Sooke firefighters: ladies of the flame

As published in MapleLine Magazine: Nov.4, 2009

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by Mary P. Brooke

Where there's fire, there are firefighters. And in Sooke, two of those fighters are gals!

Nikima Hughes is now 19, but she’s been on the Sooke Fire Department volunteer team in a preliminary capacity since Jan.06. Firefighting is a passion that Nikima will pursue as her career. Michelle Hamilton, 34 (and mother of four), is in her fifth year as a ‘lady of the flame’, joining the force as a volunteer in Sept.05 as part of a lifelong ambition after having been in a house fire as a child. Michelle’s hubby Matt Barney is the captain and training officer with the District of Sooke Fire Dept. They are rarely sent out on the same call.

“Women firefighters are part of the team,” says Fire Chief Steve Sorensen. “They sometimes have limitations (such as their height and what they can lift) but then some guys don’t like to climb ladders. It’s about technique, not just strength,” says Sorensen who is clearly proud of his unit and the service they provide in Sooke.

Strength is required for, at the very least, the weight of air tanks, protective clothing, masks and helmets. Then there’s holding hoses with 100 or 150 psi of water pressure running through them.

Why firefighting? For Nikima there is the “huge adrenalin rush” and helping others. “Evenutally it’s your turn,” she says, implying that what comes around goes around. For Michelle it’s about “making sure all your ducks are in a row” because it’s also about the safety of the person behind you that you’re buddying up with, she says.

“The guys here are awesome. There’s no difference because we’re women. They look after us,” agree Nikima and Michelle. “They have our backs, they protect us.”

Weekly Thursday evening training for all firefighters deals with first-responder skills and hazardous materials, plus fire.

The first responder aspect of the job can be the most traumatic. Michelle was first on the scene for a neighbour’s 1-year-old who required CPR right away and the child lived. Nikima recently attended to a man who had fallen into a ditch; the bone extrusion was quite a sight to deal with
under the direction of the paramedics. Post-event counselling is provided as required.

There is duty shift pay issued to fire volunteers for working in environmental emergencies (such as filling sandbags to work against rainstorm flooding in the Sooke area, Jan.09).

What’s the wish list from these women firefighters to our community? “Don’t leave pots on the stove. Use common sense – put a lid onto hot pans when you’re cooking with oil. And no smoking in bed!” MM

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This article was published on page 9 in MapleLine Magazine (Holiday 2009 issue / No.09-Jan.10).