Six-year-old Wyatt Flores worked up quite an appetite on Wednesday, putting out a car fire, trying out an extinguisher and riding in a fire truck to pick up the mayor.
Wyatt’s name was drawn as the winner of the the Township of Langley Fire Department’s annual Junior Fire Chief For a Day contest, giving him the opportunity to spend time with firefighters, wear his own gear and hat, try out rescue techniques and point a fire hose.
“Riding in the fire truck,” was the Dorothy Peacock Grade 2 student’s favourite part of the day.
His exciting morning finished up with the Safety Stars 2015 luncheon at the Murrayville Fire Hall, where more than a dozen Langley residents and Township fire department staff were awarded safety stars to recognize and reward individuals and companies who have gone above and beyond the call of duty.
In all, 14 business people and members from the community were awarded safety stars —10 for taking action to prevent the loss of life and/or property either through preventative measures or action in crisis.
Brandon and Nicholas Peet were given the award after being first on scene to a serious crash involving a motorcycle on Aug. 12, that claimed the life of a father and seriously injured his young son.
The Peets stopped to provide help, stabilizing the injured patient until the fire department arrived and was able to take over.
Brendan Black was awarded a safety star for jumping into action on June 24, when flames in a hedge set fire to his neighbour’s home
Black grabbed a garden hose and extinguished the blaze before fire crews arrived.
Three employees of Redwoods Golf Course were also given safety stars for their heroic actions on Aug. 30.
Following the big windstorm, Redwoods was on day 2 without power and running many generators, with weddings going on both days. At around 2:30 p.m. guests had started to arrive, when restaurant manager Tim LaHay spotted smoke rising from one of the generators running outside the front doors of the clubhouse.
He saw that the electrical cord had made contact with the exhaust pipe and arced, causing flames to shoot to the side of the gas can beside the generator. LaHay yelled fire and staff ushered everyone outside to the parking lot.
LaHay ran back to the fire to put out it out, only to find a jerry can ablaze with eight-foot-high flames.
While attacking the fire, he was joined by chef Brady Girard, a member of the Redwoods safety committee, who grabbed the chemical fire extinguisher. Former operations director Dayna Birch also used an extinguisher and together they put out the blaze with no one getting hurt or damage done to the clubhouse. Township fire crews arrived moments later, which allowed for some unique photo opportunity for the groomsmen and young children attending the wedding.
Brett Savage, also a Township safety star, saved the life of a young woman who was drowning in Cultus Lake.
He jumped into the water with his air mattress and brought the girl to shore. She was left so weak by her ordeal that she couldn’t stand.
This year’s Safety Stars were: In the Action category: Troy Naber, David Zhao, Brandon Peet, Nicholas Peet, Brendan Black, Jamie Campbell, Brett Savage Tim LaHay, Dayna Birch, Brady Girard. In the Advocate category for promotion of fire safety is Gary Darling and Pat Rosen. In the Partner award is Monica Stelp, Shandy Edwards, staff from Sandman who helped Township fire organize a conference there.
To celebrate their achievements, the 2015 Safety Stars had a special day with the Township Fire Department. Stars donned turnout gear, participated in hands-on activities at the fire training ground, and were treated to lunch and a ceremony where they were recognized by fire officials and Township of Langley Mayor Jack Froese.