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History |
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The idea for Cherry Creek Fire Department came about in the late 1950's
when there were a few house fires in the Cherry Creek area. Cherry Creek
was just finishing their new water system but had no fire protection. The
most suitable area for a fire hall in Cherry Creek is where the hall is now,
in the middle of the district. |
Photo shows Personnel from the Department with the Ford Pumper.
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Charlie Haggard thought this a great location for a fire hall and went to
the insurance companies to found out how much each homeowner would save if
the area had fire insurance. He also secured some government funding to help
build the hall. He then went on to sell the idea to the residence. The property
was then purchased from the Victor Andreef family.
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The original members of Cherry Creek fire department started training in
1961. They went to the City of Port Alberni and were taught by the members
of the Port Alberni Volunteer Fire Department. The members where then certified
and the hall had its first meeting on June 26 1962. The first fire came on
July 27 1962, although not much was written about the fire.
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Photo shows the first Fire Truck in front of the Fire Hall
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The second fire, a grass fire, did not come until August 25, 1962. In 1962
the hall had two fire trucks, the first truck was a used 1941 Ford Pumper
truck purchased from the city of Port Alberni and the second one being the
first brand new fire truck to the valley. This truck was a 1962 American
LaFrance which two members traveled to the plant to pick up and drive back
to the hall. On November 1962 eighteen members of the Cherry Creek Fire department
received their certificates from the BC Fire Marshalls for their training
in firefighting. Early in 1963 the members of the department took their
first aid course. When the hall started the members were dispatched out by
the city fire department. The city would activate the siren on top of the
hall (the siren is still in use today) and then start to phone some of the
members. After the first truck was full the next member that showed up would
have to start phoning the rest of the members of the hall as there were no
pagers at this time. The hall had only four sets of turnout coats and boots,
so those that showed up later had no gear to wear.
Charlie Haggard was the first fire chief of the Cherry Creek fire department
and presided over the department until September 1965 when he decided to
step down. John Patterson became the second fire chief serving twelve years
until his retirement in 1977. The third fire chief was Tony Maten and served
the department from 1977 until May, 1983. Fourth fire chief was John Gaetz.
John was instrumental in getting a new pumper for the department. The old
pumper was past its useful life and the department had to go to a referendum
to order a new one. John Gaetz retired as chief in 1988. Gordon Porter was
the fifth fire chief and served eleven years before retiring in May 1999.
Gordon ordered the present front line pumper truck, which was one of the
first to have a PTO Compressed Air Foam System. The sixth fire chief was
Gene Jeffery serving from May 1999 until November 2004. The seventh and present
fire chief is Mike Sparrow. In the last few years the department has taken
on the first responder program in response to helping the needs of the residents
of the area. The department has a membership of thirty members which is the
maximum that is allowed by the governing body, the Water Board. The fire
hall now boasts four fire vehicles. Truck thirty one a 1984 International
pumper that was purchased by John Gaetz. Truck thirty three a Freightliner
pumper truck purchased in 1997 by Gordon Porter. Truck thirty two a converted
ambulance purchased in 2001 by Gene Jeffery. Truck thirty four a Freightliner
tanker truck purchased in 2005 by Mike Sparrow
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