An additional 19 firefighters officially joined the Langley Township fire department on Saturday, Feb. 24, as well as a new, second frontline fire truck based out of the Willoughby fire hall.
Chiefs, captains, and crew celebrated the changes by keeping with tradition to push the new truck into the fire hall, alongside Township council members.
Jason de Roy, fire chief, said the new members and truck will be part of Squad 4, which will carry four firefighters.
“These critical milestones would not have been possible without our mayor and council, so thank you for making public safety a priority,” de Roy said at the announcement.
Township Mayor Eric Woodward said there is “strong support on council today” to invest in public safety within the Township.
“It’s important to have everyone working together within the Township of Langley to enhance public safety,” Woodward said.
He added that this is a step forward in addressing the growth in Langley Township and the challenges it brings.
“Congratulations to the new recruits,” he concluded.
Cpt. Terry Litven is officially the first of the new Squad 4, which will use the new truck.
“I think a lot of our bigger apparatus is taxed, they’re constantly on the road… we’re evolving and growing as a municipality and the calls are increasing exponentially,” he told the Langley Advance Times.
Litven said the new squad will further support the community by enabling a crew of firefighters to respond quickly.
The full changes include more staffing for the growing population of the Township, with 19 new firefighters having started Feb. 24, new apparatus (including the new, second frontline fire truck based out of the Willoughby fire hall), improvements to fire halls ( renovations and a new build), and an increased focus on prevention and public education (with two new inspectors who started Jan. 2 and more possibly on the way), explained International Association of Fire Fighters Local 4550 Township of Langley Professional Firefighters’ (L4550) president Jordan Sparrow.
The two new inspectors were positions necessary just to cover the new construction projects that are currently underway in Langley, future planned community developments in Brookswood and Aldergrove, and the annual fire inspections for established businesses.
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