Safety Stars get time to shine
A group of unofficial firefighters mingled with the professionals as they were honoured last week
Loran Mayo and her sister Vega were not too fond of the smell in the burned-out buildings the Township Fire Department uses for training.
Photograph by: Matthew Claxton , Langley Advance
There are those whose job is to put out fires and give first aid, and those who step up and help without ever donning a firefighter's helmet.
Langley Township's Fire Department honoured those who have helped save lives and property last week with its Safety Stars day. om
More than a dozen Langley residents were recognized for dousing fires, helping the injured, and educating the public.
w They came along with a young girl decked out in firefighting gear.
Loran Mayo, six, was this year's winner of the Fire Chief for a Day draw, after the Grade 2 Gordon Greenwood Elementary student entered a home escape colouring sheet.
She brought her sister Vega, 8, and dad Chris Mayo along with her to the firefighter training grounds on 224th Street in Murrayville.
Loran and the other Safety Stars were shown the training centre, which includes smoke machines, fire generators, mockups of cars, gas pumps, sewer pipes, and ordinary homes and commercial buildings.
Firefighters can head through the training structures to practise fire suppression and rescue under a variety of conditions. Fake smoke and real fire can be turned on and off at will.
Last week, the department allowed the Safety Stars to put on turnout gear, try out firehoses on roaring fires, and search a smoke-filled home.
"This is cool," said Les Newman, owner of Langley Diving. "That's great."
Newman was nominated after he spotted smoke near his shop, and grabbed three fire extinguishers to douse a fire near an abandoned store in a mall. He also pulled a barbecue away from the fire as he was worried about the propane tank exploding.
He was one of the first Safety Stars to try finding his way through a smoke-filled house.
Alicia Thompson and Michele Morris tested their skills with a firehose.
"I'm having a blast," said Thompson. "I want to do this it's so cool!"
Thompson was nominated for offering first aid in February at the scene of a stabbing on Fraser Highway. Michele Morris spotted an orange light coming from inside a home on 240th Street one morning while driving past. She turned around to investigate and called 911 when she realized it was a fire.
The Township's other Safety Stars are: Nancy Gleeson, Doug MacWilliam, Jason Calvert, Darrel Pavich, Chris Boughen, Austin Peterson, Mr. Hong, Mrs. Yoo, Jamie Shaw, Peter Termehr, Derwyn Valentine, and Peter Massey.
Of those, only Peter Massey is a former firefighter. The remainder come from all walks of life in Langley.
Loran Mayo and her sister Vega were not too fond of the smell in the burned-out buildings the Township Fire Department uses for training.
Photograph by: Matthew Claxton , Langley Advance
