June 22, 2016
Wasaga Beach deputy fire chief retiring
By Gisele Winton Sarvis, Postmedia Network, the enterprisebulletin.com
Published: June 22, 2016
A party was held Saturday night for Wasaga Beach Fire Department's deputy chief Wes Higgins, who is retiring June 30 after more than 27 years of service.
"It was quite a shock to me," said Higgins, who was surprised by more than 80 people at a former co-worker's home.
Everyone was standing outside and along driveway road awaiting Higgins, who thought he was going with a friend to look at a barbecue for sale.
"It was just like the Royal family arriving going through the procession. It was amazing," said Higgins, 63, in his office this week.
Chief Michael McWilliam and Higgins have been working together since Day 1. They were hired on the same day as volunteer firefighters in 1989. They were hired full-time on the same day in 1995 when there were only two firefighting positions open.
"We were competing against each other," said Higgins.
Part of the competition was to run the Oxbow loop and Higgins, although older than McWilliam, was in excellent shape.
"We made a pact at the beginning of the race that we would cross the line together so we had the same score. We crossed the line together. We made a pact and that has been a very strong part of our relationship. We were a team right from Day 1," Higgins explained.
Higgins' career fire was the Main Street Mall fire overnight on Nov. 30, 2007. He was the captain on duty at 1 a.m. when the call came in.
He was working alone at Station 1, as the department ran with a one-man crew at each of the two stations, but had a Georgian College student on a preceptor course with him.
"We got the call and they thought it was a restaurant fire on Main Street," Higgins said.
"I came out of the (fire) hall and saw the flames right away and my radio transmission was, 'This is not a restaurant on Main Street this is the Main Street Mall."
Higgins was the first to arrive on the scene. He had to wait until his partner arrived from Station 2 with a second truck and for volunteer firefighters to arrive to begin to battle it.
"Our major concern was that we did have residential units above some of those buildings. Our main concern was that we got everyone out of those buildings," he said.
There were no injuries in the fire.
Higgins also had to decide what to do with the student to keep him safe while battling the largest blaze of his career. He ordered him to get on top of the truck and operate the water monitor.
"That kept him in a safe place and I could continue my work," he said.
Eight fire departments responded to the fire and dozens of firefighters battled the blaze including McWilliam, who had been sworn in as the fire chief only a month before.
"I was a brand new chief at the time and he was a captain. He was on duty so it was his call," said McWilliam, who has a large photo of the fire burning at night in his office.
"It was totally exhausting," said Higgins. The firefighters fought the fire all night. When relief firefighters were brought in in the morning, Higgins was sent home. But he was called back an hour later by the Fire Marshall's Office.
Higgins became the deputy chief a few months later in 2008.
McWilliam and Higgins fought many fires together, many of which were chimney fires.
While Higgins will be missed by the entire department, it's McWilliam who will miss him the most.
"Wes leaves big boots to fill. He is a leader, hard worker and very kind-hearted gentleman who I'm very proud to have worked alongside for our 27.5 years in the Wasaga Beach Fire Department. I wish him all the happiness in his retirement."
The equipment and technology has totally changed in the last 30 years, but the camaraderie between firefighters remains the same, Higgins and McWilliam said.
When Higgins joined the force, all the records were recorded by hand in a book. Now it's all electronic.
Higgins and McWilliam used to wear long black Petch coats and over-the-knee rubber boots when fighting a fire. The bunker gear has totally changed.
"You are far better protected today with the gear," said McWilliam.
What hasn't changed is the camaraderie between firefighters.
"It's not a normal work place. It's another family and that's a tradition that we hope to continue," said McWilliam.
Higgins said he will miss the camaraderie of the other firefighters as well as the work.
"It's a great job. You are serving the public. You are making their lives better at their weakest point - devastation. You are assisting them to get through that," he said.
Without a dedicated fire prevention officer in the department, that role has been filled by Higgins, who enjoys helping citizens and businesses learn fire prevention.
"You won't find anyone more dedicated to the Wasaga Beach Fire Department than Wes. He came to work every day wanting to make a difference, wanting to make our town a safer place to live and visit. We always had that true passion for the work he did and for the community," said McWilliam.
The chief has ordered Higgins to come around for coffee and not quit cold turkey.
"I know where he lives," said McWilliam.
Higgins started his career as a car mechanic and worked for Canadian Tire for about 25 years in Bramalea and Barrie before moving to Wasaga Beach in 1985.
He got into firefighting as a volunteer through encouragement by friends.
"I'm very fortunate that I've had two excellent careers in my life," he said.
After he moved to Wasaga Beach, he joined the Kinsmen Club and the executive of Wasaga Beach Minor Hockey.
Higgins has two grown children. He is re-married and together the couple have seven grandchildren.
Craig Williams has been hired to take over the position of deputy chief and started working June 6. He came from the deputy chief position at Springwater Township and has a lengthy background as a paramedic and trainer.