The Kennebecasis Valley Fire Department is marking a century in service this year.
Its roots date back to 1924 when the Rothesay Fire Department came into existence.
At the time, the department had a Model T chemical fire truck and was staffed fully by volunteers.
Now, 100 years later, there are 40 career firefighters working out of two stations in Rothesay and Quispamsis.
Among them are Capt. Bill Gentleman and Lt. Robert MacLeod, who have been full-time employees since the 1990s.
Changes over the years
They have seen a lot of changes throughout their careers, such as better equipment, improved training, and more members.
Gentleman, who has been a full-time member for the past 34 years, said one of the big changes has been how fires burn.
“The materials we use for building and products now, everything’s gone plastic and lightweight. The way we build our houses is totally different,” he said.
“It all equals hotter, faster-burning fires with more toxic chemicals that are around.”
That has meant improved breathing apparatus and turnout gear to keep firefighters safe when on the job.
Relationship building
For MacLeod, who joined the department 27 years ago, one of the most positive changes has been building new relationships with neighbouring departments.
“We are working great together. We train together now, which we never did before. We embrace the help, which we never did before,” he said.
“It was kind of a tight ship here when I first came here. It was like we look after our own, we do our own work. But now it’s like a broader brush.”
MacLeod said those relationships are key when firefighters are dealing with larger fires — something that has become more common over the years.
“They know what to expect from us. We know what to expect from them when we get on an event or they come to our event,” he added.
“It’s refreshing and comforting when you’re an officer on a scene and you see a large supply of water show up that you would need.”
Training for all scenarios
Training has also been key for the department, especially as more mid-rise buildings are constructed in Quispamsis and Rothesay.
MacLeod and Gentleman agree that the department has done a lot of work to ensure their crews are ready for any type of scenario.
“The department has taken it upon itself to train us in multi-level units. We have set up training props at our Station 1 in Rothesday. We train on pumping different levels and different heights, standpipe operations,” said MacLeod.
“We’re moving in the right direction, but those buildings are definitely a challenge. And the more they put up, the more chances we have of having an incident in one of them,” added Gentleman.
Looking ahead to the future, both senior officers believe the department will continue to grow alongside the communities that it serves.
A number of events are planned to mark the 100th anniversary, including an open house in October and an awards ceremony in November.
The department also created a documentary featuring interviews with several retired members. You can watch it below.
