The special bond between firefighters and the community they serve is commemorated in a unique fashion
Firefighters within my hometown of Kelowna, British Columbia, have long held a place of honour in the hearts and minds of the people they serve. In September 2011, timed to coincide with the tenth anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks in the United States, the Kelowna Professional Firefighters Association acknowledged the special relationship they have developed with the community over the years by erecting a commemorative statue in front of Kelowna Fire Hall No. 1. Aptly named “Tradition of Service,” the statue was donated to the residents of the city, and, in an artistic and compelling way, bridges the gap between the modern era of Kelowna’s fire department and its early days.
The origins of the Kelowna Fire Department can be traced back to a bucket brigade formed in the late 1890s. In 1903, the town had its first major fire, in which a local business was burned to the ground. Residents decided afterwards that they needed to organize an actual fire department. Easier said than done, the task was completed by 1909.
The first truck that the department acquired was a Broderick hand-pump truck, built in San Francisco in 1850, one of the first manufactured in the state of California. It took 20 men to operate, and failed to work at times. On May 28, 1928, Kelowna’s very first ladder truck was purchased—a 1928 Graham, one of the finest trucks of its time.
In Kelowna, the term “firefighter” has included women as well as men for a very long time. The Women’s Volunteers Brigade, also known as the Ladies Hose Reel Team, came into existence during the First World War (1914-1918), due to the lack of men, who were off fighting the war. The ladies were well equipped with boots, coats and masks, and were always prepared to jump into the fray when needed.
Our first fire hall was built at the corner of Water Street and Lawrence Avenue, and is still in use full time today. A beautiful heritage building, it not only still serves a vital purpose but also attracts a lot of attention from visitors.
In 1976, a new fire hall was built on Enterprise Way and it has been the department’s headquarters ever since. Now referred to as Kelowna Fire Hall No. 1, this main station is now home to the “Tradition of Service” tribute.
By now, you must be wondering why I know so much about Kelowna’s firefighting services. Well, while I don’t recall the actual date that our Volunteer Fire Brigade became active, I do know that my father, Fred Coe, signed up on August 29, 1960, and volunteered until April 16, 1979. By the time he retired, he was a captain of the volunteer brigade.
I have many memories of Dad being called out in the middle of the night to fires, but the most vivid in my mind were the 1964 fires at the Kelowna Growers’ Exchange: Four KGE packing houses went up in flames on March 14 of that year, which just so happened to be my dad’s birthday. He was helping to fight those fires for more than 24 hours and returned home, totally exhausted, still wearing his fire gear with his sodden pyjamas underneath. I was so upset, as he had missed his birthday and all he wanted to do was sleep.
At the time, he was also fighting for his livelihood, as he and three other partners owned the Rowcliffe Cannery, which was only one block away from where these big fires were raging. Our family was very concerned not only about Dad’s safety but also about his business future.
My husband Trevor (Terry) Turner was also a volunteer firefighter, starting in 1963, while he worked full time in other positions with the city of Kelowna. In 1977, he became a full-time firefighter and worked hard at the job he loved until his retirement in December of 1991.
The most devastating wildfire near Kelowna in recent times was the Okanagan Mountain Park Fire in August 2003—some 25,000 hectares of forest and 239 houses were consumed, and approximately 27,000 people had to be evacuated. It took 1,000 firefighters and 1,400 members of the Canadian Armed Forces to put that fire out. And to think it all began with a lightning strike.
The Kelowna Fire Department now has 115 full-time personnel and 66 paid-on-call volunteers operating from seven fire stations. Four stations are manned 24/7 by full-time firefighters, and three additional stations are run by the “paid-on-call” volunteers. In addition, there are two full-time staff members dedicated to training and safety.
The fire department is very involved in our community as well, actively promoting fire safety year-round. The Kelowna Professional Fire Fighters Charitable Society donates money raised at their many events during the year to various charitable organizations and worthy causes throughout the city, including the Burn Fund, muscular dystrophy, the Cancer Fund, and the Adaptive Ski Program at the nearby Big White ski resort.
Above all, and in keeping with its lengthy tradition of service, the Kelowna Fire Department plays a big role in providing leadership and a sense of hope during fires and other natural and man-made catastrophes, for which we as a community are tremendously thankful and proud.
—by Barbara Turner, Kelowna, British Columbia