Meet our Members: Wayne Della Siega
This week on Meet our Members, we interview Wayne Della Siega!
CFR: Could you provide a brief background of your fire service career?
I have been with Comox Fire Rescue for 14 years.
CFR: Was there any specific event that first interested you in becoming a fire fighter?
I joined Comox FD after coming to the valley and wanted to be part of a great organization that was high energy, volunteer, and adrenaline based. I used to see them practice so I decided to join.
CFR: What is your favourite part of volunteering for Comox Fire Rescue (or working in the valley in general)?
My favorite part of Comox FD is the community embracing us as a valued part of the town and the diverse membership.
CFR: Outside of the fire department, what are your interests/hobbies?
Outside of the hall I enjoy sports, mountain biking, fishing, gardening, and spending time with my family.
CFR: What are some major changes you have seen in the fire service industry during your career?
The changes I have seen are the new advancements in fire fighting techniques and equipment as well as the unfortunate departure from volunteer aspects to more paid occurrences.
CFR: If you could change one thing about the fire service, what would it be?
If I could change one thing it would be to have more emphasis on volunteer, where all would see the value of it, rather than being paid to do the latter. There needs to be more fun and laughter aside from all the business that is inevitable in the fire service.
Chief Schreiner states: “With fifty members in any organization you will of course have different views. I respect and value Wayne’s views but I do not agree with them in terms of 'volunteerism'. While we do pay more people to do more things for us I have seen our volunteer hours increase over the 40 years I have been here. Our community has grown and so has the demand for our services. The increased paid hours allows us to better serve our citizens while targeting some specific projects that are typically dealt with during regular business hours like our Sound of Life program, the P.A.R.T.Y. program and several other school based programs. More paid hours also reduces the stress on our volunteers and supports them in many ways. Our department is involved with more and more all of the time. In fact collectively we volunteer thousands of hours each year.”
Thank you Wayne for your many years of dedicated volunteer service!