The active Membership of The Harbour Grace Volunteer Fire Brigade decorated the Brigade’s Hydrant Club and prepared and served a Roast Beef Dinner on May 25th , 2002 as a part of the 25th Anniversary Celebration year of the Brigade’s Ladies  Auxiliary.

The Auxiliary was formed in 1977 as the result of a meeting held in Mrs. Mary Tapp’s kitchen.  From those humble beginnings has risen a proud Auxiliary serving and supporting the oldest volunteer fire Brigade in the province.  Over the years the ladies have made regular financial donations to the Brigade, have purchased firefighting equipment enabling firefighters to better serve the residents of the greater Harbour Grace area and have, of course, been a rock of support for the entire Brigade Family.

This year the Auxiliary will be holding ticket draws, Card Games and Takeout Dinners as fund raisers. They will also play host to the Brigade’s Family Fun Day and continue serving those famous dinners to groups and organization availing of the catering facilities at the Brigade’s Hydrant Club.

Auxiliary President Natalie Verge said, ‘It is indeed an honour to be serving my second term as Auxiliary President in this our anniversary year.  The Auxiliary members are proud to do their  part in helping The Harbour Grace Volunteer Fire Brigade be the best possible. We are proud of our accomplishments in the first 25 years and we look toward our next 25 years as a supportive part of the Brigade family.

Submitted By: Robert Lynch

The Harbour Grace Volunteer

Fire Brigade

          The entire Harbour Grace Volunteer Fire Brigade Family were saddened by the death on March 19,2002  of Former Chief John Pike.  John, age 58, joined the Brigade on March 04, 1974 and having served 20 years he retired from active service on April 13, 1994.   John held the positions of Assistant Chief, Crew Chief, Secretary and Treasurer.  In 1981 he was elected to the highest ranking position in the Brigade that of Chief.  John Served as Chief of the Brigade from 1981 until 1986. He also was very involved in the running of the Brigade’s Hydrant Club serving as Treasurer, Secretary as Brigade Auditor. 

Upon his death John was serving in the positions of Secretary of the Board of Directors,   the Santa Claus Parade Committee, on the Scholarship Committee and as Chairman of the Brigade’s Top of The  Ladder Club, a position he held since the club was formed in 1996.

Former Chief Robert Lynch said of John “ he  was a very dedicated, hard working member of the Brigade.  Help and advice was only a phone call away.  Having held every executive position in his day John was a great source of advice and experience and was called upon many times for guidance.”

           Coughlan United Church was filled to capacity as the cold grey afternoon set a sombre tone that matched the feelings of those present to say farewell to John.  Representation from the entire Brigade Family was present, The Mayor and Town Council representatives, newly elected, and those who served with John as councillors as well.  Woodman’s Sea Products and Higdon’s Seafood Ltd. workers with whom John worked. Humans Resources Canada with whom John’s wife Betty worked and of course a large number of family friends.  

     The Coughlan Male Choir sang his favourite Hymn “Amazing Grace” and Reverend Russell Small Delivered the Eulogy.

  The Funeral Procession to the United Church Cemetery was lead by Rescue Vehicle Unit #2 Carrying the Ball Bearers and with Rescue #3 following carrying members of the Brigade Family. At the Cemetery John’s Wife Betty and Family were presented with the Brigade’s Ceremonial Helmet and the Last Alarm was tolled three times as a final farewell to the Former Chief

Chief Paul Snow Said   “John’s passing will leave a void in the Brigade that will never be filled.  His dedication has been proven many times and is evident in one of his final request that donations in his memory be made to the Brigade’s Scholarship Fund.  On behalf of a grateful Brigade we share the loss with the family”

            John leaves to mourn his wife Betty, 2 sons Blair  and his wife Sharon:   Scott and his wife Priscilla,   2 Granddaughters Ashley and Jenna:    Brothers Lloyd and Howard:   Betty’s Parents Herber J. and Gertie Keel: of Bonavista .  2 sisters-in-law:   2 brothers-in-law:   3 aunts and 1 uncle also a number of nieces and nephews.   

