Coombs-Hilliers Volunteer Fire Department
3241 alberni highway Qualicum Beach, BC, Canada

This weeks featured person on our "Get to know your local firefighters" post is Firefighter Jenny Jones. . (These posts are being done so you can get to know who the dedicated men and women serving your community are.) -------------------------------------------------------------------------... Jenny joined CHVFD as part of the 2020 recruit class. She wanted to be able to help the community and give back. She was raised in Parksville, and has always had ties to the area. Although this is Jenny's first year in firefighting, her father had a career in wildland firefighting. "I grew up being so proud of and watching my father fight wildfires and do fire patrols as the mid island Fire Warden for Coastal Fire Centre. He passed away in 2013 in a Line of Duty death. The brother hood and love that was shown began to open my eyes to trying a new path." When asked what she enjoys most about being a firefighter she says: "Being there to help when people need it the most. Also, having an opportunity to learn and grow is amazing. I went from no knowledge of being a volunteer firefighter to being a certified first responder. There are so many paths, and so much to learn. " Outside of firefighting Jenny is a Sous Chef. She has 2 Red Seal Certifications, one for Baking and one for Cooking. When she isn't busy fighting fires or working, she enjoys being active, spending time with friends and family, and taking care of her fur babies and chickens. She is also looking forward to starting some new career changing courses. (Jenny also decorates custom specialty and wedding cakes, and used to build chocolate/sugar sculptures for competitions!) She also adds: "Take the chance to challenge yourself and try something new. I have made new friends, strengthened friendships and have found out I am capable of achieving more than I could have ever imagined, especially with the help of all the great people at CHVFD. " We are proud to have you on our team Jenny!

This weeks featured person on our "Get to know your local firefighters" post is Captain Brad Cornish . (These posts are being done so you can get to know who the dedicated men and women serving your community are.) -------------------------------------------------------------------------... Brad has been with CHVFD for over 8 years now, spending the last few years as a Captain. He started when he was 17 as a junior member. He knew a few friends that were also junior members in neighboring departments, so he thought it would be something fun to try out. (Obviously he liked it!) Brad is a local to Coombs, and when he isn't busy fighting fires he works as an equipment operator and truck driver, and enjoys doing just about anything outdoors. When asked what he enjoys most about firefighting he says: "I enjoy everything about it. Giving back to the community, the new skills/ on going learning, being able to set training goals and work towards those goals, the opportunity to step outside of my comfort zone, and working with an amazing group of men and women ." We are glad to have you as part of our team Capt'!

Our area is under warning for a significant weather event. We are expecting strong winds, wet snow and rainfall. Use caution when traveling, or avoid traveling if possible. ... Stay safe and warm! #BCstorm

Last call for recruitment applications! Our deadline is November 4th, 2020. Contact [email protected] for more information.

This weeks featured person on our "Get to know your local firefighters" post is Lieutenant Theresa Benoit. (These posts are being done so you can get to know who the dedicated men and women serving your community are.) -------------------------------------------------------------------------... Theresa has been with CHVFD for 7 years now. In 2019 she became CHVFD's 2nd full-time hire. She works at the fire hall now doing Fire Prevention, training, and regular fire suppression duties. She had a few family members in the Fire Department that encouraged her to join as a junior member in 2013, and she says she hasn't regretted a minute of it since. Theresa grew up in Coombs, and couldn't picture being anywhere else. She says "Living in a small community you really get to know everyone, and being in the fire department I know that I'm able to support my community in other ways as well. Our Department has a lot of community support, and it's amazing to see that.". When Theresa isn't busy fighting fires or working, she enjoys spending time with family, her dog Maple, baking, fishing, gardening and being outdoors. When asked what she enjoys most about firefighting Theresa says: "For me, I really enjoy being part of such a dedicated team of great people. I'm surrounded by others who are there to help make a difference in their community and share the same passion, its like having a second family. Being able to help my community or those in need is a great feeling. We learn a lot of skills through training, and each time the pager goes off we get to challenge ourselves and put that knowledge and those skills to the test and make a difference. It's never a dull day. " Theresa would also like to share: "As I work in Fire Prevention, I always have many safety tips I would love to share, but one of the most important things I can say is to make sure you have working smoke alarms on each level in your home, and ensure you have a home escape plan. If you have children it is vital that you review that plan with them to help them understand. I would also like to share that we are currently recruiting firefighters, so if you have ever thought about it, now is the chance! get in contact with us at [email protected] for an application."

