Pharmacy Technician.
Tell us about your passion in life.
I am passionate about local flora and fauna, and regularly spend weekends finding, identifying, and educating myself and others about wild plants and animals.
Tell us about the most amazing thing you have experienced so far in life.
The most amazing thing I have experienced in life was hiking in Greece to a five thousand year old monestary build into the side of the cliff at the top of a mountain!
Do you have any fire service goals?
I strive to aide with fighting the summer forest fires for the Province with Comox Fire Rescue!
“Thank you for joining our team Katya.” says Comox Fire Rescue Chief Gord Schreiner. “We look forward to training and working with you. Good luck on your Fire Service career.”
