After serving the community since 1937, the Gibsons and District Volunteer Fire Department is putting out the call: more volunteers are needed.
Fire chief Bob Stevens said staffing at the fire hall has not reached crisis levels, but more committed volunteers are badly needed to maintain service levels.
Stevens said a volunteer force of about 40 is ideal; there are only about 30 members on the list now and several of them are unavailable. The situation has been made worse by the loss of 10 volunteers in 2009.
"When you're looking at 40 as your full and you're responding with 20 people, 50 per cent capacity is not a comforting feeling," he said.
He said if numbers fall below where they are now, the department will have to review the services it provides to the community and possibly reduce some of the less critical calls it responds to, like broken water mains and other forms of public assist originating from 9-1-1 calls. He said fires and medical emergency responses would not be affected.
"We're going to get down to the bare, basic services we can provide. Considering the few people that are left, you can't afford to burn them out by giving 20 people the work of 40 because what you're going to be doing there is burning your guys out and driving more guys out the door even faster than you already would," he said.
He added that even with incoming new volunteers, there is still a loss of invaluable experience from outgoing ones.
Physical requirements for volunteering are "wide open" Stevens said. The age range they are looking for is 19 to 65. The physical aptitude test is the Tin Man challenge residents may have seen at Sea Cavalcade.
"That's our test. If you can do that course that's it. That's all you need to do. We provide all the training for you," he said.
Stevens emphasized that women are "more than welcome to apply" and that the department has a strong history of women at the department.
Training is provided on Wednesday nights and weekends for three months.
While some volunteers have had to leave to find work or have stopped volunteering for personal or family reasons, Stevens said there are veterans who have been around for 10 years or more, and there is a reason for it.
"It's one of those things that gets into the blood you just do it. You like it. You become a bit of an extended family," he said. "There's a sense of giving back to the community. It's got to be one of the best ways you can possibly do that. Helping someone in times of need, there's no better feeling than being able to help someone and feel you've made a difference. It's very gratifying."
He added that some find the adrenaline rush of responding to the call, putting out a fire or saving a life too hard to leave and the skills and training recruits receive last a lifetime.
Stevens said there are a few new applicants ready to start training in a couple weeks and there is both room and a need for more. It's not too late to get in before the next training session.
Stevens said he welcomes phone calls, drop-ins or e-mails with more questions, and applications are available at www.gibsonsfire.ca.
