Meet our Members: Carson Schreiner

This week on Meet our Members, we interview Carson Schreiner!

CFR: Could you provide a brief background of your fire service career?

I joined Comox Fire Rescue as a rookie firefighter in March 2010, just after the Youth Camp ended. About a year later, I completed my NFPA 1001 Level 2 and became a fully certified firefighter. I got a job working as a firefighter for the Department of National Defense at HMCS Quadra in Comox for a summer and have spent the last 2 years working as a fulltime firefighter for BC Hydro at the Mica Dam. With my schedule of two weeks on two weeks off, I have been able to maintain my POC Firefighting position with Comox. I have recently completed my Fire Officer 1 Certification through the JIBC and am nearing completion of Officer 2.

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

In my grade 11 year of highschool I enrolled in the Comox Fire Rescue Youth Camp program. It was a life changing experience for me. After just a few days of undergoing firefighting training I was hooked. I've always wanted a career that would allow me to help people and give back to my community and being a firefighter seemed like the perfect way to do that.

What is your favourite part of volunteering for Comox Fire Rescue (or working in the valley in general)?

My favourite part of being a volunteer with Comox is the great training opportunities we are given and amazing training facilities we have access to. This allows us to provide a better service to the citizens of Comox. I also really enjoy participating in the community and charity events such as our Annual Tree Chipping for Yana. I am proud to be a part of such a great organization that does so much for the community.

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

Outside of the Fire Department, my hobbies are: playing hockey, stand-up paddleboarding, mountain biking, fishing, camping, weight training, and golfing.

What are some major changes you have seen in the fire service industry during your career?

During my time in the Fire Department, the biggest changes I have seen are the advancements in technology. When I joined the department we were using rip and run sheets and address books when responding to calls, whereas now we just bring up a map on one of the many IPADS in our trucks and have an accurate GPS location to respond to. The IPADs allow us to be much more efficient at many other department operations as well. The other huge innovation I have seen has been the use of the Active 911 app on our personal cell phones.

Chief Schreiner states: “It has been really rewarding for me to see my son Carson follow in my foot steps and excel the way he has. He has grown into a very capable firefighter. The fire service has a long record of having family members work together and it great to see the same happening here in Comox. We have had several family connections over the years here and hope that trend continues.”

Meet our Members: Rob Stevens

This week on "Meet our Members", we interview Captain Rob Stevens!

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CFR: Could you provide a brief background of your fire service career?

My emergency service career started in Victoria as a member of the city’s urban Search and Rescue team. That was more than a couple years ago. 1991 or there about. I joined the fire service with the Bow Horn Bay fire department after meeting their chief and he agreed to train me. That was about 1995. I joined Comox Fire Rescue in 1997 and have been a member here since.

CFR: Was there any specific event that first interested you in becoming a fire fighter?

I’ve always wanted to be a firefighter. I was a big fan of the TV show Emergency when I was a kid. That sparked my interest in the career and the reality of the industry has never dampened my enthusiasm for the career.

CFR: What is your favourite part of working at Comox Fire Rescue (or working in the valley in general)?

Comox Fire Rescue is a great place to work. I love that we always look for ways to improve and be better (and safer) at the job. Just because something is going well and working doesn’t mean we stop looking for an even better way to do something. Comox Fire Rescue is dedicated to passing on knowledge and helping firefighters get better at what they do. We interact with other departments often. We train intensively in house, and we help any way we can when asked to train members from other departments. I love meeting, helping and learning from firefighters from all over the island, BC and beyond.

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

Outside the department, I love to hike and explore the wilderness. The Comox Valley is endless in treasure troves to discover in the back hills.

CFR: What are some major changes you have seen in the fire service industry during your career?

The biggest change I’ve noticed in the fire service is the speed and intensity of fires. The amount of materials in the typical home that burn with high intensity and speed has increased greatly over the past couple decades. This has made fire fighting more challenging and forced the firefighter to be much more aware of fire behaviour and understand fire characteristics in more depth than ever before. The firefighter’s life depends on this knowledge and understanding. We have less fires due to a stronger public education emphasis, but the fires that do occur are much more challenging.

Chief Schreiner states: "Having dedicated, compassionate, ethical, hard-working, and well-trained people like Rob here is what makes our organization as good as it is. The best equipment and facilities does not make a good fire department. A good fire department needs great people like Rob. He is very important to the continued success of this organization.”

Meet our Members: Cole Logan

This week on "Meet our Members", we interview Lieutenant Cole Logan!

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CFR: Could you provide a brief background of your fire service career?

I joined the Fire Service in 2002 following participation in the Comox Fire Rescue youth camp. After a short stint in Comox I moved to Northern BC where I was a Member of Taylor Fire Rescue as well as an Industrial Fire Firefighter and Rescue Technician. In 2005 I returned to Comox and continued my fire service career to date where I am currently a Lieutenant and lead instructor with CFR.

CFR: Was there any specific event that first interested you in becoming a fire fighter?

Backdraft

CFR: What is your favourite part of volunteering for Comox Fire Rescue (or working in the valley in general)?

