CF Volunteer fire department No longer a "gentlemen's club”

Julie Druker | Jan 27, 2016

“The last time that a woman was a member of the Central Frontenac Volunteer Fire Department was back in 1997,” recalled Central Frontenac Fire Chief Bill Young earlier this week.

That changed in December 2014 when Heather Rioux and Jamie Malone, residents of Sharbot Lake, who are both married, mothers of two and also full time employees at W.A. Robinson Asset Management Ltd. and Pillar Financial Services, decided to join the Sharbot Lake detachment.

They are the most recent members to join the 25-member force, 23 of whom are men, and the two ladies were honored as special guests at the recent Robbie Burns Dinner Oso Hall on January 23.

“It shows that the department is no longer a gentlemen's club," Young said, “and it's nice to see women stepping up to the plate and getting involved. It's great for the department to have women on our team, especially for medical calls, since sometimes female patients may feel more relaxed when being attended to by a female responder."

When asked what motivated them to join the force, Rioux replied, “I personally have had to call the fire department a number of times in the past for medical calls, and I just felt that if I was in a position to be able to help out in the community in a similar way, that I wanted to do what I needed to in order to be that person.”

Rioux and her family have been long-time supporters of the local fire department through their annual Al-Apalooza music event, which for the past three summers has included a breakfast for guests put on the CF firefighters with proceeds supporting the organisation.

Jamie Malone's reasons for joining the department were similar. “I wanted to help people in the community and I also wanted to challenge myself and learn something new. Part of my motivation was also to be a good role model to my two sons and encourage them so that one day they might serve the community in some capacity.”

All applicants must undergo a medical exam to ensure that they are physically fit for the job. Also mandatory is an interview with the fire chief, who accesses the applicant’s motivations, availability, and how they might handle and react to a number of possible case scenarios.

Volunteers are also required to undergo regular training sessions on Tuesday nights in Sharbot Lake and must also participate in a 40-hour Emergency First Responders (EFR) course and pass a final exam. The EFR course covers First Aid/CPR training and other medical and primary assessment training to ensure that applicants are capable of identifying and treating victims of stroke, heart attack, seizures and other serious wounds and injuries. The weekly training sessions also cover various fire safety routines as well as the mechanical operation of pumper trucks and other related emergency equipment.

Both women agree that it is the mechanical training that is the most challenging. “There is definitely a lot to learn and it is a long process but the other volunteers are patient and more than willing to show us the ropes and to teach us exactly what we need to know,” Rioux said.

Being on call is also something that can pose a bit of challenge, though in most circumstances neither of them are expected to answer calls during their normal work hours. That being said, both must be available on weekends and evenings and both understand that that is part and parcel of the job. Both agree that being female, and entering a department that has, for close to two decades, been all male has not posed any problems whatsoever. “We are treated as equals and with the utmost respect," Malone said, and Rioux agreed. “We have always felt like part of the group and have always felt that we fit right in.”

Since December 2014, they have both responded to over 60% of the 100 emergency calls that have come in. As new members, both also participate in a number of the regular events that take place in and around the community, including the department’s annual boot drive, pancake breakfast/open house and visits to local schools.

Their advice to those women who may have considered volunteering, but for whatever reason have hesitated: “There is definitely a place for women in the Central Frontenac Volunteer Fire Department.”