Esquimalt has hired its first female firefighter.
The township added four full-time firefighters to Esquimalt Fire Rescue Services (EFRS), where they were sworn in early June after council approved the 2023 budget.
“We’re very pleased to welcome these skilled individuals to the department,” said Mayor Barbara Desjardins in a release Friday.
“As the community grows, it is important to ensure our services keep up as well.”
The newest full-time firefighter is Alexandria Marshall, who “arrived after several years at the CFB Fire Department and is the Township’s first female firefighter,” according to the release.
The township says the other three firefighters, Kielan Hrasky, Lucas Hammond and Chris McElroy, had already been working on a full-time temporary basis.
It says the added capacity allows for the continuation of fire suppression and prevention programs and the implementation of a new medic truck response model.
The fire department is located near the Archie Browning Arena, and crews say they often assist nearby municipalities like Victoria, Saanich and Oak Bay.
“With the additional staff, EFRS can now cross-staff a ladder truck, a rescue truck and the medic unit,” the township added. “This new model allows firefighters to respond to medical emergencies more efficiently while reducing carbon emissions.”
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