Being a mother, working as a licensed practical nurse and battling fires may sound like a lot to keep up with, but it’s all in a week’s work for Shauna Biro, who was awarded the Town of Westlock Fire Department’s Firefighter of the Year award Dec. 17.
“It feels pretty good,” she said. “It’s nice to be recognized for all those things that you do because you are a volunteer. I enjoy feeling that I’m doing good for my community, that’s probably the most rewarding thing.”
While both honoured and humbled, Biro noted that the work of the fire department is a team effort.
“I spend a lot of time co-ordinating the programs for the fire department, but I have a team of firefighters that helps me with that. I work with the critical incident stress management for firefighter peer support, but again, there’s a team that handles that whole thing.
“So to be recognized as an individual feels good, but I don’t think I do anything any more special than anyone else in the department.
“Anything I do with the fire department I can’t do without the other members that are there. I really couldn’t accomplish what I do without my brothers and sisters in the department.”
Town fire chief Stuart Koflick said the distinction is one Biro clearly deserves.
“There’s a lot of the behind the scenes work that is done, looking for the welfare of our firefighters,” said Koflick.
“One of the things that Shauna is very well versed in is Critical Incident Stress Management. She is a peer on the provincial CISM team.
“She’s always been there to ensure that the health and wellness of our firefighters are looked after.”
He added that it’s always a hard choice for the award, but Biro has become so indispensable for the department that this was her year.
“The firefighter of the year is one of the most challenging exercises that we go through, to pick that one person that stands out from the amount of talent we have in our department,” said Koflick. “The criteria for the award is going over and above the call of duty. She’s been on our department for eight years; she’s very dedicated, balancing family, work and volunteering. It was time that she was recognized.”
Firefighting is in Biro’s blood. In addition to eight years of volunteering, she has under her belt, her father was a firefighter, her children are interested in volunteering and her husband John is the fire chief for Westlock County Fire Department.
Biro added she originally came to the fire department wanting to become an Emergency Medical Technician, but once she was in the department, she learned the entire process.
“I first got involved more on the medical side than the fire side,” she said.
“But of course, you get all the training for the fire side. Once you’re in, and you’re there to help the community, it just becomes natural and becomes part of your lifestyle.
“It just felt natural for me to join the department.”
