On average, the Espanola Volunteer Firefighters Association receives more than 100 calls a year. The men and women have to be ready to sacrifice what they are doing including special family events. The association has 29 members, four women and 25 men. On Nov. 3, they gathered at the Espanola Royal Canadian Legion to receive recognitions for their efforts.
Training is a large part of the volunteer’s commitments. Captain Jamie Ramsay is a certified training instructor. He explained that the firefighters devote more than 20 hours a month on training exercises and there are new standards set by the National Fire Protection Association which must be met. The department is fortunate that Ramsay has the qualifications to do the training in-house. Firefighters must also maintain a first-aid certificate and have a DZ licence.
On top of call outs and training the firefighters are present at many events including the fireworks, the Santa Claus parade, the Winter Carnival, and fundraising last winter for Rare Diseases, to name a few. They have an in-depth smoke detector program where they do house to house checks and regularly engage in public education on fire safety.
Honours given at the Service Awards ceremony went to Henry Girard for 40 years of service, Mike Pichor for 35, Marcel Dault for 30 years, Mike Langlois for 25, Jamie Ramsay for 20 years, Ryan Courtemanche for 15, Curtis Taylor for 10 and David Gunson and Nicholas Cormier for five years of service. Mike Langlois achieved the rank of captain, while Derek Lalonde, MC of the evening, and Jeremy Ryan were recognized for becoming lieutenants.
Speakers for the event included MPP Mike Mantha, Mayor Douglas Gervais, Joseph Burke town clerk, Chief Mike Pichor, Captain Jamie Ramsay and Deputy Chief Henry Girard. They spoke of the dedication of the firefighters, thanking them for their efforts and the importance of support from their families. Girard summed up the evening by expressing his appreciation for his mentors, saying “My mentors are the reason I am so passionate about firefighting. We share a group identity and each volunteer is an asset.”
Espanola Fire Services expressed thanks to Gerry Massicotte and assistants for preparing the dinner and to the Legion for the use of the facility.