Roxanna Thompson
Northern News Services

Yellowknife (Sep 16/05) - Yellowknife Airport firefighter, Captain Greg Irvine has been awarded the Fire Services Exemplary Service Medal for 20 years of work.

The award was presented at a service recognition lunch last Friday. But for Irvine, 20 years is nothing. Irvine is following in the footsteps of his father who was an airport firefighter for 37 years. He served 20 years in the Canadian military and 17 in the Department of Transportation.

Captain Greg Irvine in his favourite fire truck.Irvine has been awarded the Fire Services Exemplary Service Medal for 20 years of work. - Roxanna Thompson/NNSL photo

Growing up as an army brat, Irvine lived in Europe and every province in Canada except Quebec.

He started firefighting as soon as he could, becoming a junior firefighter in Inuvik at the age of 14.

"It was something in common with dad that I enjoyed," Irvine said.

He only got to clean hoses and trucks but it planted the seed. After that he became a volunteer.

Irvine's career started at the Inuvik airport fire department in 1980. He joined the Yellowknife department in 1983 and spent some time in Watson Lake and Norman Wells.

After 20 years, camaraderie between firefighters is one of the things that keeps him in the job.

"The guys are fun to work with," Irvine said.

The tight-knit group shares a lot of the same interests like hunting, fishing and other outdoor activities. They are also the people you turn to after a traumatic fire.

One of Irvine's worst was a house fire that killed three adults and four kids while he was volunteering in Inuvik.

The equipment is another reason he likes his job.

"How many people let you play with a half a million dollar toy," he asked pointing at the E-One.

The E-One fire truck is his favourite piece of equipment.

"It's like a big video game," he said.

Irvine plans to continue working as an airport firefighter for as long as he can, but he doesn't think he will beat his dad's record.

"It's too long to beat him," Irvine said.