For nearly a decade, Leo Levasseur has been a dedicated volunteer with Sidney Fire's Emergency Support Services (ESS) team, a crucial part of the Peninsula Emergency Measures Organization (PEMO).
These unsung heroes provide vital assistance to Peninsula residents facing their darkest hours.
"Imagine somebody's house totally destroyed by fire in the middle of the night," explains Levasseur. "They're on the street with nothing but the clothes on their back. That's where we come in."
The ESS program, a provincial initiative delivered by First Nations and local authorities, offers immediate relief to British Columbians impacted by emergencies such as fires, floods, and earthquakes.
Volunteers provide critical services like food, lodging, clothing, emotional support, information and family reunification.
Levasseur highlights the rapid response of the team.
"We have the fire department phone with us so the incident commander can call us with details," he says.
Volunteers take turns carrying the phone weekly, receiving incident details and evacuee contact information. The team then mobilizes, meeting at the fire hall – day or night – to arrange accommodation and provide essential support within the hour.
"We're going to help them on the worst day of their life by providing them lodging, food, clothing and essentials for the next 72 hours," Levasseur said. "That's our mandate."
He says the support allows evacuees time to gather themselves before dealing with insurance companies and other logistical challenges, often offering solace during moments of shock and trauma.
"A hundred per cent of the time they're, like, 'I can't believe that you guys were able to do this to us'," Levasseur says, underscoring the profound impact of their support.
Beyond the basics, ESS can also provide first aid, child minding, pet care and transportation.
With a core group of 14 dedicated members, Sidney Fire is looking to expand its ESS team. They will be recruiting volunteers on Saturday, May 10, at Canadian Tire in North Saanich.
"It doesn't take up a huge amount of your time to be a volunteer – it’s the feeling that you get inside," Levasseur adds.
"When you know that if you were in that situation, you'd want someone like us to help out... If I were on the other end of the rope, I'd want someone like this to say, ‘We're going to take care of you and get you up and running.' It's worth everything for me to be doing that."
