Two volunteer firefighters practicing their skills at the Bow Island Fire Department (Photo Courtesy Ross Lavinge)

By Teagan Rasche

If 'you’re warm and breathing, we’ll train you'

Selfless love for the community keeps the Bow Island Fire Department going

Dec 9, 2021 | 12:28 PM

BOW ISLAND, AB – Everything firefighters do is done as a team.

The bond and brotherhood created through working together in stressful situations is a big reason Kent Unruh loves what he does.

“Six months into it, the biggest regret I have so far is that I didn’t join sooner,” Kent said. “I realized it was awesome.”

Kent is one of 21 dedicated, volunteer firefighters in Bow Island. He’s been doing this for six years.

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Most of Kent’s days are spent running his concrete construction company, but he’s on call whenever his community needs him. After watching him volunteer for years, his wife Christina wanted to join too.

“I like helping people, I like the training, I like being part of a bigger group,” Christina said.

Christina is one of just two women at the Bow Island Fire Department and the crew is always looking for more people.

Firefighting is physical and hard work but no experience is required to join.

“As long as you’re warm and breathing, we’ll train you,” fire chief Blaine O’Donnell said.

The volunteers spend every Monday night training, led by O’Donnell. They practice skills and take courses to serve Bow Island and the surrounding area the best they can.

“It’s a lot of fun,” Seth Reimer said. “In training, you learn a lot of stuff and it’s also a rewarding job.”

Rookie Reimer was looking for a way to give back to his community and he found it here. The chief agrees, as the only paid staff member, he loves how gratifying the work is.

“It’s rewarding because you’re giving back to your town and county and country,” O’Donnell said. “Either you love it or you don’t, there’s nothing in between. It’s a passion.”

This year, the department has responded to 72 calls ranging from medical to fires to accidents. The department only puts volunteers in situations they are ready for.

“We have a training process that we can find a place for you,” Kent said. “We can give almost anybody the skills. It’s all about learning to work as a team.”

If you’re looking for an opportunity to protect life, property, and the environment, Kent says this is it.

The basic requirements to join are to live in Bow Island, be at least 18 years old and be physically fit.

More information can be found here.