“When firefighters are protected, the whole community is safer.”

Ian found firefighting after a job in marketing left him missing a sense of purpose. Drawn by the teamwork that reminded him of his years playing sports, he discovered a new passion in the firehouse. “It feels like being back on a team again – everyone pushing each other, trusting each other.” At Hygiene, Ian quickly moved into leadership, running department trainings and mentoring new recruits. 

But Ian admits training has been one of the department’s biggest challenges. “It can be hard to figure out new training options because we just don’t have the facilities. Anything specialized has to be done outside of the district, which we can’t do while on shift. So, we end up repeating the same drills, over and over, making the most of the space we have.” A new station would change that. Dedicated training areas – including space for technical rescues and search courses – would mean firefighters can train 24/7, right here at home. “It’s like moving from high school facilities to college facilities. It takes your game to the next level.”

For Ian, the defining traits of his team are integrity, accountability and resilience. And he adds that Hygiene’s culture is about support: checking in after tough calls and expecting the best from one another. “When we’re protected and trained ourselves, we can protect everyone else.”