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The Huron Expositor, 1988-10-12, Page 9THE HURON EXPOSITOR, OCTOBER 12, 1-988 — 9A Camaraderie essential part of firefighting JIM SILLS When the fire siren sounds at 4 a.m. on a snowy January morning most of us can just wait until the noise subsides, pull our covers a little higher, and go back to sleep. But there are 24 men in Seaforth who explode in- to action when the alarm goes off, regari" ess of the weather or the time of day, to keep lives and property in Seaforth safe. October 9-15 is Fire Protection Week, and a good time to take a closer look at the Seaforth and area firefighters. Most firefighters agree Seaforth's is one of the best equipped fire departments in the county today. And all agree ' ere are good relations between the firefighters both on the job and back at the hall. To help knit the men toether as a group, the firemen's association hosts a number of events amongst themselves and involving the community. Some of those events in- clude annual breakfasts, fireworks, Santa Claus party for the children of the in December, August corn to,. all gate for Muscular Dystrophy, bowung parties, ball games, and an annual banquet and awards night. "You have to be dedicated to be a fireman," says deputy chief Tom Phillips. "You can be called on 24 hours per day, and you may have to work all night then get up and go to work at your regular job." Different people become firemen for their own reasons, and following is a look at Seaforth's firemen, what motivated them to become firefighters and what keeps them with the department. TOM PHILLIPS - Like many of the members of the Seaforth and Area Volunteer Fire Department Mr. Phillips followed in his father's footsteps in becom- ing a fireman. He joined the department because "it's offering a service to the com- munity. I thought it was an honor and a privilege to be on the fire department." Mr. Phillips has been with the department for the past 20 years, and is its Deputy Chief. As such he takes over the duties of the Chief if he is away, is in charge of five regular firefighters, and takes responsibility for the organization of the department. Mr. Phillips is also the Manager of the Public Utilities Commission, and brings with him a valuable knowledge of the town's waterworks to the fire department. Mr. Phillips and his wife Twyla have two children. DON PLETSCH - Mr. Pletsch joined the fire department over 14 years ago for the sake of community involvement and the chance to help other people. "Tune itwas a place where I thought I 'could ddo some good. If I could save someone else in a fire situation from losing their home or their property it would be wor- thwhile," is how Mr. Pletsch explains why he joined the department. While 14 years may seem like a long time to be involved in firefighting, there are still 10 people who have been with the depart- ment longer than Mr. Pletsch. He sees the long service of Seaforth's firemen as an ad- vantage to the town. "That way you keep experienced men on. If you just had three-year and four-year guys you wouldn't be doing a very good job," says Mr. Pletsch, adding that Seaforth has a good mix of experienced firefighters and keen newcomers. When he is not at the fire department Mr. Pletsch is either at work at Robert Q's Travel in Clinton, or at home with his wife Kathleen and their two children. DAVE DEVRIES says being on the fire department requires that firefighters be prepared 24 hours per day, and not many people are able to make that kind of com- mitment. But his location at Ginettes Restaurant has been a benefit to him and the fire department because it allows him to respond quickly when the fire alarm sountds, and he is generally one of the first to make it to the hall. Mr. deVries became a permanent addi- tion to the fire department in 1980, and plans to be at firefighting for a while. "I enjoy it. It can be scary at times, when you get in a tough situation. But then there's 20 of you who are all trained to handle a tough situation." Mr. deVries is the proprietor of Ginettes Restaurant. He and his wife Marlene have three children. PAUL HILDEBRAND started full tii'ne with the Seaforth and Area Fire Depart- ment in September of 1985, but prior to that he had been an auxiliary member for five and a half years. During the long wait for a regular position with the department he would go only to fires in Seaforth, and not to rural fires unless he was needed. Mr. Hildebrand stayed on for the five year wait, because being a fireman was a long time ambition of his. I'd been wanting to do that since I was a kid. Even when I was really young my PAUL HULLEY PETE KLING favorite toys were fire trucks. Mr. Hildebrand admits that it is the ex- citement and challenge of