source: iaffonline archives
Maple Ridge Local 4449 Receives Charter
January 23, 2006 - The 16 members of Maple Ridge, BC Local 4449 celebrate the signing of their IAFF Charter. With a population of 45,000, the Municipality of Maple Ridge had operated with a volunteer fire department until Chief Peter Groetendorst took the lead with a plan to staff the fire department based on a 10-year plan that will bring the department up to 100 members.
Chief Groetendorst has also committed to maintain a minimum staffing level of a captain and three fire fighters on first response apparatus -- as pictured here with the first 15 fire fighters (one is not in the photo) and IAFF 6th District Vice President Lorne West. All 16 fire fighters receive full wages and benefits comparable to all other Vancouver, British Columbia area IAFF locals.