Almost 36 years have passed since Tim Wilkinson first donned a firefighter’s helmet and jumped into a fire truck at Brighouse Firehall No. 1, en route to his first call.
Standing in almost the exact same spot today – the new firehall opened a few years ago – the Richmond Fire-Rescue chief is about to call it a career.
But don’t be fooled for a second in thinking that the 63-year-old, Steveston-raised Wilkinson has been gathering moss during those years.
On the contrary, the departing fire chief is leaving behind a storied service to the fire department, its firefighters and the community at large.
Not only did he do his fair share of saving lives and putting out countless fires, he played a major role in a team that successfully lobbied government to recognize a presumptive cancer diagnosis in firefighters – as well as securing the land to build the Burn Fund building – all while rising through the ranks as union president, captain, battalion chief and deputy chief to where he is now.
“It was a special time and a special team,” Wilkinson told the Richmond News, while reflecting on some of his achievements over the decades.
“That’s what I’ll remember the most; being a part of a team. The teamwork in Richmond is incredible.
“I really enjoy helping people, but you can’t do that alone.”
Out-going fire chief recalls human tragedies more than large incidents
Asked what incident sticks out the most during his career, Wilkinson steered away from the obvious – such as 9/11 and multiple tragic, fatal plane crashes and, more recently, the huge blaze that consumed the DND Lands.
“It’s not so much large fires, but smaller events, where we were able to help a family, where there has been a loss of life, where you can maybe make a terrible situation a little better,” said Wilkinson.
“Those are the ones that some firefighters struggle with and then, later on, being able to help other firefighters get through it. The fires are adrenalin events and you do your best to limit the damage, of course, but it’s the ones with close contact with people that I recall the most.”
Indeed, Wilkinson remembers clearly his first shout as a Richmond firefighter back in 1986.
First call-out was an eye-opener
“My first call was a medical event. The training back then wasn’t as specific as it is now,” explained the out-going fire chief, who spent the first 10 years of his working life as a plumber, all across B.C, before some rugby friends recommended a career in the fire department.
“I wasn’t as proficient then as I am now and it was quite overwhelming at one point seeing the paramedics at work.”
As for his first actual fire, it “wasn’t particularly large or exciting. It was a house fire.
“I got shepherded through it by a great team. We went inside the fire and were able to extinguish it easily. I learned a lot that day.
“I felt very fulfilling and it was a massive confidence-builder. You don’t really know if you’re capable of doing the full role until you actually have to do it for real.
“You need a good start to be successful in this career and I was lucky enough to have that and have a great team to show me the ropes.”
Looking ahead to April 28, his final day “on the job,” Wilkinson emphasized that the fire department in Richmond really has “been a great place to work.”
“We have wonderful people here at Richmond Fire and wonderful people across the city. I’m sure going to miss all that,” added Wilkinson, who also paid homage to his wife, Joanne, for encouraging him to “take the risks necessary to move forward” and to his two children for understanding his career choice meant him sometimes missing family celebrations and holidays.
As for what lies ahead, Wilkinson said he will most likely be on the family boat this summer with his wife, exploring more of B.C.’s west coast, before spending the rest of the year “figuring out” retirement.
