Hot on the heels of a big fire in downtown Merritt, the fire department recognized city firefighters for their hard work and dedication at the annual firefighters appreciation banquet.
The July 4 event saw awards handed out for highest attendance to fire calls, best training attendance, and the department’s firefighter-of-the-year equivalent, the IMPRESS award.
The coveted IMPRESS award went to firefighter Brittany Brabant.
The award, which includes the recipient’s name on a plaque and a firefighter helmet, goes to the member who promotes the department’s core values and demonstrates dedication to the department.
Fire Chief Dave Tomkinson said Brabant’s dedication to the department extended to planning social and charity events, and mentoring within the department earned her the award.
That kind of dedication was heralded by members of Merritt’s city council.
Mayor Susan Roline said an emotional thank-you to all Merritt’s firefighters.
“I think these words come from all the community,” she said. “Without your quick thinking on Monday night, I’m sure we would’ve lost another 10 or 11 buildings, easy.
“I think you did a great service for our community and I know there’s a lot of thank-yous out there that will eventually come forward to you.”
Tomkinson said he has received many accolades from community members on behalf of the local firefighters, some of which he shared.
“I’ve got so many pats on the back that I’ve got bruises. That’s the truth,” he told the firefighters and their guests.
Coun. Clara Norgaard paid her accolades to Tomkinson.
“He is a great chief. I’ve known him for many years, and I really appreciate all the hard work that he does for the firefighters and what he does for this community,” she said.
The Merritt Fire Fighters Association presented firefighter Tyrone Hamm with the five-year service award, while the 15-year service award went to Captain Steve Hill.
Firefighter Dustin Rubner was recognized for attending the most training sessions, while firefighter Brent Manning took both awards for attending the highest number of rescue calls and highest number of fire calls.
Firefighters Bill Morton and Todd Nagata were promoted to lieutenants and honoured in a pinning ceremony, in which family members add insignia to their collars.
“These people are a big part of their lives, [and] have helped them become fire officers, have allowed them to become fire officers,” Tomkinson said of the significance of having family members in the pinning ceremony.
Cigarette-caused fire destroys deck
Another fire broke out in Merritt last week as a wooden deck in the Diamond Vale Trailer Park went up in flames in the early hours of last Friday morning.
Fire Chief Dave Tomkinson told the Herald 20 firefighters and three fire trucks responded to the blaze at about 1:30 a.m. for a mobile home fire. Firefighters returned to the station by about 3:08 a.m.
In addition to destroying the deck, the flames also melted some of the siding on the exterior of the trailer. The flames extended underneath the trailer, causing some damage. However, no one was injured and the two inhabitants of the trailer were not displaced as a result of the fire.
Tomkinson said they believe an improperly butted-out cigarette caused the fire.
“It was discarded into some vegetation, we believe, maybe had smoldered for awhile and eventually, over time caught the deck on fire in the middle of the night,” he said.
Tomkinson said the two occupants of the trailer had smelled smoke, saw a glow outside and discovered the fire.
Tomkinson said smoking materials were ruled the probable cause of the fire.
“There’s no other sources of ignition in that area, and the occupants had been out in that area prior to that,” he said.
The deck was a total loss and Tomkinson estimates the damage at less than $10,000. No other properties were damaged by the flames.
He said the lesson here is to remember to dispose of cigarettes properly, noting it is best to dispose of them in a can of water to be sure they are completely extinguished.
