The Town of Westlock and the provincial government have recognized brave local firefighters for their heroism battling “The Beast”— the Fort McMurray wildfire that scorched almost 590,000 hectares of earth from May to June.
On Nov. 28, Mayor Ralph Leriger and MLA for Barrhead-Morinville-Westlock Glenn van Dijken presented seven members from the town fire department with certificates and medallions on behalf of the provincial government.
“Tonight I can very clearly say on behalf on myself and all the citizens of Westlock and region, and all the citizens of Alberta for that matter, just how very pleased and proud we all are to be able to recognize you — the members of our fire department — for the honours that you bring to our community due solely to your willingness to give of yourself and put yourself above and beyond the call of duty,” Leriger said.
van Dijken echoed his gratitude for lending a hand during Alberta’s time of crisis.
“We had people from right across the province, right across the country and indeed, right across the world come to help in a very difficult situation, and we thank you for those efforts,” he said.
Recipient and deputy chief Dan Lucyk said he was humbled to be recognized within his community and by the provincial government.
“I think that most of us within the service don’t do it for any specific type of recognition,” he said. “That’s not the intention for why we do what we do.”
Lucyk was part of the first wave sent up to Ground Zero, where he was stationed in Fort McMurray, Gregoire Lake and Anzac.
“It was an incredible experience to see — as you’re driving in, the smoke and the flames and the red sky and really not knowing what you’re getting into,” he said.
“You can see vehicles parked sporadically all through the highway on the way down and to know that everybody has just left what you’re going into now, that was both scary and had its sense of excitement as well.”
Lucyk and members from the town, Clyde, Busby and Fawcett fire departments went up as a team, spending 24-hour days suited up and battling blazes.
“I was up there for around seven or eight days,” he said. “When you’re there, it felt like you were gone a month. It seems so long and you’ve done so much in such a little timeframe.”
Between May and June, approximately 1,600 firefighters, police and support staff, 19 tankers and 37 pieces of heavy equipment where on the ground, and another 60 helicopters took to the air to stomp out the blaze.
Fire chief Stuart Koflick said he had members phoning him to volunteer and make the trek north, especially his leadership team, who gained invaluable experience from the immensely complex situation.
“Everybody was willing to go and help out,” he said.
“To help out in another community just goes to show the dedication and commitment to the province as a whole is phenomenal.”
