Fire department honours several worthy contributors

They're there for you at your darkest hour, but it takes a lot of moving parts and grease to keep a fire department in top form.

The Penhold Fire Department shone a light on a few of the vital human components when they recognized the efforts of a couple of members and a local business last week.

Alberta Wilbert Sales Ltd. was honoured for its role in helping the department through a renovation that got a bit more complicated than anticipated, while Steve Harris was named fire officer of the year and Thomas Tally was given the firefighter of the year award.

Tally says becoming a firefighter was a no-brainer.

ìMy father was a firefighter and I looked up to him in that aspect,î he said. ìWhen I first started I thought I was in way over my head.î

Luckily there were courses he could take and experienced firefighters he could learn from.

Now, coming on three years with the Penhold force, the volunteer says he feels like he's found his footing, and wants to push on to the next level of certification.

ìIt's a work in progress for sure,î he said.

Harris beat out a number of other officers to snag the award because of the extracurricular activities he's taken on to help the department, such as fixing trucks, said Mayor Dennis Cooper.

ìThat just shows the leadership you have,î Cooper said, in a Feb. 20 presentation in front of the rest of the Penhold Fire Department members. ìI'd like to thank you on behalf of the town.î

The lieutenant embarked on his journey as a firefighter when he was 18 years old and has served in Alberta, Ontario and Prince Edward Island on volunteer forces.

ìI just like being able to help people in their worst possible moments,î he said. ìWhen they phone 911 we're coming to help them no matter their situation.î

Gary Zillman, manager of Alberta Wilbert Sales, received a plaque for the company's willingness to house fire trucks when the fire department's own facilities were being expanded.

ìWe inconvenienced them for two months,î said Fire Chief Jim Pendergast. ìIt was just because of the way things worked out.î

Original renovation plans had shown no need for additional storage space, but in the end construction required more intensive use of the bays.

ìGary and his ownership stepped up and helped us out big-time,î Pendergast said. ìIt was a lock-up situation.î

The pre-cast concrete septic tank and burial vault distributor company had a large shop right across the street they offered up to the fire department.

At first it was only supposed to take a couple of weeks before the fire department would have its old digs back up and running. Over the extended period of renovations Wilbert staff left the keys in their own vehicles so the fire department could move them around if need be.

Zillman said he was sympathetic to the department's situation because he understands it provides a necessary service to Penhold.

ìEspecially in the cold, harsh winter you need your situation to be accessible and ready to go,î he said. ìIt was actually a good experience.î