NEEBING — Brodie Fischer's house in Neebing is only a one-minute drive from the nearest fire hall. But that's just a lucky coincidence: volunteering at the local fire department runs in his veins like water in a hose.
"There's a great camaraderie in our group (of firefighters), and it just feels good to help out and give back to your community," Fischer said.
Neebing's fire department has been spreading the word this week about various members — "dedicated individuals (who) work tirelessly to ensure our safety," a bulletin said.
Geographically large, the Municipality of Neebing operates five fire halls as well as an additional building that's used to store equipment.
Fischer is among 25 volunteers committed to responding to emergencies, most of which are medical in nature, in remote areas where the closest hospital is in Thunder Bay.
"With the geographic size, response can be challenging at times, with members responding from all areas of the municipality," said Neebing fire Chief Mark Shruiff.
"That being said," Shruiff added, "we have a very dedicated group, and we will mount a response to any emergency, at any time."
New recruits attending emergency scenes start with necessary but less hands-on tasks like crowd control until they've increased their levels of training and experience.
"Training occurs weekly, on Tuesdays, with additional sessions periodically for specialty training or large-scale exercises," said Shruiff, who is a volunteer just like his fellow fire department members.
In a field heavy on regulation, even for rural volunteer fire departments, training seems never-ending. There is always another requirement or certification that a volunteer could try to attain.
Fischer, for instance, is qualified to drive the department's "rapid-attack" pumper, essentially a very big pickup truck outfitted with special equipment. But he can't drive a large-scale pumper because he doesn't have a DZ licence.
In firefighting, "very high-level standards are required," Fischer notes.
People still notice, though, when you're driving past in the rapid-attack vehicle, says Fischer, who by day, works as an engineering technician.
"You get a lot of waves," he said, adding fundraisers and other community-minded activities that firefighters become involved in are one of the perks of being on the fire department.
Compared to, say, 30 years ago, it's arguably a better environment for firefighters when they've confronted situations that most people never see: in the two years that Fischer has been a member of Neebing's fire department, he's already attended a scene in which someone died.
Debriefing sessions are mandatory, and there are helplines for firefighters stressed out in the wake of a tough emergency call.
Fischer, who grew up in Terrace Bay, says sometimes the best form of stress relief is talking amongst his fellow firefighters who attended the same tragedy.
"I've never felt that I've had to deal with anything alone," he said.
He said he admires volunteers who have racked up more than 20 years of firefighting experience, envisioning himself in a similar position down the road.
"I do encourage people to join," he said. "It's one of the best ways to get involved and make a tangible difference."
More information about the Neebing Fire Department can be found online at neebing.org.
The Chronicle Journal / Local Journalism Initiative
