Engaged Albany volunteer firefighters among those recognised for efforts in Canadian wildfires last year

Great Southern firefighters have been recognised for their efforts during last year’s Canadian wildfires, with a volunteer couple from Albany revealing they became engaged on deployment.

Heather Bell and Ben Bunney from Albany Volunteer Fire and Rescue Service and Lee Shelley from Denmark VFRS were among 13 West Australians to receive Canadian Deployment Recognition Pins on Wednesday.

The trio answered an SOS from the Canadian Government in July, joining a special taskforce deployed from WA to fight nearly 300 fires sweeping through the province of British Columbia.

During their month-long deployment, both Mr Bunney and Mr Shelley contracted COVID-19, but the trip finished on a heart-warming note with Mr Bunney and Ms Bell getting engaged.

Despite the extreme fire conditions, Mr Bunney said the Canadian deployment was an experience he would not forget.

After starting as a junior, Mr Bunney has been an active member of Albany VFRS for 22 years.

“I’m glad I took the challenge on,” he said. “Using new techniques never used before, working out of helicopters and float planes — you’ll never get the chance to do that in WA or Australia, so it was very interesting.

“The physical logistics for us to get there, we got asked a week before if we were keen to go and both of us said yes. Three days before we were meant to fly to Canada we got the OK to do it.”

Ms Bell started as a volunteer firefighter in Cranbrook before joining Albany VFRS three years ago.

“They do firefighting totally different over there because of the remoteness,” she said.

“They’ve got so much water over there and no fire trucks whereas we are the opposite … I only saw two fire trucks the whole time I was over there.

“It was a great experience and we encourage everyone if they have the opportunity to register with DFES to put in for deployment whether it’s within the State, interstate or international, because it’s a great learning experience.”

Mr Bunney said contracting COVID left his proposal plans hanging in the balance.

“I got COVID while I was over there and That sort of threw chaos into the mix,” he said.

“At the last minute, the last day that we were in Canada I thought ‘right, let’s go get this ring’.

“We met some great friends over there … we were able to share it with them at the airport before we left and also in our Zoom meetings that we had when while were in quarantine with the team.”