BRIGADE HAS NEW CHIEF

On March 12, 2002 the Harbour Grace Volunteer Fire Brigade held its Annual General Meeting and Election of officers.  Paul Snow succeeded Robert Lynch as the Brigade’s new Chief, Snow, a former Chief with over 20 years volunteer Service, is a Fire Technician with North Atlantic Refining Ltd.  Come By Chance, NF. This is his third time as chief of the oldest fire brigade in the Province, founded in 1830.  Jim Barnes will now serve as Assistant Chief.  David Earle, Brian Dwyer, Ray Verge, and George Crocker, a former chief accepted the Positions of Crew Chiefs for the Brigade. Treasurer of the Brigade will be Pat Hearn, with David Green Representing the Brigade on the Board of Directors, Paul Sullivan holds the position of Secretary, the Club Manager position was left vacant.  Chief Paul Snow said he was “very pleased with the number of members on hand for the election and is looking forward to a very successful year” Lifetime members Bob Noseworthy, Clyde Reynolds and Albert (Bud) Chafe were on hand to conduct the election of officers

Annual Ball 2002

Harbour Grace Volunteer Fire Brigade held its Annual Ball on Saturday March 9th, 2002.  The gathering saw 130 plus members of the Brigade family, members of the various clergy, invited guests and government representatives in attendance. 

The formal part of the evening began with a moment of silence in memory of those lost in the terrorist attacks at New York, Washington and the plane crash in Pennsylvania and in the memory of those lost from the Brigade family.  Following this the firefighters prayer was offered and the grace. 

Emcee/ Comedian firefighter, Douglas Taylor invited Mayor Coombs, MHA Sweeney and director of Region One, Richard Murphy to the podium to bring their respective greetings.

In delivering his Chief's report, Robert Lynch stated that the Harbour Grace Volunteer Fire Brigade responded to 40 calls for emergency assistance over the past year.  The Brigade responded to mutual aids calls in Spaniard's Bay, Carbonear, Victoria, Salmon Cove, and to the North Shore Fire Departments. He, as all chiefs, was very happy to report a fatality free year.

The Harbour Grace Volunteer Fire Brigade continues to offer service and protection in the specialized field of vehicle extractions, high angle rescue and cold water rescue.

This past year the Brigade lobbied the department of municipal affairs for a special assistance grant in an attempt to acquire new Self Contained Breathing Apparatus.

 With the assistance of MHA George Sweeney, they received funding enough to purchase two complete sets of SCBA's. 

This past year also saw the Brigade set in motion a three year plan to replace the 40 Minuter 1 pagers purchased some 14 years ago.  The Brigade has purchased 12 Minuter 3's already this year and plan to purchase 12 more in 2003 and the remainder in 2004. 

The year 2002 marks the 25th Anniversary of two very important members of the Brigade family.  The ladies Auxillary and the Junior Brigades First Former in 1997 continues to actively support the membership

Moving into their presentation part of the evening, bouquets of roses of appreciation for service to the Brigade were presented to Maureen Mahar and Daphne Mercer.  RCMP representative SGT. Art Kelloway presented a plaque to former Chief Paul Ash in recognition of cooperation between the RCMP and the Brigade.

 The Harbour Grace Volunteer Fire Brigade's annual scholarship was presented.  The scholarship committee chair Clyde Reynolds announced that this years winner was Stephanie Martin.  Stephanie Martin is the daughter of Mrs. Louise Doran and deceased firefighter William Martin, and was presented with the scholarship check of $500.00.

 Captain Brian Penney representing the Canadian Coast Guard presented Stephanie with the scholarship certificate.  Tom Mahaney, on behalf of the Mahaney family presented her with a scholarship plaque. 

