Long standing firefighters with the Ponoka County East District Fire Department were recognized for decades of service.
East District Fire Chief Dale Morrow received his 30 year service medal from Lieutenant Governor Lois Mitchell during the Alberta Fire Chief’s Association’s (AFCA) annual conference held Sunday, May 29 to June 1 in Calgary.
Along with Morrow, deputy Fire Chief Murray Dux received his 20 year service medal from Mitchell and former Town of Ponoka Fire Chief Ted Dillon received a lifetime membership to the AFCA after 28 years of dedicated work. There was a lot to be thankful for, explained Regional Fire Chief Dennis Jones.
“If you think about it to have that much experience available to use, and for these guys to be able to share their knowledge, and to make sure our existing firefighters safe,” it is something Jones is proud of.
He said the average volunteer firefighter lasts about five years. “To have guys at 20 and 30 years is pretty huge.”
For Morrow, who started in 1985, he couldn’t believe how fast the time has passed by. “Where did the time go?”
He said the work is rewarding and whatever the call — whether it is home fires, accidents or other calls — being able to help others is why he signed up.
Looking back at the last 20 years Dux said he wouldn’t do anything different. “I started in 1996 and it feels like it was last week.”
“It’s good people, and good people wanting to do good things,” added Morrow.
He feels firefighters get into this line of work because they want to help others. Dux agreed adding that they don’t do the work for the medals but to be of service to the community.
What Morrow enjoyed about the conference was being able to network with other firefighters. Jones said having the opportunity to get new techniques and ideas from other fire halls helps the fire department come up with new ways to fight fires.
West District Fire Chief John Weisgerber also received his 15 year certificate from the AFCA.
And for Dillon, he said is grateful being recognized with the lifetime membership with the AFCA.