First responders play vital role in M.D. of Willow Creek

By Rob Vogt
The role of firefighters has evolved over time.
Once primarily concerned with answering fire calls and motor vehicle collisions, the role has expanded to involve so much more as first responders.
“You’re expected to be a jack of all trades,” said Kelly Starling, emergency services manager for the Municipal District of Willow Creek.
That includes fires, medical calls, motor vehicle collisions, hazardous materials, and much more.
When Starling started out as a firefighter, his training was more than needed. Now it just scratches the surface.
Yet, he emphasized the firefighting service would not be where it is today without all the volunteer firefighters who came before to build the service.
“My hat goes off to all the previous firefighters who paved the way,” Starling said. “A lot of hard work has gone into the service to make it what it is.”
The service has evolved since its start.
Now, about 15 to 20 percent of what a member does is respond to calls.
Much of the time is spent training, doing public service, looking after equipment, doing truck maintenance and more.
“Everything has to be ready for a call,” Starling said. “There’s a ton of teaching and education (too).
“A lot of dedication goes into being a volunteer firefighter.”
In the Municipal District of Willow Creek, Starling said he is grateful for the support of council and administration.
With that support, the service can get the best equipment and training.
To that end, the M.D. is applying for a grant that will enable them to offer National Fire Protection Association 10-01 training. That is the same training taken by all firefighters including full-time urban services.
All firefighters in the M.D., which includes the Claresholm, Stavely, Granum, Nanton and Fort Macleod departments, will be offered Level 1 and 2 training in-house through the M.D.
“It helps offset the cost of the training,” Starling said of the grant.
An added benefit is the M.D. has its own certified trainers to offer the 10-01 courses.
“We’re fortunate we have the in-house training,” Starling said, adding it provides flexibility while allowing firefighters to stay close to home.
The M.D. also built a training ground in Granum it has been using for some training, and has opened a fire academy in Granum to train the next generation of first responders.
All this preparation helps firefighters as first responders.
They answer a wide range of calls including false alarms; structure, vehicle, and grass fires; hazardous materials spills and handling; medical calls; back-country calls; assisting the department of agriculture and forestry; search and rescue; airplane crashes; and more.
They do it for a simple reason.
“We really want to help the community,” Starling said. “Help our neighbours.
“To serve the public.”
Answering these calls can be stressful physically and mentally.
Starling said they have a stress management program to support first responders.
As volunteers, firefighters would attend a call then go back to work or home. With full-time jobs, they could not de-brief on what they experienced.
“We had to make sure we were protecting the mental health of our first responders,” Starling said.
Consequently, there is a trained person in each fire hall to offer support and recognize what is needed.
After every major call, a regional team will assemble and run a de-briefing.
“That’s all in-house,” Starling said. “We’re pretty proud of that.
“It’s a pretty robust program.”
It is a big change from just a few years ago.
“It’s come a long way,” Starling said, noting it is also well-supported through funding.
He added Mike Cutler, who has worked in mental health for a long time, was instrumental in getting the program to where it is.
Starling pointed out the program is not just for firefighters but their families as well.
He observed there is a lot of stress at home. Spouses worry while their partners are out on calls, and experience stress as well.
That’s why there is support, including an education seminar for spouses.
“We try to build a real support network with the spouses and families,” Starling said.