A family in Espanola is celebrating a promotion in the ranks of the Espanola Fire Department (EFD). Jamie Ramsay, born and raised in Espanola has recently been promoted to the rank of Assistant Fire Chief for the Espanola Fire Department.
On the Espanola Fire Department social media page it says, “Assistant Fire Chief Jamie Ramsay is a highly deserving individual whose commitment and dedication to our service is truly appreciated. As he embarks on this new chapter, Assistant Fire Chief Jamie Ramsay continues the legacy of his father, Deputy Fire Chief Jim Ramsay.”
Deputy Chief Jim Ramsay retired from the EFD in 2012 after 44 years of service with the department. Jim was born in 1940 in Sudbury Minnow Lake area and five years later his family moved to Espanola. Stan Ramsay, Jim’s father was with the police service in Copper Cliff, and later got a job at INCO mines before securing a job at the Espanola mill as an electrician.
Jim followed his father’s career and went to work for the mill. During those years the mill had its own fire department that not only served the paper mill but the whole community. In 1968, Jim became a firefighter and within two years the new firehall was constructed at its present location in 1970. Jim worked his entire career with the mill, starting on the paper machines, working his way up to human resources at the sawmill in Nairn, and eventually coming back to Espanola as the human resources manager. From that position Jim moved on to become the head of HR for Ontario for forestry and wood products.
Not only did Jim work full time at the mill and as a volunteer firefighter, but he was also an accomplished hockey player. He played in the Ontario Hockey League and had a tryout with the NHL Boston Bruins. He refereed in the OHL for many years which included games with Wayne Gretsky who played with the Sault Greyhounds at the time.
By 1979, Jim was a captain for the EFD. Jamie says that during his whole life his father was always in fire service.
“As a kid I was always at the firehouse, going with my dad to do hall checks and even played the ‘victim’ when he was doing training courses on first-aid with the team. I loved to climb all over the old trucks and play when I was a small kid, and when I got a little older, I would ride my bike chasing the fire trucks when I heard the sirens. My dad never pushed me into being a firefighter, he let me do my own thing,” says Jamie.
Jamie and his wife Terri have been married for 24 years and have three daughters, Christen, Camryn and Danielle. Like his father, Jamie took a job at the mill where he worked from 1999 to 2007 for Domtar as a maintenance supervisor and then left Domtar to take on a new job at Vale in Copper Cliff as a maintenance supervisor where he still works today.
Jamie and his wife Terri moved to McKerrow and Jamie joined the Baldwin Township Fire Department in 2001.
“One of my first real calls was by Jacklin Road and Highway 17 where I was able to work alongside my dad at a mutual call for both departments.”
In 2006, Jamie was promoted to captain for BTFD and took over the training course in McKerrow.
“We had a few calls over the years where I worked alongside my dad, but one of the most memorable was the large fire at Cortina’s restaurant in Espanola where I worked under the direction of my dad as mutual aid support for this fire,” says Jamie. “My dad put me and another big guy on the 2 1/2-inch hose at the back of the building. For me it was so awesome to be able to serve with my dad on a fire.”
All those years Jamie says that he was able to do all the training courses necessary, even those that were out of town because of the support of his family, especially his wife.
“I used my holidays for training and if I could, we would take the two girls during those years and make a little vacation around my training courses.”
In 2010, Jamie, his wife and two daughters moved back to Espanola. He stayed for a while with the Baldwin Fire Department but felt the pull to join Espanola FD. They didn’t have any openings at that time but when Jamie’s father Jim decided to retire in 2012, Jamie was hired and began officially with EFD, Jan. 1, 2013. He continued to take courses and was able to get his National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) training in officer 3, fire incident safety officer, instructor 1 and 2, and officer 4 as well as other courses. In 2016, Jamie moved up to lieutenant and by 2017 moved up to rank of captain and training officer.
“The past 23 years as a firefighter could not have happened without the support of my wife Terri who allowed me to chase this dream that began as a youngster of being in fire service,” says Jamie. “Terri’s support and that of my dad who taught me how to be a firefighter and who has always been there to give advice or just be a sounding board when I needed it has made my career possible.”
Jamie also acknowledges how important the support of all his fellow firefighters in both McKerrow and Espanola has been over all these years.
“The department is nothing without these awesome individuals who selflessly serve the community and department making it what it is today. The men and women firefighters continually sacrifice their time to train and attend calls for their community, and I am so fortunate to be able to serve with them over all these years. It is a true honour for me.”
“I am truly humbled and honoured to be selected to take on this new role and grateful that my father was able to be here for this milestone in my life. None of this would have been possible without the support of family, my fellow firefighters and officers that I have served with, like Deputy Chief Henry Girard and Fire Chief Mike Pichor.”