Evan Hartfield has been a member of the Keremeos and District Volunteer Fire Department for 17 years.
“I wanted to help the community,” he said, “it seemed like a neat thing to do.”
So far, his expectations have been met, with respect to what he hoped to get out of it.
“Helping the community was my first reason for joining, and is a big reason I’m still on,” he said, “I enjoy the cameraderie and I’m good with what I receive in compensation - from a monetary point of view, I really wasn’t expecting anything when I joined, thinking it was totally a volunteer effort.”
Hartfield often responds from his home in Olalla, noting he can often be at the fire hall within five minutes.
“There are certain times of the year when I can make second truck,” he said. The 40 year old firefighter said that his under present circumstances he manages to make about 50 per cent of all calls.
“ I think it all works out,” he said, “you give what you can.”