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 Bruce Gudeit has served on the Fort Smith Volunteer Fire Department for more than 15 years. He says there's more to firefighting than running into a burning building. - Paul Bickford/NNSL photo |
Gudeit says there's a role for him with the Fort Smith Volunteer Fire Department, even though he is 49 and close to 400 pounds.
"I feel there's still something for me to do," he says, noting firefighting is not all about running into burning buildings.
During a fire, Gudeit can do such things as change an air bottle for another firefighter, operate a pumper truck, or organize back-up services. "I can still take a hose for an outside attack."
Because he lives about 16km outside town, he is not often a first responder at a fire scene.
Gudeit says he will be with the department as long as he is needed, although he would step aside if more people volunteered.
"If there was enough young, fit people willing to volunteer 15-20 years of service to the department, I wouldn't be here," he says.
His 15 years on the department make him the second-longest serving member.
Gudeit says he was honoured when the then-fire chief asked him to join, although he notes he was basically told to join. That was because at the time he drove the town's water truck, which is used as a back-up supply of water.
"I didn't fill out an application until I was on the department for about 10 years, he says.
Gudeit says he stayed on the fire department so long because he enjoys the camaraderie of the team.
He notes he played a lot of team sports when he was younger, and after leaving school, ran with a motorcycle gang in B.C.
Although he hasn't ridden a motorcycle for a long time, he recently bought a dirt bike.
Gudeit, who is originally from North Vancouver, has lived in Fort Smith since 1983, when he came north to help his late father liquidate a sawmill operation.
It was supposed to be a temporary visit, he says. "But I'm still here."
During his time in Fort Smith, he has had a number of jobs and is now semi-retired.
Eight years ago, Gudeit started the fire department's annual Christmas food and toy drive for The Extended Hand food bank.
