Sooke is one of the fastest-growing communities in B.C. and the Sooke Fire Rescue Department is always working to build up its firefighter base to help attend to the 1,000+ incidents it gets called to annually.
To put into perspective, nearby departments Otter Point respond to under 200 calls a year, and Shirley responds to up to 100.
Deputy fire chief Chris McCrea, son of John McCrea the fire chief at Otter Point, said getting more Paid on Call (POC) staff has been "challenging as it is for most communities in B.C." To help meet demand, the department transitioned to 24-hour station staffing of a minimum of two members in June 2023. It also switched from a volunteer model to a POC model in 2019.
The team responds to much more than just fires. In fact, structure fires only make up a small portion of their emergency calls. "From motor vehicle accidents, medical calls, hazardous materials incidents, rescues, and public assistance calls, our job is multifaceted, and we train for all sorts of scenarios. So, whether it's a medical emergency or someone needing help after a storm, we’re ready to assist," McCrea said.
And of course, this does include rescuing cats, though "in reality, we don't get that call very often. But, it does happen – every once in a while. We're happy to help in any way we can," McCrea said.
Significantly, the Sooke Fire Department was first on the scene at the Sooke Potholes fire early this year. The department began early suppression efforts until B.C. Wildfire arrived and oversaw the evacuation of the Spring Salmon Campground.
While this call was memorable and intense, McCrea said, "Every call has an impact."
And none of what they do could be possible without the support from the firefighter's families, he said.
"From the shift work schedule, missing family events, to the effects the job has on our mental health, we need buy-in from our families to make it all work. For our POC’s they must leave whatever they are doing to 'answer the call'. This causes a lot of disruption to our families. Without family support we wouldn’t be able to do what we do."
McCrea is grateful for that support. While the job can be demanding, McCrea said the team finds meaning in every call they respond to.
"We often show up on what is likely someone's worst day, and being there to support them through that difficult moment is what sticks with me – and our team. Whether it's a car accident, medical emergency, or fire ... It’s not always the big, dramatic calls that stand out—it’s the small moments of being there for our community when they need us most."
