Lost the Deputy Fire Chief in wife's town in Listowel fire

Rough times for the Father-inlaw. He's Chief of the Atwood Fire Department. They lost their Deputy Chief during a mutual aid call. With a structural collapse in Listowel Ontario yesterday evening.

Real tough when a community looses one of their heros, while performing their duties. Prayers. Going to be a hard healing process.

http://www.firefighternation.com/forum/topics/ontario-firefighters-killed-in

There were actually two lost.
This is one of the reasons firefighters are fighting for their jobs in Wis. and Oh.

buickanddeere just out of curiosity where are you from in southern ontario

Amen brother

Went to high school in Wingham. Mrs. B&D attended Listowel.

http://swo.ctv.ca/servlet/an/local/CTVNews/20110318/listowel-fire-investigation-110318/20110318/?hub=SWOHome

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X8pRumnn9Ik

Heard about that on the news. Sad day in Listowel for sure. Worst part is they were trying to save a china store(Dollar Stop).

As a volunteer firefighter myself I feel a tremendous sense of loss because I know how much time goes in to being a volunteer. We have to do the same training as the career firefighters, often doing so without pay. We work our regular jobs but are on call 24-7, weekends, holidays, birthdays, you name it, we're on call. All that time given and these guys and their families are rewarded by the loss of two lives.
R.I.P.

I refuse to take the fire chief position, as I would quit. However I'm old, and everyone listens to me, but my loud coment at a scene is always (what are we saving here, is it worth a life?) It helps the younger crowd settle down and take note, as we all get spiked up in a emergency.

As I have read on a picture of a firefighter, (It is not what a firefighter does, It is rather what he may have to do.)

I can only hope the family can sleep with peace some day.

Sincere condolances to surviving family, friends, co-firefighters, citizens of your community.
In my not so humble opinion, there is no one more dedicated to a cause than a volunteer firefighter. Boss I worked for for 20 years was a firefighter, made first assistant chief. Officers, chief, 2 assistants, captains, & leutenants elected by members, automatic approval by city council.
City of approx 13000 people, 38 firefighters. Had a system that worked for them. Turnout gear (boots, pants, coats, helmets) always on the trucks. First 4 men to the station and GO NOW!!! Everybody else GO DIRECTLY TO SCENE, YOUR GEAR WILL BE THERE.
Average response time over a year was TWO MINUTES from alarm call to first truck out the door. Coincidence helped during daytime calls.
Main Station at city hall- bar owner across the parking lot, tire shop employee a block away, funeral director a block away, city hall janitor, & Sears appliance repairman half a block away came on dead run, crank up trucks & GO!
Station Two- my boss & another co worker across the street, father/son team from lumber yard across the rail tracks, elec motor shop owner 2 blocks away, crank up & GO!
Will never forget one late night call. Was working part time with sheriff, responded to bad accident. 2 victims trapped, called for rescue squad. Sunday morning, 3 am. Could hear them coming, seemed like it took forever. Get firefighters out of bed, drive to station, get trucks, drive 7 miles to scene. All in FIFTEEN MINUTES from alarm to on scene. Can't get much quicker than that.
Didn't mean to get so long winded.
Willie

Prayers and thoughts go out to the family and to the brotherhood.