Jessica Klinkenberg
Northern News Services
Published Monday, November 5, 2007

YELLOWKNIFE - Four firefighters from communities across the North were recognized with the 2007 Fire Service Merit Award last month. Two of the recipients are from Jean Marie River, one is from Hay River and another from Fort McPherson.

Arnold Gargan of Jean Marie River, left, and Norman Firth of Fort McPherson hold up the 2007 Fire Service Merit Awards that they won last month. - Jessica Klinkenberg/NNSL photo

Norman Firth, of Fort McPherson, received the award after serving 25 years on the local firefighting brigade.

"It goes back to when I was a little boy, I used to see the volunteer firefighters going out and I thought when I was older I would join them," he said.

He not only saw them going out, he also would watch his father prepare to fight fires.

"My dad was a volunteer firefighter, too, and I thought one day I would join him."

For the past 15 years he has been the fire chief in Fort McPherson.

In Jean Marie River, Arnold Gargan has been the volunteer fire chief for 12 years. Since he took over as fire chief, he said he's been working at increasing the interest in volunteering.

He said he has been co-operating with the three communities that surround Jean Marie River on training.

"In all the three communities we set up a training program."

He said that volunteering in general is its own reward.

"(I enjoy) just volunteering and helping people like that," he said.

With eight volunteers and one youth he said that ensures that they get the youth, in the community interested in firefighting.

Like Firth, Gargan has always wanted to help fight the fires in his community.

"I always wanted to be a volunteer firefighter," he said.

Firth and Gargan received a framed certificate of their award, and Gargan said he knows what he's going to do with it.

"I'm going to hang it in the fire hall," he said.

Being nominated made Gargan very proud.

"I'm so overwhelmed and so surprised and honoured."

Firth said it's motivating to be awarded.

"It's a good feeling and kind of makes you want to go further," he said.

Fort McPherson has 10 volunteer firefighters and the community is working on expanding the fire hall.

Firth has already got a spot picked out for his award as well.

"I thought I'd put (the award) in my office," he said.

MLA Michael McLeod, minister of municipal and community affairs, said he was happy to see so many community firefighting volunteers awarded and recognized.

"It brings attention to the firefighters and I think it encourages people to get involved."

McLeod said he understands the amount of work the men put in.

"I can appreciate all the effort that's involved, I was a volunteer firefighter," he said.

However McLeod has not been involved in firefighting for 20 years and said that he wouldn't be able to fight fires today.

"I think we need more young people to step up and get involved," he said.

The other two winners were unable to attend the presentation of the awards in Yellowknife. They are Dean Korpesio, from Hay River, and Gerald Grossetete, from Jean Marie River.