Being able to live in such a beautiful town while serving its citizens is simply awesome. My favourite reason for Volunteering here is being able to enjoy the people, scenery, and the amenities the Comox Valley has to offer. Being able to give back to the community is truly rewarding.

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

Camping, hiking, fishing, hunting, and spending time with family.

CFR: What are some major changes you have seen in the fire service industry during your career?

In the 13 years I have been around I have seen incredible advances in Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and the tools we use, but the biggest advancement of all that I have seen is the quality of training available to Firefighters.

CFR: If you could change one thing about the fire service, what would it be?

I would figure out a screening process that keeps out the people who are just here for the T-Shirt...

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Thanks very much to Cole Logan for his years of service and dedication to teaching new firefighters the skills required to stay safe and effective.

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Meet our Members: Rick Shelton

Rick Shelton, encouraged by friends who were already members of Comox Fire Department, joined in 1983. Over the following 33 years he has worked as a Volunteer Firefighter, a paid on call Lieutenant, Captain, and Training officer. In 2000 he was hired on full time as Assistant Chief of Operations and Training. The never ending task of training, along with duties such as equipment and vehicle maintenance, soon morphed into instruction and management of the Comox Fire Training Center. At the same time, Rick joined into a partnership with The Justice Institute of BC as an adjunct instructor of Fire Service Instructor, Emergency Scene Management and Live Fire programs. Rick is also enrolled in the JIBC Fire Officer Certificate program, and is nearing completion of Level 4. He also had the opportunity in 2010 to serve as a Fire/Rescue Team Leader at the Winter Olympic Games in Vancouver/Whistler.

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CFR: Was there any specific event that first interested you in becoming a fire fighter?

Previously to working at Comox Fire Rescue, I owned and operated a Chimney Installation and maintenance Company and had watched the Fire Department at several chimney and structure fires.  It got me thinking that both parties could benefit from me joining up. I was an expert on chimneys, and was self employed and able to respond often.

CFR: What is your favourite part of working at Comox Fire Rescue (or working in the valley in general)?

The members and people involved with the organization. The job never gets tired, as management is always looking to the future and ways to make intelligent and innovative changes to better the organization and the fire service as a whole. Also, working with the Comox Fire Training Center has been very rewarding, as we strive to provide high level, cost effective certified training to firefighters from BC, Alberta and beyond.

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

Travelling the world with my wife Debbie and our backpacks has been an enlightening experience since being convinced to follow this mode of travel by good friends. Experiencing different lands, cultures and their people have given us a different view on life, and the realization of just how lucky we are to work and live here in the Comox Valley. Fishing is another of my passions, I love being out on the water wherever we may be.

CFR: What are some major changes you have seen in the fire service industry during your career?

The initiation of training standards, and embracing an environment of safety as the top priority for our members.  

CFR: If you could change one thing about the fire service, what would it be?

The relationships between Career and Volunteer/POC departments and personnel. While significant progress has been made over the last decade, old school thinking and teachings are still prevalent. We must continue to work toward a complete brother/sisterhood in our vocation and should be setting of how working together makes us stronger.

Thanks very much to Assistant Chief Shelton for his years of dedicated service to the town of Comox!

Firefighter Fitness in Comox

For many years now Comox Fire Rescue has taken firefighter fitness very seriously. All new members must pass a fitness test before they join and all existing members take a fitness test each year.

One of the most common causes of death of firefighters is heart attack during high stress events. By increasing their fitness it is felt they can lower their risks at these high stress events.

A couple of years ago Comox Fire Rescue built their very own fitness centre located behind the fire station to ensure their members have quick and easy access to proper fitness equipment at all times. In addition to this Comox firefighters are granted use of the community owned fitness centre located at the Comox Community Centre. They have also installed a sauna for their firefighters at their fire station.

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Chief Schreiner states: “We really do encourage fitness. Our training centre includes our gym plus we have the five story tower where many of our firefighters run the stairs for exercise. We also work our firefighter pretty hard during training with all that we ask them to do like carry and drag hoses, carry large ladders, wear heavy equipment and carry our rescue dummies which can weigh up to 185 pounds. Further, during certain times of the year we schedule fitness sessions right into our weekly practices because we know it is no good to have a well trained firefighter who is not fit to perform at a high level.”

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Comox Fire Rescue has also changed the way they eat. Chief Schreiner states: “Our monthly dinner nights are now much healthier then they were in the past. We also encourage our members to get out and enjoy the outdoors. The Comox Firefighters Association has recently purchased two stand-up paddle boards for their firefighters to borrow and will be looking to acquire some other equipment like kayaks and bikes for the same.” Many of their firefighters get together from time to time to paddle or ride together. Comox Fire Rescue also checks the blood pressure of all of their firefighters before every practice. This small step alone has helped some of their members live a more prudent lifestyle.

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Chief Schreiner states: “A fit and healthy firefighter is a better firefighter in so many ways. This is a very challenging business, filled with lots of stresses. People who are fit can typically handle these stresses much better. By taking better care of ourselves we can take better care of the citizens we serve.”

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