Courage Under Fire
  
         
 
 
             
   
Token of Gratitude

Firefighters said yesterday they were thrilled to have Ms. Clarkson on hand to present medals to them. The Governor-General handed out medals to six firefighters in the Kelowna area for exemplary service for 20 years or more with the fire department. She presented the Governor-General's Commendation for Outstanding Service yesterday to Dennis Godry, manager of the Kamloops fire department, and Kamloops fire chief Gary McCall. Kelowna firefighter John Kelly, one of three firefighters who continued to work even after the fire destroyed their Kelowna homes, said in an interview that it was "really nice" to receive his medal from the Governor-General and to hear that Ottawa had started to help pay the enormous costs. The fire destroyed 238 homes in Kelowna.

         
           
  "I was trying to focus but I had a real hard time," Kelly said Saturday, less than a day after his house burned. "It was just utter disbelief and shock. " Kelly, 39, first realized his house could be in the fires path as he listened to the car radio Friday afternoon while driving back from an Idaho vacation with his wife and three children. He heard the wildfire was torching his suburban neighbourhood but it wasn't until he arrived in Kelowna that he got the word. "I'm sorry, Johnny, but your house is gone," a fellow firefighter told him. Choking back tears, the 13-year veteran said it's important that his colleagues know he doesn't blame them for failing to save his home. He managed to go home around 10:30 p.m. "I knew what to expect, but I had to see it for myself. It was just the concrete foundation and smouldering ash by that time."    
         
                 
I THANKED A FIREFIGHTER

by Wayne Bruce

When I got word from a friend that my house was still standing, I was instantly overwhelmed and feelings spilled over.

And as if in the same thought , Oh my god, I am so sorry for the others that have lost it all.

Heading back into town from our overnight refuge the grief felt by my family continued throughout the trip and would not stop.

I thanked a firefighter today for saving my house. Tears welled up as I tried to convey my gratitude.

Firefighters, police, ambulance personnel, emergency workers and volunteers.

Today, I thank a police officer. Truly I am overwhelmed .

    
           
                     
     

Good Canadian Kid

On Saturday night, firefighters near Cranbrook put their troubles aside for a few moments when they were allowed to touch the Stanley Cup. Fire officials are pleased that the morale of many of the 400 fatigued firefighters was lifted when defenceman Scott Niedermayer of the National Hockey Leagues New Jersey Devils brought the cup to a fire camp near Cranbrook, his hometown. Most of the firefighters, battling the blaze since it was ignited by lightning two weeks ago, were laughing and cheering when Mr. Niedermayer took the cup from its blue, velvet-lined case in the back of his truck. "This is great, man; this is my dream," said Pete Jagodnik of Prince George, who has been a B.C. Forest Service firefighter for 25 years. "It's unbelievable. What a morale booster. "All these guys had dreams like this." Mr. Niedermayer, followed by firefighters, paraded the cup through the trailer and tent camp like the Pied Piper, stopping for group pictures. As helicopters loading buckets with fire retardant whirled overhead, the assistant captain of the Devils said it was a joy to help the crews. "They're pretty excited to see it after a long day's work, for sure -- a lot harder than any day I've worked in my life, probably."

      
   
           
     
       
   

Reference:

http://www.dotcommediainc.com/slideshow/monday/index.php3

http://www.welcometokelowna.com/Okanagan_mtn_park_fire.shtml

http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/1062121486109_57530686/?hub=Canada

    
                     
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