Dozens of members of Kamloops Fire Rescue (KFR) are in Cache Creek and Ashcroft today, with many of them planning to be at the service for Cache Creek fire chief Clayton Cassidy. They will be joined by firefighters from around B.C., western Canada, and the states of Washington and Oregon, here to honour Cassidy, who was swept away by floodwater on May 5.
However, 11 KFR members are at the fire halls in Cache Creek and Ashcroft, in order to allow members of both fire departments to take part in today’s service.
“Every one of our members that’s in town and not on duty will either be in Ashcroft today, with the majority being in Cache Creek,” said KFR captain David Sakaki. “It’s so important that the firefighters [in Cache Creek and Ashcroft] are able to attend the service.
“We want to help out in any way we can. I think this is probably one of the best ways we can help out the firefighters, by allowing them to be part of the service today.”
“As far as Kamloops goes, really it is about a brotherhood,” said Ashcroft fire chief Josh White. “What [KFR] chief Mike Adams offered to do with Kamloops coming in and backfilling for us was truly amazing and unexpected. We just welcomed it with open arms. What they’re doing for our communities is just fantastic.”
White said that the KFR presence in both communities will allow all Cache Creek and Ashcroft firefighters to attend the service. “It lets us worry a little less about not having people in our communities. Should a call come in we’re still going to respond, of course, but we won’t be able to get here as fast. We’re probably looking at a good half hour response time from Cache Creek back to Ashcroft.
“What these guys are doing is alleviating that half hour. It’s huge.”