We try to post about positive or useful information. This past week we have experienced some negative behaviour at our number 2 Fire hall on the Alberni Hwy , during practice on Wednesday someone entered on of our members vehicles stealing personal belongings and this weekend a vehicle was stolen from our locked compound . Please if you’re driving by and notice something that appears to be out of the normal please report it . Thanks

From our friends over at Mainroad Mid Island Contracting. Please be advised of possible black ice and freezing weather in the mid-island area throughout the ne...xt 48 hours. The locations of concern are: Highway 4 and highway 19 at elevations higher than 100 meters. Mainroad crews and equipment will be patrolling and treating the highway as required. Motorists should watch for frost, black ice and slippery conditions. Please leave extra time for travel and lower your speed. Drive safe! #bcstorm

There are multiple registered Category 3 burn piles being burned in our fire protection area currently. We have been notified of the burns, and the venting index today is "Good" which means it is sufficient to disperse smoke. We hope everyone has a wonderful and safe weekend.

Government of Canada has issued a special weather statement for parts of Vancouver Island. There will be a risk of snowfall tonight and Friday morning. Use caution when driving, especially on Hwy 4 between Coombs and Port Alberni. Ensure your vehicle and tires are equipped for icy or snowy roadways. #WeatherAlert

UPDATE 4:03PM : the road is now open both directions. Expect delays on Hwy 4 between Koen Rd and Little Qualicum Falls Rd as we are on scene of an MVI. Alternating lane traffic.... We will update when the road is clear and all lanes are open again.

This weeks featured person on our "Get to know your local firefighters" post is Firefighter Sabrina Boyle. (These posts are being done so you can get to know who the dedicated men and women serving your community are.) -------------------------------------------------------------------------... Sabrina has been a firefighter since 2019 with CHVFD. She was looking for a way to meet new people and give back to the community, and a few firefighters encouraged her to join. "It was wonderful being around people who volunteer in their spare time. Really good people." Sabrina says she "got lucky" when it comes to ending up in Coombs. She hasn't always lived here, but they bought a home not knowing what a wonderful community they were about to join. When Sabrina isn't fighting fires, she enjoys working away at her hobby farm, surfing, and spending time camping with her dogs and husband. She also sells hot tubs at a local company Paramount Recreation, and is very grateful to have an amazing job so close to home. ([email protected] , http://www.paramountrec.com ) When asked what she enjoys most about firefighting she says: "Our weekly training gives me some of the physical activity I need. This helps me be motivated to stay in shape and to show up to calls ready to put in the work. I find it challenging and I enjoy that. I could do this for years and still be growing and learning new skills." " Pre joining the fire department. I had no idea how active this department was. The experiences here are diverse. They have a wonderful training program. The senior firefighters are great teachers. Always trying to better themselves. I have had so many people to learn form." You are a very valued member of our team Sabrina!

Media Release: The fire departments of Town of Qualicum Beach, Dashwood, and Coombs-Hillers have now completed the joint regional training building project and it’s now in use. The 1200 sq. ft. modular training building is designed with rooms, doors, windows and a stairwell to simulate a one and two-story house. The building will be used for both skill and scenario-based training. It also provides the ability to advance program development and train instructors. The training ...building will also be available to other fire or emergency services partners in the region which will enhance regional training and build on long existing, positive, inter-departmental relationships. The regional collaboration on this project reflects the great partnerships and agreements currently in place throughout the District 69 region. Nick Acciavatti, Fire Chief for Dashwood Fire Department relayed, This is an amazing opportunity for our local firefighters and our communities. We are truly lucky to have a collaborative effort between our fire departments to achieve this goal. The new training facility will be huge benefit for our firefighters and ultimately our community’s. We look forward to utilizing the new training building for years and years to come. Marc Norris, Fire Chief for Qualicum Beach & Parksville Fire Rescue Departments noted, This training building will benefit us and our regional partners by providing enhanced access to excellent training opportunities, which in turn helps to ensure the best possible delivery of service to the citizens of, and visitors to, our region. This collaboration is indicative of the ability and commitment of our local fire rescue departments to work together collectively. Aaron Poirier, Fire Chief for the Coombs-Hilliers Fire Department commented, This building is another of example of communities coming together to complement the fire service delivery model from a collaborative approach. This building enables firefighters to train on a multitude of scenarios on a more frequent basis thus helping to ensure a consistent service delivery model to all communities. Primary funding for this project was made possible through the Union of British Columbia Municipalities (UBCM), Community Emergency Preparedness Fund, which awarded $75,000 to the project. Contact Marc Norris, Fire Chief Town of Qualicum Beach & City of Parksville 250 752 6232 | [email protected]

