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LIIDLII KUE/FORT SIMPSON
The Fort Simpson Volunteer Fire Department is reaching out to the community to help fill gaps in the community's fire fighting force.

As part of a training exercise for the Fort Simpson Volunteer Fire Department, Scott Cameron, left, and Laurie Ozmun spray water to protect a neighbouring building from catching on fire. - NNSL file photo

A drop in volunteer numbers has led the department to launch a recruitment drive.

A number of members have left the community in the past few months and the department is down to critical levels, said Scott Cameron, a captain with the department.

The department currently has 10 regular members and three auxiliary, who are long-standing members with fewer active duties. Ideally the department should have between 15 and 20 regular members and between five and 10 auxiliary, Cameron said.

In a bid to entice new members, the department is using posters, mail-outs, e-mail and Facebook to raise awareness. The recruitment drive will culminate with a two-day orientation on March 3 and 4.

During the orientation, potential recruits will be given an overview of everything the department does. It will give them a good idea of who we are and what we do, said Cameron. Those who are interested can then fill out an application.

The two primary requirements for new recruits is a willingness to carry a fire department radio and to work on-call for both ambulance shifts and fire response.

"There's obviously more action and more work when you are on call for ambulance," Cameron said.

One of the main concerns local residents have about joining the department is they don't want to have to respond to an ambulance call involving a family member or relative, said Cameron. If members of the department aren't comfortable with a situation all they have to do is call for back-up, he said.

Members of the department are also responsible for attending meetings, training on Wednesday nights and contributing to the department's initiatives such as fire prevention week. Potential recruits don't have to have any previous experience.

"It's really about showing up and trying," said Cameron.

New recruits will undergo training with Fort Simpson firefighters and formal training programs. Cameron, who joined the department five years ago after a friend suggested it, said there are a number of benefits.

"It's a really direct way to contribute to the people and businesses of Fort Simpson," he said.

"We're 24-hour protection for Fort Simpson for firefighting, ambulance services and car crash response."

Being part of the department is also a very social experience. Members plan a variety of events throughout the year including barbecues and suppers during big sports tournaments.

Although being a part of the department is a commitment, aspects of it, such as carrying a radio, quickly become part of your daily routine, Cameron said.

For Scott Whitmore, who's been with the department for two and a half years, joining was a way to feel more a part of the community he'd moved to. It's also a way to reinvest in the community and meet people, Whitmore said.

"It's very easy to become involved and feel like you are contributing and doing something positive," he said.

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