Dawn Ostrem
Northern News Services

Yellowknife (Oct 10/01) - Mike Lowing put his typing fingers to a different use last week, rolling hoses and re-learning how to use the equipment at the Yellowknife fire department.

But he's not your average rookie firefighter. He has 17 years in the department under his belt, including a decade as deputy chief. It was an administrative position that gave him a high profile in the city as the department's spokesperson, but it also kept him off the fire lines.

He wanted to return to active duty.

"It is time for a change and as a manager I made all the changes I could and it was time to start learning again."

Lowing, 37, made the request to return to regular duty at a meeting of officers in September.

"Mike just announced he wanted to go back on the floor," said fire chief Mick Beauchamp. "I was surprised but I understood his motives and I respect it."

Lowing's first day back as a general duty firefighter was Oct. 8. Deputy maintenance chief Sandy McPhee made sure the occasion did not go unnoticed.

Night-shift workers woke to bouts of belly laughter after reading a message written on the white board.

It encouraged them to treat Lowing with kindness and respect as rookies are often timid and afraid.

Members of the day crew joined in the joking, and Lowing, chipper and energetic, took it all in stride. "If the coffee and dishes are not done, I'll hear about it," he said.

He spent much of the day re-acquainting himself with the equipment, guided by rookie firefighter Ian Whitford, hired only a few months ago.

"You know your stuff," said Whitford as Lowing went over the vast amounts of equipment stored in compartments of fire engines and other rescue vehicles.

The technology may have changed, but Lowing has an advantage on most rookies: he wrote many of the department's procedures.

Lowing's first call came mid-morning. He jumped in the fire engine's driver's seat and was soon barrelling down Franklin Avenue, lights flashing and siren blaring.

It was a false alarm but was exactly what he was after.

Lowing said that after 17 years it is still thrilling and he is glad to be able to ride the fire engine instead of the desk.

"I really enjoyed what I did but I can keep enjoying it from all different perspectives," he said.

"A lot of people thought I would be a lifer in that job and I guess I wanted people to see me in a different light. I want to see the adventure."