Fire department

In December 2007, the Recreation Commission and the Town of Lamèque celebrated the 40th anniversary of an active and devoted group of people, the town’s volunteer firefighters.

The Lamèque Fire Department was founded on December 11^th, 1967, with 14 charter members : Arthur McMahon, chief ; Roger E. Noël, president ; Robert Chiasson, vice-president ; Gérard Noël, secretary-treasurer, Howard Downing, Jean-Eudes Chiasson, Egide Paulin, Michel Haché, Aimé Duguay, Rodrigue Paulin, Victor Savoie, Téles Savoie, Gilbert Savoie and Théophane Lanteigne.

The fire hall was opened on January 20^th, 1968. The Village of Lamèque borrowed 15 000 $ to buy the piece of land, the building and the first truck (a roofless Chevrolet Maple Leaf 1953).

To finance their fire department, firemen sold bingo cards on Sunday nights at the church hall and held cake sales. 50/50 ticket sales also helped a lot.

Since 1967, Lamèque firefighters had to buy other vehicles:

Truck No. 2, a 1936 Chevrolet, bought in 1968 for 400 $, carried water. These trucks, as well as the Truck No.1, are still in great shape and are stored at the fire hall. They are classified as antique vehicles.

The brigade acquired a third truck in 1972, a 1000-gallon 1972 GMC.

In 1981, a fourth truck was bought, a Cargo Star International which can hold 1500 gallons of water.

A van was bought in April 1994 for storing freeing equipment and another one for transporting the firemen.

The latest truck acquired by the Town was bought in 2000 for 325 000 $. This modern vehicle has a 1000-gallon reservoir and can transport seven firemen with all their equipment and freeing equipment.

The Lamèque Fire Department has 21 active members, divided in three groups who alternate every week or when they are available. The chief has an assistant, three captains and three lieutenants. As well as the Town itself, the Department serves many neighboring communities: Haut-Lamèque, Coteau, Pointe-Alexandre, Petite-Lamèque, Pointe-Canot, Petite-Rivière-de-l’Île and Petit-Shippagan. Of course, in case of an emergency, firemen help other brigades as there is a mutual agreement between them.

The job of firefighter is very demanding. He has to follow many training courses and be ready to answer calls day and night. The chief, in particular, is responsible for the safety of its firemen at all times on all calls.

Since 1967, five men have been chief after Mr. McMahon: Égide Paulin, Gérard Noël, Jean-Pierre Haché, Aubin Gauvin and the actual chief Bernard Benoit. Over these 42 years, 83 men have been or are still in the department, nine have died, 40 have retired (13 of these became honorary members and 21 still active). 83 firefighters in 42 years ; this clearly shows that the department is working very well and people take their work and their community at heart. Up till now, firemen gave over 35 000 hours of their time on calls.

Many Lamèque members were decorated for their work: 19 got the Governor General’s Fire Services Exemplary Service Medal for 20 years of service, one of the highest honors given to firefighters. 10 members also got a medal from the New Brunswick Lieutenant-Governor for 25 years of service. Three firemen received a silver barrette for 10 additional years of service (30 years in total) and two of them another barrette for five additional years (35 years in total). Two firemen also received a commemorative medal for their volunteer work, given at the 25^th anniversary of Queen Elizabeth’s access to the throne.

Of these firemen, Captain Fernand Savoie is still among the active members and has now 39 years of service, two more than Téles Savoie, who retired in 2004 after 37 years.

During all these years, in addition to their work, firefighters also volunteered in many local events at church, Santa Claus parades, security at the local arena, guided tours of the brigade, security at the Jeux de l’Acadie and many more, as well as the annual firemen party held for many years during the Lamèque Provincial Peat Moss Festival.

Let’s not forget the wives and girlfriends who were always there to support their husbands or boyfriends, especially when the firemen left to check on accidents or major fires. Even with the state-of-the-art equipment and the years of experience acquired on the job, firefighting can be very dangerous and women are very conscious of that.

chef pompier