The SPU is an auxiliary support team to the Thetis Island Volunteer Fire Department (TIVFD). Our role is to protect buildings with water sprinklers in the event of a wildfire threat, and also to promote FireSmart resiliency on Thetis. There is some turn over in the group, and new volunteers are needed to maintain an elite force of 10 to 12 people. The function of this and the other auxiliaries (Water hauling, Rest & rehab, Traffic control, Communications) is to allow the Fire Department to focus on the active firefighting bit by reducing or eliminating some of the peripheral (non-hot zone) activities.
Opportunity: Learn what you can do to protect your own property. Get to know some of your Thetis Island neighbors. Get some exercise while doing your volunteering bit for the island.
Prerequisites: None. The main thing is willingness to learn. Experience with pumps, hoses, sprinklers, & ladders, ideal but not necessary. There is also one non-physical position available for an administrative / computer-based documentation role.
Time commitment: On average we end up about 2 hours per month in the Fire season (April or May thru Oct or Nov). This time is typically spent doing a practice run of setting up sprinklers to create a humidity bubble around the structure. Some additional training time is needed periodically.
More info: If you want to know more, please feel free to reach out to me or any of the other current members: Graeme Shelford, Stu Downey, Laurie Leung, Peter Walsh, David Reay, Bill Dickie (B1), Bill Golley (B2), Geoff Porter, Craig Terry
Sincerely,
Jim Moloney, SPU team lead
jimolo46@gmail.com
604.534.1635