Meet our Members: WEP Firefighter Courtney Ziegler

This week on "Meet our Members", we interview WEP Firefighter Courtney Ziegler

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Was there a specific even that first interested you in becoming a fire fighter?

When I was 14 years old I worked as a slide attendant for a City in Alberta. During one of our monthly emergency response training sessions a group of local career firefighters came to speak with us briefly about how they started in my exact position, from there their passion for being a first responder grew. So did mine.

Why did you choose to do a WEP program with Comox Fire?

To further my skills as a fire fighter, learn from experienced and like minded individuals. It has always been a dream of mine to live on Vancouver Island and pursue fire fighting, now it's a reality and I am so grateful.

Do you have family/children/pets?

I have my mother who is my biggest supporter. 

What is your regular “Day Job”?

 I work in the oil and gas industry as a firefighter and medic in Northern Alberta. 

Outside the fire department, what are your interests/hobbies?

I enjoy hiking, skiing, snowmobiling, hand stitched embroidery and drawing.

“We are very excited to have Courtney join our Work Experience Program.” says Comox Fire Chief, Gord Schreiner. “She will be living at the fire station for up to 100 days. This will allow her to gain a great deal of experience. “

Comox Fire has had several firefighters over the last years, with many moving on to full time fire fighting careers. The WEPs receive NO pay, but they are provided a bedroom in the fire station and a $200.00 per week food allowance.

Thanks for joining our team Courtney!

Christmas Tree Chipping ~ YANA ~ Jan 4&5th

Need your Christmas tree taken care of? Plan to take it down to Comox Fire Rescue (1870 Noel Ave.) next weekend (Jan 4th and 5th) between 10:00 am and 4:00 pm on Saturday or Sunday and we'll chip it for you! There will be hot dogs and hot chocolate and everything is by donation. 100% of proceeds go to local Y.A.N.A.!

Last year they raised more than $4500.00.

Chief Gord Schreiner states: “Projects like these are a WIN/WIN for our community. I am so proud of our firefighters for everything they do. Not only do they respond to emergencies but they assist our community in so many other ways. They love giving back to our community. I would also like to thank all those citizens who donate to this great cause.” 

YANA’s Kelly Rusk states: “The support from these firefighters in Comox has been awesome. They have been with us since our very beginnings and assist us in many.”

If you are unable to bring your tree to us, give us a call at 250-339-2432 to arrange a pick up.

Comox Firefighters Pay it Forward

Comox Firefighters continue to share and pay-it-forward with several donations to local community groups.

These include; $500 to Dawn to Dawn,  $500 and ten turkeys the Sonshine Lunch Club, $1,000 plus ten turkeys to the CV Transition Society as well as 35 turkeys to the Comox Valley Food Bank.

“I’m so very proud of all the amazing work that our firefighters do and contribute to the community.” Says Comox Fire Chief Gord Schreiner.  

Comox Firefighters will be hosting their annual Christmas tree recycling project on January 4th and 5th with 100 percent of the proceeds going to YANA (You Are Not Alone).

YANA provides accommodation and funding to Comox Valley families who need to travel outside the community for medical treatment for a child under 19 or for a pregnant mother.

Holiday Decorating Safety Tips

Holidays can be busy and joyous times, but holiday decorations and new toys can bring risks along with festive cheer.  Below are some safety tips to help your holiday season be safe.

1. Keep live trees away from heat sources.

Place your tree away from fireplaces and heaters, and keep a fire extinguisher near your tree. Live trees are highly flammable, due to needles and sap.

2. Hydrate your tree.

A dried-out tree can catch fire faster than one that has been properly watered. Check the water level every other day to ensure proper hydration. Starting with a green tree is one way to keep it from drying out so quickly. You can also switch to an artificial tree that are flame retardant.

3. Don’t burn wrapping paper in the fireplace.

Paper can catch fire very quickly and can cause chimney fires. Instead, recycle (or better yet, reuse!) your wrapping paper.

4. Work as a team.

When stringing lights and decorations above your normal reach, make sure you use a proper ladder with someone supporting the base.

5. Double-check your lights for safety.

Replace any lights with frayed wires, broken sockets, and loose connections.

6. Power down before you turn in.

Turn off all lights when you go to bed and before leaving the house to avoid a short that could start an electrical fire.

7. Prevent electrical cord damage.

Don’t mount lights in a way that might damage the cords, and avoid using nails or tacks. Use hooks or insulated staples instead.

8. Secure candles.

Keep candles on a sturdy base to prevent tipping. Never leave a lit candle unattended. Use battery powered candles if possible.

9. Use unbreakable ornaments.

If you have fragile ornament, place them out of reach from pets and kids.

10. Skip the fake food.

Avoid decorations that look like candy or food if you have young children — or pets — in the house.

Happy holidays from Comox Fire Rescue!

Comox Fire Rescue passes equipment to Ships Point Fire Department.

Comox Fire Rescue recently purchased new, state of the art self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA). They have passed on some of their now surplus, 16 year old SCBAs to Ships Point fire department.

Ship’s Point Fire Chief Terry Hoffart states: “We have a great relationship with Comox Fire Rescue and when we heard they were replacing their SCBAs, we worked and discussed with them the possibility of us getting some of their surplus equipment in exchange for a few used cylinders.”

Comox Mayor Russ Arnott hands over one of the dozen surplus SCBAs Comox is providing to Ships Point fire Chief Terry Hoffart.

Mayor Russ Arnott states; “We are pleased to be able to supply our own fire department with up to date safety equipment while at the same time assisting one of our smaller mutual aid partners. Our firefighters work extremely hard for our community and provide us with excellent service.”

Chief Gord Schreiner states: “It is great to see us helping out our smaller neighbours while at the same time putting into service new equipment here for our firefighters. This new equipment brings our department up to the newest standards for SCBAs. It is also great to see the strong support we have from our Mayor and Council. This is a win/win for all involved.”