He may be officially done at the end of the day Thursday.
But there’s still plenty of work to do!
Chris Forster, deputy fire chief with the Penticton Fire Department, will call it a career today.
However, sitting back and relaxing in his final days with the department wasn’t in Forster’s DNA.
Instead, he’s been busy preparing the list of tasks the person following in his footsteps will be consumed with.
“I’ve been working for the past two months creating a manual with all the instructions of all the duties I do to leave behind. I could probably use another two weeks,” said Forster with a laugh. “It did surprise me. In terms of the numbers, it almost doubled from what I thought it would be. There’s just a significant amount that goes into the deputy of administration.”
There are two deputy fire chiefs within the Penticton Fire Department - Deputy of Operations, and Deputy of Administration.
Forster’s role was expansive to say the least, with the department’s budget one of his key responsibilities.
“We’re replacing equipment every week literally, whether it’s daily first responder supplies, to a change in equipment, to a replacement of outdated equipment,” said Forster during a lengthy discussion this past week at Fire Hall #201 on Nanaimo Street. “In 2019 we replaced all of our breathing apparatus, which had to go out to a request for proposal through our purchasing department. That was a considerable project.
“On a daily and weekly basis it’s a constant turnover of all the equipment that’s needed.”
Chris Forster wasn’t always a firefighter. In fact, he made a 180 degree career change back in 1988.
“Believe it or not, before I was a firefighter, I was a corporate tax accountant. I worked across the street at Canada Revenue Agency. But a desk job wasn’t for me. And I always wanted to be a firefighter,” explained Forster. “So, back in ‘88, I walked across on one of my coffee breaks, talked to the deputy chief and he said, ‘Yeah we have an auxiliary program if you’re interested. Show up Wednesday night’. And that was the start of my career.”
He worked in the auxiliary for a couple years in Penticton, then moved to Vancouver where there were many opportunities to be a full time firefighter.
“The key was, I wanted to be a firefighter,” said Forster. “I really had that genuine desire to help people.”
He worked with the Vancouver fire department for around five years then moved to the Calgary fire department for six years.
In 2005, he decided to return to Penticton and worked as an auxiliary before taking on a full time position in 2009.
He became deputy fire chief in 2017.
“We’re there to help people in their time of need, and that is a big part of the job. But one of the most satisfying parts of the job for me was the non-emergency aspect − your hall tours, your interaction with the public, going to the schools, and interacting with children and educating them on fire safety,” said Forster, 55. “I always reflect back on my interview in Vancouver. One of the questions they asked me was, ‘What do you think is important and what would want to make you a firefighter?’ I said, ‘Everybody thinks it’s this big rush attending fires. But to me, whether I saved a child from a burning building or whether I taught a child to dial 911, would be just as equally important’.”
When Chris Forster finishes his final shift today, there will be no pomp and circumstance, and no enjoying a ‘cold one’ with fellow fighters.
The COVID-19 pandemic has the fire department in lockdown, which unfortunately has taken away any formal retirement opportunities.
“The thing about the fire department is, it’s very traditional. One of the traditions is that we have a farewell ceremony for each and every retiree. We take the trucks out of the bays, we set up tables and invite mayor and council along with family and friends of the individual retiring,” said Forster. “Well, that couldn’t be done this year. We’ve had six other people retire in the past few months, and none of those people have been able to have their retirement let-go.
“The Chief is actually hooping to have something later once this all improves. Hopefully it will be sooner than later.”
It’s a celebration Chris Forster and his fellow firefighter retirees very much deserve.
