Meet our Members - Darian MacQuarrie
Could you provide a brief background of your fire service career?
I started my fire service career during in the Fire Fighter Youth Camp in the spring of 2018 and was then offered a position as a summer student. I was also offered a volunteer position and after that I've been with Comox Fire Rescue since.
Was there any specific event that first interested you in becoming a fire fighter?
I did the youth camp and really enjoyed it. It opened doors for me into the fire service.
What is your favourite part of volunteering for Comox Fire Rescue?
I love the team work that goes on with our volunteers and the Valley always has friendly people who I'm glad to help.
Outside of the fire department, what are your interests/hobbies?
I like to hunt and when I'm not at school, work or the hall, I am at Muay Thai exercising and practicing techniques at Knockout Martial Arts.
What are some major changes you have seen in the fire service industry during your career?
I see how we train and how safety protocols/guidelines are constantly being updated to protect us, the people we serve and to make everything go smoother.
Chief Schreiner states, "Darian has been a great addition to our team. It is because of people like Darian that we have a great department and can provide outstanding services to our citizens. "
Meet our Members - Stefan Scott
Could you provide a brief background of your fire service career?
My fire service career began two years ago with Comox Fire Rescue. My family moved to the valley just over two years ago and I was looking for a way to serve my community. Comox Fire Rescue was a great fit in terms of opportunity, challenge and comraderie.
Was there any specific event that first interested you in becoming a fire fighter?
Who doesn’t want to be a firefighter? ;-) When we first moved here I brought my boys over to look at the engines, and Chief Shreiner came out and introduced himself. He explained to me how the department operated and served our community. I was very impressed with the organization. That initial meeting spurned me on to submit my application to CFR. Since Comox Fire Rescue is a training centre for the Justice Institute of British Columbia, it’s a perfect place to get extremely high-quality training on a part-time basis. That was a great fit for me and my family.
What is your favourite part of volunteering for Comox Fire Rescue?
Two things: the first is the wonderful comraderie shared amongst our firefighters. I’ve made some great friends in the department and it’s really helped us assimilate into community here in the Comox Valley. Secondly, as I like to call it, is that I receive ‘free superhero training’! The things we learn and train for as firefighters is very challenging but also a lot of fun and extremely rewarding. Comox Fire Rescue also has an extremely high focus on safety first in it’s training. This comes together in quite an amazing opportunity to serve ones community in a very unique way.
Outside of the fire department, what are your interests/hobbies?
Family comes first for me. My wife and I have three children that keep us very busy. Our sons are seven and five and we have a one-year-old daughter. I also volunteer at our church teaching Sunday school. I am a carpenter by trade and work part time for myself. I play hockey, attempt to keep fit, enjoy reading and financial planning.
What are some major changes you have seen in the fire service industry during your career?
Since I am fairly new to the fire service industry, I have not seen many changes. But what has amazed me is how technology is such a valuable and useful tool in the fire service. As I have talked to other firefighters from around the country, I have come to appreciate how progressive Comox Fire Rescue is in implementing the latest advances in training and equipment. The fact that I feel very safe when entering a burning structure is quite amazing to me.
Chief Schreiner states, "Stefan has been a great addition to our team. It is because of people like Stefan that we have a great department and can provide outstanding services to our citizens. Keep up the great work Stefan"
Comox Fire Rescue Fire Prevention Week Open House 13th October 2018 from 11 am to 4 pm. Come and meet your Comox Fire Rescue firefighters and see the Station.
Could you provide a brief background of your fire service career?
I started my firefighting career in June 2008 after graduating from Pre-Service fire and education program at Lambton College in Sarnia, ON.
From that day on I volunteered for West Nipissing Fire Service until March 2009 when I accepted a full time Firefighter position with the Canadian Armed Forces. In 2010 I received my first posting in the beautiful Comox Valley. In October 2012 I started my Paid-on-Call journey with Comox Fire Rescue. 2016 was posted to the Canadian Forces Fire and CBRN Academy in Borden Ontario. In August 2018, I returned to Comox Valley and Comox Fire Rescue.
Was there any specific event that first interested you in becoming a fire fighter?
My father was a volunteer Captain back home in Verner, ON. We always used to head to the fire hall when he got paged out. Since then I wanted to be a firefighter and be the one who responds to the public’s call.
What is your favourite part of volunteering for Comox Fire Rescue?
My favourite part of being a volunteer at Comox Fire Rescue is being part of a extraordinary team while learning and training in our own backyard.
Outside of the fire department, what are your interests/hobbies?
I have several hobbies outside hall. Spending time with my gorgeous little family. And a variety of sports in the valley from hockey to softball to mountain biking.
What are some major changes you have seen in the fire service industry during your career?
Some of the few changes I noticed in he fire service thus far would be the technology. The advancement of technology in the fire service has been a game changer all together. From getting information on our way to the scene to having a integrated thermal imaging camera in our SCBAs. Technology in a lot of ways allow firefighters to better serve their community as well as protecting them while serving.
Another major change have noticed is the training for our mental health. During my young career I’ve noticed the Fire service develop several different courses for firefighters to better prepare themselves mentally as well as how to recognize some symptoms after a traumatic experience. By doing this I believe we are keeping our firefighters healthier as well as battling the stigma around the subject.
What do you look forward to the most for your future Fire Fighter career?
What I look forward the most in my firefighting career is learning as much as I can from every different firefighter I have the privilege to meet and work with. I also look forward to serve the beautiful town of Comox for a very long time!
Chief Schreiner states: "We are very happy to have Mario return to Comox Fire Rescue. He brings with him lots of dedication and commitment as well as being a strong role model for others. It is people like Mario that makes this such a great department."
Comox Fire Rescue is offering FREE “Neighbourhood Emergency Preparedness Program” (NEPP).
Experience has shown that after a disaster, it may take three or more days for emergency services to reach many of the neighbourhoods and individuals. The NEPP program is designed to provide information, training and skills necessary for individuals and neighbourhoods to be self-sufficient after a disaster.
NEPP programs are scheduled at the Comox Fire Station on:
Friday, Sept. 14th, at 10 am
Friday, October 12, at 10 am
Friday, Novermber 16, at 12 pm
Sessions are free. Contact the Comox Community Centre at 250-339-2255 to register.
