Perth’s first full-time fire chief has died at the age of 77 after a brief battle with cancer.
David “Dave” Bell died on Thursday, Oct. 19. He grew up in Perth, and volunteered with the Perth fire department, while working with, and later managing the family business, Stuart H. Bell and Sons.
He rose through the ranks of the fire service, becoming Perth’s first full-time fire chief in 1993. He also distinguished himself with several awards for his acts of bravery. He won the Golden Helmet in 1979, the Ontario Medal for Firefighters Bravery in 1984, and the Star of Courage the same year.
He took a lead role with the Lanark County Emergency Services during the Ice Storm of 1998, and was also actively involved in the Safe Communities initiative.
He retired as chief in 2004, but continued to serve the community through his work with the Otty Lake Association, and St. James the Apostle Anglican Church.
Friends may pay their respects at the Blair and Son Funeral Home, 15 Gore St. W., in Perth, today (Oct. 22) from 2 to 5 p.m., and 6 to 8 p.m. The funeral service will be held at St. James on Tuesday, Oct. 23, at 10 a.m., followed by a private internment for family.
In remembrance, contributions can be made to the Canadian Cancer Society’s “Wheels of Hope” program or to St. James church, which would be greatly appreciated.
Words of condolence
"The guys here are taking it pretty hard, with his years of service and dedication," said the current fire chief, Trevor Choffe, during a telephone interview on Monday, Oct. 22. "I knew him for many years." In fact, Bell was the first person to contact him when he became fire chief, to let him know that he was available if he ever needed help.
Members of the Perth fire department will muster at the Crystal Palace at 5:45 p.m., and will march up Basin Street, turn right onto Gore Street East, and march down to the Blair and Sons funeral home, as part of a parade of honour. Once they arrive at the funeral home, "we'll do a walk-through and prayer," he said. "He just meant so much to the department and community."
Perth Mayor John Fenik, speaking later that same morning, during a telephone interview, recalled that he was a rookie councillor while Bell was still the fire chief.
“He put his arm around me,” said Fenik. Telling Fenik that he would face a steep learning curve as a new councillor, he told him that “my door is always open to you.”
During his time on council, he recalled that Bell “did not hold back on (making) requests to council. He always put the firefighters first and (made sure) that their needs were met.”
Along with having great “confidence,” and being “known for his ability to lead,” Fenik remembered that Bell had a “great sense of humour.”
Fenik said he had ordered the flags at town hall to be lowered to half staff as a mark of respect.
“He will be sorely missed. He impressed me so much,” said Fenik. “Life’s short. It really is.”
Bell is survived by his wife Donna (need Emerson), to whom he was married for 54 years. He also leaves behind two children, Kelly and Michael, and grandchildren David, Emerson, Paige, Cohan, and Hilary, as well as brothers Donald and Doug. He is predeceased by his brother Harold, and parents Stuart and Muriel (nee Greenley).
Star of Courage
On Jan. 22, 1984, Bell, then Perth’s deputy fire chief, was honoured by Governor General Jeanne Sauve, with the Star of Courage, during a ceremony at Rideau Hall in Ottawa.
According to the Governor General’s website, on Jan. 4, 1983, Bell “repeatedly risked his life to rescue a woman and her 18-month-old son from a burning apartment.” They were trapped in a ground-floor apartment, so he “entered through a broken bedroom window. As thick smoke poured from the adjacent living room, he crawled on the bedroom floor, found the semi-conscious child and carried him to the window. In spite of pleas from onlookers…Bell turned into the suffocating smoke and located the woman, but had to return to the window to clear his lungs. Knowing from experience he was placing his own life in jeopardy, he then fought to free himself when onlookers attempted to restrain him. Relying on the sound of the unconscious woman gasping for breath, he made his way through the smoke a third time and succeeded in bringing her to safety. While the victims were rushed to hospital…Bell donned his fireman’s apparel and joined the other in fighting the blaze.” The commendation from Rideau Hall praised Bell for his “courage and tenacity,” for saving two lives.
Link to original article in Perth Courier: Former Perth fire chief dies at the age of 77