Amy West always knew she wanted to be a fire fighter.
As a kid growing up in the small Albertan town of Picture Butte, near Lethbridge, she spent countless hours at the local fire department.
鈥淢y dad was on the fire department for as long as I鈥檝e been alive, serving as the chief for 20 years. So even as a little kid, I was always running around the fire hall,鈥� said West, adding that her two brothers are also a part of the Picture Butte fire department.
鈥淚t kind of runs in the family.鈥�
On her 18th birthday, she signed up as the local detachment鈥檚 newest recruit.
She spent the next 12 years there, working her way up the ranks, eventually becoming the department鈥檚 deputy fire chief and the local EMS operations manager.
Despite being satisfied with her job, West was ready for a change.
鈥淚鈥檝e spent my whole life in Picture Butte,鈥� she said. 鈥淚t was time to try something new.鈥�
Not wanting to leave her profession, West started looking for firefighter related jobs elsewhere in Alberta. Within a few weeks she stumbled across an ad seeking a deputy fire chief in Jasper. After weighing out the pros and cons, she sent in a resume.
Her first day was Nov. 7.
鈥淭here鈥檚 been a lot of mixed emotions and there was a lot of things to consider before moving here, but ultimately I had great support from my family and it was time for me to get my feet wet and experience another part of the province,鈥� West said. 鈥淏ut it definitely wasn鈥檛 easy leaving a department that I鈥檝e put a lot of my heart and soul into.
鈥淚 basically lived at that department so it was tough, but I鈥檓 excited to see what Jasper has to offer and what I can offer them.鈥�
Now that she鈥檚 here, West said she鈥檚 adjusting well and looking forward to working with the rest of the department.
鈥淭he community is awesome and I鈥檓 loving it so far. Everyone on the fire department and in town has been so welcoming,鈥� she said.
For years, the Jasper Fire Department only had two full-time fire fighters; fire chief Greg Van Tighem and deputy chief Don Smith.
For more than three years Van Tighem urged council to add a third full-time fire fighter to help share the workload.
In May, council finally approved his request.
With the addition of another deputy fire chief, the department will be able to conduct more fire inspections and allow both men to take some time off.
鈥淚t鈥檚 been in the works for quite a while and finally it鈥檚 been approved and we鈥檙e very excited,鈥� said deputy chief Smith. 鈥淚t makes it a lot easier on us because there鈥檚 another person to share the load with.鈥�
In addition to sharing the workload, West will also help train Jasper鈥檚 35 volunteer firefighters.
鈥淭he expectations have gone up over the last few years in regards to the level of training needed for our volunteers so Amy will be a great help with that,鈥� Smith said. 鈥淏ut on top of that, we鈥檙e just really excited to have Amy with us.
鈥淲e think we made the right choice for our department.鈥�
Kayla Byrne
[email protected]
