Meet our Members: Carson Schreiner

This week on Meet our Members, we interview Carson Schreiner!

CFR: Could you provide a brief background of your fire service career?

I joined Comox Fire Rescue as a rookie firefighter in March 2010, just after the Youth Camp ended. About a year later, I completed my NFPA 1001 Level 2 and became a fully certified firefighter. I got a job working as a firefighter for the Department of National Defense at HMCS Quadra in Comox for a summer and have spent the last 2 years working as a fulltime firefighter for BC Hydro at the Mica Dam. With my schedule of two weeks on two weeks off, I have been able to maintain my POC Firefighting position with Comox. I have recently completed my Fire Officer 1 Certification through the JIBC and am nearing completion of Officer 2.

Was there any specific event that first interested you in becoming a fire fighter?

In my grade 11 year of highschool I enrolled in the Comox Fire Rescue Youth Camp program. It was a life changing experience for me. After just a few days of undergoing firefighting training I was hooked. I've always wanted a career that would allow me to help people and give back to my community and being a firefighter seemed like the perfect way to do that.

What is your favourite part of volunteering for Comox Fire Rescue (or working in the valley in general)?

My favourite part of being a volunteer with Comox is the great training opportunities we are given and amazing training facilities we have access to. This allows us to provide a better service to the citizens of Comox. I also really enjoy participating in the community and charity events such as our Annual Tree Chipping for Yana. I am proud to be a part of such a great organization that does so much for the community.

Outside of the fire department, what are your interests/hobbies?

Outside of the Fire Department, my hobbies are: playing hockey, stand-up paddleboarding, mountain biking, fishing, camping, weight training, and golfing.

What are some major changes you have seen in the fire service industry during your career?

During my time in the Fire Department, the biggest changes I have seen are the advancements in technology. When I joined the department we were using rip and run sheets and address books when responding to calls, whereas now we just bring up a map on one of the many IPADS in our trucks and have an accurate GPS location to respond to. The IPADs allow us to be much more efficient at many other department operations as well. The other huge innovation I have seen has been the use of the Active 911 app on our personal cell phones.

Chief Schreiner states: “It has been really rewarding for me to see my son Carson follow in my foot steps and excel the way he has. He has grown into a very capable firefighter. The fire service has a long record of having family members work together and it great to see the same happening here in Comox. We have had several family connections over the years here and hope that trend continues.”