This weeks featured person on our "Get to know your local firefighters" post is Firefighter Josh Malott. (These posts are being done so you can get to know who the dedicated men and women serving your community are.) -------------------------------------------------------------------------... Josh has been with CHVFD since January as a recruit firefighter. He had always dreamed of being a firefighter since he was a little kid, and always had the passion to join the fire department one day. Josh hasn't always been a local to Coombs, moving recently all the way from St. Thomas Ontario. He had dreamed of living in a place of beauty, and ended up on Vancouver Island. When Josh isn't fighting fires, he works in excavation, as a class 1 driver, equipment operator, and does carpentry work building fences and sheds. In his off time, he enjoys to go fishing, work on carpentry, and be the best daddy he can to his little girl Erin. When asked what he enjoys most about firefighting he said: "The versatile abilities of a firefighter is what I strive on. Being a member of the fire department is an amazing way to give back to the community and helping others in need is something that stays close to the heart, that is what the service is about and that is what I love most." Something else Josh would like to add is: "When I was 17 I applied for fire college and got denied as I did not have the chemistry requirements in high school, I chose a different career path, since then a decade later I got accepted on the CHVFD. Never give up on your dreams or passions. Things come around with time. " We are thankful to have Josh as part of our team!

Our area and many other areas on the Coast of BC are experiencing strong winds right now. Remember to stay indoors or away from trees, and to stay at least 10meters away from any fallen powerlines. Expect fallen trees and debris on roadways, and potential outages throughout the day.... If you see fallen lines stay away and report to 911. #bcstorm

Don't forget we are recruiting firefighters! Email [email protected] for an application or more information. Become part of our team, learn new skills, and give back to your community.

Here’s the October EMO enewsletter. Sign up to receive info directly to your inbox! https://conta.cc/3lh5YKW

Did you know this week is fire prevention week?! This year the theme is Fire Safety in the Kitchen. Last year we responded to multiple cooking related calls, one resulted in major damage and property loss. ... The leading cause of fires in the kitchen is unattended cooking ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Here are a few tips for cooking safely in the kitchen: Stay in the kitchen when you are frying, boiling, grilling, or broiling food. If you are simmering, baking, or roasting food, check it regularly and stay in the home. Always keep a lid nearby when cooking. If a small grease fire starts, slide the lid over the pan and turn off the burner. Leave the pan covered until it’s cool. Keep anything that can catch fire away from your stovetop. Loose clothing can hang down onto stove burners and catch fire. Wear short, close-fitting, or tightly rolled sleeves when cooking. Have a kid-free zone of at least 3 feet (1 metre) around the stove and areas where hot food or drink is prepared or carried.

This weeks featured person on our "Get to know your local firefighters" post is Acting Lieutenant Kevin Fuson. (These posts are being done so you can get to know who the dedicated men and women serving your community are.) -------------------------------------------------------------------------... Kevin has been with CHVFD for over 6 years now. He joined the Fire Service because he has family in the service, and when he was asked to joined he happened to be in a place that he could. Kevin hasn't always been a local to Coombs, he grew up in central Alberta and took the opportunity to come to Vancouver (Paradise) Island, and a series of lucky events landed him here. Outside of firefighting, Kevin works in Sales and Customer Service, and he enjoys to spend free time camping, reading, and recently has taken up dual sport motorcycling. When asked what he enjoys most about being a firefighter, he says: "The training opportunities to learn and develop new skills that can be used to help others in our community." Thanks for being a valued member of our team, Kevin!