On Dec. 8, Bob Felker was honoured by his fellow firefighters for 30 years of service at a Christmas banquet at the Forest Grove Community Hall.
Earlier in October, Cariboo Regional District Area H Director Margo Wagner presented Felker with a commemorative plaque and medal at a CRD meeting in Williams Lake.
In addition to his years as a firefighter, Felker has been the fire chief in Forest Grove for a remarkable 27 years.
The Forest Grove Volunteer Fire Department (FGVFD) was formed in 1982. The small group of volunteers had little in the way of equipment and gear.
A dance was held to raise funds for their first big purchase, a 1948 International open cab fire truck. The truck spent a year in Felker’s and other firefighters’ garages.
Under Felker’s leadership and through hard work by its members, the department expanded and developed, setting a standard for excellence in the South Cariboo. In 2000, Felker initiated the inaugural First Responder Program in the regional district. Currently, the department has more than 40 members, many with first responder certification.
Other milestones in his career as fire chief have been the purchase in 2007 of a state-of-the-art truck with a foam compressor, the first of its kind in the CRD, and amalgamation with the Canim Lake Volunteer Fire Department. In 2010, Forest Grove firefighters were on duty at the Olympic venue in Whistler.
Cariboo-Chilcotin MLA Donna Barnett and Wagner were guests at the Dec. 8 dinner in Forest Grove. Barnett has been a friend and admirer of Felker for many years. She commended him for his years of devotion to the FGVFD.
“Accolades to Bob,” Barnett said.
“He has always had a commitment to his community and a passion to ensure the safety of others. He has persevered through financial struggles and recruitment issues. Not often do you see one of his calibre.”
As for the future, chief Felker foresees busy times ahead with many new firefighters to train and programs to set up.
“I’ll retire when everyone’s been looked after,” he quipped.