Firefighter Level Two Certificate was presented to crew Chief Brian Dwyer.  Four members have successfully completed their probation period for acceptance into the Brigade.  Cory Laing, Wade Luffman, Stephen Taylor and Stephen Fahey were all accepted into the membership.  Chief Lynch presented Cory and Wade with the Brigade Emblem.

Years of service pins were also presented at the Ball.  Fifteen years of service pins were presented to firefighters Hubert Pike and Charles Rodgers.  Receiving Twenty years of service pin and both Federal and Provincial Medals was firefighter Charles Archibald.  A Twenty-Five year service pin and a Provincial Medal was presented to crew Chief Keith Skinner. 

25 years of Service: 

MHA George Sweeney  and Crew Chief Keith Skinner

BRIGADE BATTLES SHIPBOARD BLAZE
Harbour Grace, Newfoundland

M/V Freija

Robert Lynch, Firefighter

The Harbour Grace Volunteer Fire Brigade

The Harbour Grace Volunteer Fire Brigade were dispatched to the Marine Centre in the port town at 3:47 p.m. Friday October 18th 2002. A call from Dawe’s Welding and Son’s Ltd to dispatch reported a fire on board the Motor Vessel Freija which was tied to the wharf for seasonal repairs. Upon arrival on the scene firefighters were told that two crew members living on board and responsible for the repairs had not been seen since the fire started. To further complicate the situation workers at the facility had decided to cut the bow lines from the wharf and let the vessel drift out. The M/V Freija was now sitting at an approximate at a 45 degree angle to the wharf tied only by its aft lines. One of Marine Centre workers was now in the water trying to retrieve the bow lines.

A call for Mutual aid was immediately place to the Carbonear Volunteer Department for the use of their Pumper and Ariel Ladder and equally important for the use of their compressor to refill SCBA cylinders. Calls were also placed to the Fire Commissioners Office, the RCMP, Moores Ambulance Service and to Carbonear General Hospital.

The Fire Commissioner placed a call to North Atlantic Refinery, Come By Chance, to request technicians and additional foam be sent to the scene. In addition to these agencies being called, Simms Garage were also called for a large enough tow truck to remove a fuel tanker which was on the wharf as well.

After gaining access to the vessel firefighters, wearing full bunker gear and donning SCBA’s, found the two workers doing their best to fight the fire. These gentlemen were quickly escorted to the deck of the boat where they could give firefighters directions and vessel lay out information.
Repeated attempts were made to get to the seat of the fire by Brigade members. Firefighters on deck could see water being poured on the medal being boiled off as quickly as it hit. Tar was bubbling up between the 2x5 boards on the walk way and smoke was puffing from the below deck vent pipes.

This combined with the maze that is the below deck storage and living quarters of the vessel deemed an on board attack to be too dangerous.  through these openings. Using this plan of attack the fire was contained enough to attempt a second on board attack. Firefighters again with full protective clothing and SCBA’ and in teams of four, continued to battle the blaze until it was finally extinguished at approximately 1 :00 a.m.

The Long liner Sea Sons II was called upon to attach a line to the aft of the vessel in preparation for towing it away from the wharf. Firefighters had now been battling the blaze for approximately six hours. Chief Paul Snow made the decision to have the bow lines retrieved and have the vessel returned to the wharf. Once dockside the portholes were quickly taken out and AFFF was applied

The Harbour Grace Volunteer Brigade members had now been on the scene for nine hours. Chief Snow saw the need for a crew to stay over night to watch for any hot spots and flare ups He called for volunteers from his already weary Brigade to spend the night. A crew of 8 stayed with the vessel while the rest of the firefighters returned to the fire hall where fire trucks and equipment were made ready for the next call.

Chief Snow said “This fire was a unique challenge, the language barrier led to a great deal of confusion as to where and how much fuel was on board. This coupled with being tied up to a wooded wharf where fibre glassing operations was taken place made many defensive actions to be implemented. All agencies worked extremely well together, however I am most pleased with the efforts of our firefighters and those from the Carbonear Fire Department, they all worked tirelessly to bring the situation to a successful conclusion.”