Answering the call: Volunteer firefighters on why they help their communities

Watch above: The number of people willing to sign up as volunteer firefighters is dwindling. Quinn Ohler looks at why in part two of our series “Answering the Call.”

EDMONTON — Dave Sharratt owns his own business, is a father and for the past eight years, he’s been an on-call volunteer firefighter with the Leduc County Fire Services.

“When I moved here from Manitoba I was looking for a team activity, something where I could meet new people and learn new skills,” said the owner of 49 North Lubricants.

Two of his employees also volunteer their time with the service. They even have their own nickname.

“It’s Crew 49,” he laughed.

It’s the picture the Alberta Association of Fire Chiefs wants more people to understand. The association has launched a $97,000 campaign to target Albertans between the ages of 18 and 35, in hopes of getting more people to answer the call in their community. Camrose Fire Chief Peter Krich is the chairman of its board dedicated to the recruitment and retention of volunteer firefighters across the province.

“We are not just those macho 19-year-old guys that want to go out and fight fire,” Krich said. “One half of your life could be a firefighter. One half could be whatever you are: a teacher, a banker, a grocery (clerk), a reporter.”

READ MORE: Answering the call: Meet Parkland County’s volunteer firefighters

According to Krich, the biggest deterrent to Albertans signing up is a misunderstanding of what volunteer or on-call firefighters actually do. Next to that, it’s resistance from employers and family.

“We’re competing for time,” said Joan Meidinger, volunteer coordinator for Leduc County.

“With the economy here in Alberta they’re working six days a week, and 10-12 hours a day. When they have a day off they just want to get everything else done that they’ve had to put behind them.”

Meidinger has been in charge of recruiting firefighters for Leduc County for the past 16 years. When she put her advertising out years ago, her phones used to ring off the hook. Now it takes a bit more effort to fill the empty spaces in the hall.

“It used to be, ‘What could you do for us?’ That’s changed. It’s now what can we do for you. That’s in industry, not just in fire services.”

READ MORE: Volunteer firefighters tough to find in small communities

For Sharratt, volunteering can take up hundreds of hours of time away from his business, but more importantly also from his family.

“It’s a big time sacrifice”.

Instead, he looks at it as a way he and his family can give back to the community.

“It’s something my family is doing because I’m doing it.”