HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Lucknow Sentinel, 1979-05-09, Page 17ain on departure
radio system with other ,fire departments in
Bruce Couny.
TINED GENERATION
Lucknow Fire Department has never lost
a fireman on duty'at a fire. Two Lucknow
families . have seen the tradition of
volunteer firemen go into the third genera-
tion. Ken Johnstone who is still an "active
fireman is the third generation of his
family. His father, Bill and grandfather,
Russ both served. Don Thompson was a
third generation firefighter while he
belonged to the department. He has 'since
left the department. His father, Campbell
and grandfather, Bob were also firemen.
Only one member of the department has
seen longer service than George Whitby.
Roy Havens joined in July of 1949 and
George joined in December of the same
year. Stu joined in 1952 as did Bud
Hamilton. Jack Treleaven joined in 1958.
Probably, most of these men went to fires
and helped fight them, before becoming
members of the department.
For the risk involved.-Lucknow firemen
are not over -paid.. On the record books in
1929.the ,chief was paid $15.05 for the fires,
he attended. Volunteer firemen in Lucknow
have always worked on the department as
just that - volunteers.
The hardest part has been fires which,
involved death butthrough the years there
have been only a few. The .most recent
close, call was the Menary. house fire last
year when .a mother jumped from a second
story window with her child:
The fire department was responsible for
locating drowning victims and there have
been several incidents where Lucknow
children have drowned: • The fire depart
meetwas called either to try to resuscitate
the victim or locate the victim. -
The Ontario Provincial ;Police are.now
responsible for : locating drowning victims
and the fire•.department .is only called if a
resuscitator is : required. George and Stu
are, thankful the police have taken over this.
responsibility, • •
The word "volunteer' is deceiving. It.
seems to carry the implication the men are
not professionals but they do train and.
practise and George is still attending
courses and seminars to keep up with the
latest knowledge available:. Anyone who
has had a fire always says the.firemen did
the best they could.
Stu can remember the nights he has
come home with a sick stomach -fron}, the . .
smoke,. There are the times when they find
themselves walking around .therooms, and
halls of a burning ''building searching for •
the source of a fire that they must wonder
what they are doing there. -
• George and Stu among .the others who
have beenfiremen for a long period of
time, have given their time : and effort
sometimes at personal. risk.' And they plan
to continue even after 25 years:
Their adrenalin will probably still . run
every time they hear the fire alarm, long
after they. retire:
IF YOUR (LUCKNOW SENTINEL
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May5432lO9
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The' .
Lucknow
Sentinel
k
Lucknow Sentinel, .Wednesd y, • May 9, 1979 -.-Page 17
0
George Wbitby,..fire chief; left,. and Stuart Collyer; fire captain, right, have served on the Lnclmow Fire Department for.
• 25 year*. Shown with them in this picture, taken when the .department purchased anew pumper last year,.is assistant •
fire. chlef,:Bud Hamilton, centre. • • , • f Sentinel Staff Photo],
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