OUTLOOK - It takes a lot to be a firefighter in your home community.
Grit, determination, patience, perseverance, and a strong will are only some of the qualities needed in this line of work.
But it can also be taxing when you happen to be the spouse of a firefighter. Being left to wait until the safe return of your loved one and understanding the stress levels that are faced by those on the job, it's easy to see that there's a very particular line of understanding that's shared between firefighters and their loved ones.
That's partly why the Outlook FireFlies group was started last summer. Comprised of the spouses of those with the Outlook-Rudy Fire & Rescue team, the group was formed as a way to spread awareness of the tolls that such emergencies can take on the whole family dynamic, as well as help fundraise for the local department and spearhead a number of initiatives while the firefighters can concentrate on what they do best.
Sitting down with this reporter were four members of the group: Rachel Sillers, Wendy Ball, Judy King and Sara King, who spoke openly and honestly about their roles in the whole dynamic and how the fire crew's current setup isn't the best way for it to operate, stressing the need for support of a new fire hall in Outlook.
"We've always been there behind the scenes," explained Rachel. "We felt that it was time to bring the support more to the forefront and show people what we could do to support the firefighters and the department. It happened to coincide very well with the new campaign for the fire hall."
Such a concept isn't new, as Ball says she was a previous member of another support group in another community.
"I was part of the ladies auxiliary group for the Langham fire department when I lived there," said Wendy. "It was our job, for example, to make sure that things were right in the trucks as far as snacks and drinks and that kind of stuff. We just supported them where we could, but without the fundraising part of it."
The role of the group, which also features membership comprised of Laura Jones, Destiny Lockhart, Sonya Bowey, Cassie Bowey, Debbie Ferguson, and Jenna Hope, is spreading that public awareness and ensuring that the community and area are fully aware that local firefighters are just the same as them - normal, everyday folk with jobs of their own, but those that are willing to drop everything in the case of an emergency.
"Our focus is mostly on community engagement," said Rachel. "We're reminding people that the firefighters and first responders in this community are your friends and neighbors, and they give up a lot to do this as volunteers. As well, we do safety education and awareness for kids and youth, as well as the elderly and vulnerable people."
"Like it says on our logo; our main goal is to support our local heroes in whatever way that they need," said Wendy.
"That isn't anything new for us," said Judy. "The group may have just formed, but we've been doing this for YEARS."
The reaction to the group's creation from the firefighters has been a positive one, especially knowing that it helps take some of the proverbial weight off of them in certain areas.
"I think they appreciate the support, for sure," said Sara. "They like the extra help and knowing that they can count on us to be there when they need it."
"Obviously, we're very close to them, as right now the group is only made up of spouses or partners of firefighters," said Rachel. "I think the appreciation comes from them understanding that they only have so much time to give, so it's hard for them to do practices and drills and training and calls and all of those things, and then do the other side with events and community engagement. That's where we can help facilitate that and bring them to the forefront without them having to invest even more of their own time."
Each of the men in these ladies' lives have served many years in fighting fires and emergencies, with Sara's spouse Dalas King (fire chief) having served 23 years, Judy's spouse George King having served 35 years, Rachel's spouse Don Hurd having served 21 years between both Conquest and Outlook, and Wendy's spouse Randy Ball having served 16 years between Langham and Outlook.
The women know that the work carried out by the fire crew is demanding on their daily lives, their bodies, and their minds. But, as Judy put it perhaps perfectly, for many of them, it's a mindset of 'Service Above Self' that allows them to carry out such work for their community. As well, the relationships that can form over the years help the crew when they need it the most.
"I'd say that every fire crew is different, but our guys are quite close to each other," said Wendy. "They don't have a problem talking to each other or sharing when one of them is struggling, as the rest are there to support them."
"They're in constant communication with each other," said Judy.
With their perspective as the spouses of firefighters, the need for a new hall is something of which these ladies have intimate knowledge. The tight quarters associated with the current fire hall hinders the crew's response time, and a new space will allow them to better prepare for any challenges that the future may bring.
"The need for a new fire hall is obvious," said Wendy. "This is due to our current lack of space and the scattered distribution of our equipment across the community. It significantly hinders our response time, as every moment in emergency situations is precious and having everything in one location will streamline the operation, enabling the Outlook-Rudy Fire & Rescue to respond more effectively to emergencies. Also, having more space for proper training is essential for ensuring our firefighters are well prepared to handle any situation they encounter. Investing in a new fire hall is not just looking at current needs, but proactively preparing for the future challenges, and ultimately, ensuring the safety and well-being of our community and area."
Sara believes that a new hall will allow the crew to run more smoothly and efficiently, painting a picture of what the current setup looks like depending on the emergency being presented.
"Then they wouldn't have to go to five different places to get the equipment before they can roll out of town," said Sara. "If they needed the boat, then you have to have some go over there to get the boat and hook it up, and then you go back and work to get yourself and the crew going."
With plans to create and sell another firefighters calendar for 2025, as well as being a part of the upcoming Canada Day celebrations, the Outlook-Rudy FireFlies are doing all they can to be present in the community. They're looking forward to things such as Fire Prevention Week, which will see the ladies visiting local schools and daycare, and some grant funding for summer programming with the Kinsmen Park will likely be a hit with families and young ones.
While the group raises funds, it isn't always earmarked for the new hall, as it's mainly to support the firefighters themselves to suit whatever needs may come up. With that being said, they do plan to make a sizable donation to the new hall when the time is right.
"Our job is to make sure that our community is aware that we exist, as well as the work that our guys do, and how important it is to have that in our community," said Wendy. "There are a lot of communities in the province that don't have a fire department, so that means it's a long wait for them if there was an emergency."
As far as these ladies are concerned, the best things about the Outlook-Rudy fire crew are the things that even the community sees about them.
"Their dedication," said Judy.
"The comradery of the brotherhood," said Wendy. "They're all like brothers, for sure."
"We've had weddings within the fire hall, and they'll do an honor guard, lined up outside the church," said Judy. "Things like that are fun. That's the brotherhood of it all."
"It probably is a cliche to say, but it feels like family," said Rachel. "I know that I can count on any one of them. They're our friends, they're our neighbors, they're people within this community, and they really are dedicated to that cause. It means so much to them, and I think they're happy that we embrace that, too. I like knowing that I can count on anybody."
"Once the call comes out, their brain just switches," said Sara. "It's where they need to go, and how they're going to get there, and their brains are just switched over to that. When they're done and come back, they debrief so that they can talk it all out, and then they come home to us and their brains switch back to family and work. Back to life in general."
The FireFlies, who are always looking for new members, hope that support for the new fire hall will come in quick and efficiently - just like the skills and actions shown by Outlook-Rudy firefighters when it's time to battle the flames.