fighting fires that interests him in the fire department. And like many of the firemen, he says that he isn't bothered by situations which frighten other people. "I'm usually the stupidest bugger to climb up a 60 foot ladder or walk into flaming houses. I'm just not afraid of things," he explains. ' Mr. Hildebrand is single (which gets him some ribbing fro], her guys on the depart- ment) an ' as we ' at General Coach in Hensall since I 1983. JIM PALIN - . :.her seven months Jim Palin will be ct._ .rating 25 years with the Seaforth fire department. Before he was a member of the department Mr. Palin went to the fires anyway to observe and help out where he could, and after a while the chief asked him if he would like to be on the department. He said he would, and the chief said when the fire whistlegoes you report to the firehall. You're a fireman. "Things were a little different then," remarks Mr. Palin. Not only was the process of becoming a fireman less sophisticated in those days, but so was the pay scale. Mr. Palin says he earned $100 per year, minus $1 for missing a meeting, minus $2 for missing a town fire, and plus $1 per hour for going to a rural fire. Mr. Palin is another fireman who says he loves the excitement that comes with his job, and the fun of being with the boys. "I don't classify it as a job, it's more like a hobby. No doubt you go out and work your ass off sometimes, but it's still fun." Mr. Palin says he remembers a day when he could have his pants on and be in his car by the third whistle of the siren, but admits he's lost some of the edge. He plans on stay- ing with the department until his 25th an- niversary and then retiring to give someone else a chance. GEORGE REEVES is another long stan- ding member of the fire department with 18 years of service. For the past three years he has been one of the two captains, and is in charge of five men. If neither the Chief or Deputy Chief make it to a fire a captain directs the men in fighting the fire until they are relieved. Usually the fire department is called to 25 to 30 fires per year, but Mr. Reeves says the firemen have noticed 'a decline in the number of fires the department is being called to in recent years, and he thinks peo- ple are being more fire conscious than in the past. Mr. Reeves says the reason he got involv- ed with the department is because a friend asked if he wanted to go to the hall and apply with him. Mr. Reeves ended up getting on while his friend wasn't accepted. Mr. Reeves works at Champion Road Machinery in Goderich, and he and his wife Gloria have two children. DAN PEARCE has been an auxiliary fireman for the past three years. He says he likes being on the department so far, and looks forward to becoming a regular fireman. Mr. Pearce says the main reason for his involvement with the fire department is because it is a way of making a contribution to the community, and because the fire department warned a Topnotch employee on their team. Mr. Pearce is the Operations Manager at Seaforth Topnotch, a member of the Curling Club, a father of two children, and a hus- band to his wife Donna. JIM FINLAYSON became a regular member of the fire department in November 1983. He used to be active in sports in Seaforth, and says being on the fire department gives one the same sense of camaraderie as being on a sports club. "It's just like a team. If you play together on a hockey team you stick together. It's the same thing down there (at the firehall)." Mr. Finlayson is temporarily living in Dublin while he builds a new home in Seaforth for himself, his wife Marian and their two children. RICHARD VERBERNE has been an aux- Wary fireman for the past three years, and has already seen plenty of fires. Just in the past year he says he has been to about 15 or 20 calls. Mrs. Verberne will doubtless see a lot more fires, and intends to stay with the department for as long as he is living in the Seaforth area. He was born and raised here and has no plans to move. Mr. Verberne works at Boilersmith, and enjoys being active in sports such as ball hockey. He and wife Mary have three children. GEORGE GARRICK is starting into his fourth year as the chief of the fire depart- ment, and is starting into his 16 year as a fireman. As chief it is Mr. Garrick's job to Turn to page 10 • SEAFORTH VETERINARY CLINIC 527-1760 SEAFORTH CO-OP - 527-0770 SEAFORTH TEXACO 527-1960 ROWE FUELS 527-1117 CANADIAN TIRE 527-1350 SEAFORTH P.U.C. 527-0530 TOPNOTCH FEEDS LTD. 527-1910 CULLIGAN REAL ESTATE 527-1577 McGRATH PLUMBING and HEATING 522-0493 :4m; l+' el:,: WINTHROP GENERAL STORE 527-1247 RON DRISCOLL CARPENTRY 527-0235 EX• VINCENT FARM EQUIPMENT 527-0120 BAUER TRAVEL 527-1237 C.J.'s AUTO SERVICE 527-0333 MILTON J. 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