We wake up each day comforted by the protection of a sophisticated fire service. Delta has six fire halls strategically located to respond to any emergency within minutes.
Prior to 1963, Delta's fire service was totally operated by volunteers. The George Massey Tunnel opened in 1959 and there was rapid growth in residential development.
The Agricultural Land Reserve was not yet in place. Housing lots were selling in Ladner in the early 1960s for $900 and in South Delta for $1,100; similar prices ranged in North Delta.
Delta's fire service, although voluntary, was well developed following the Second World War. Ladner's first fire truck with a tank and pumper was purchased in 1947 from the Boundary Bay Airport with the assistance of the Delta Board of Trade. The cab and chassis was initially used as a "crash truck" at the airport and refitted by the Corporation of Delta.
In 1953, Delta purchased its first fully outfitted real fire truck. Shades of Mayberry, the Ladner elementary and high schools were closed for the afternoon as school kids and the town's business people got a close up view of this shiny new red truck driven by Cliff Cory, who later became Delta's first paid fire chief in 1963.
The early fire volunteers were mostly from the farming community. Volunteers were called out by a siren located at the old municipal hall in Ladner and calls from the local telephone office.
In the late 1940s and early '50s, there was a rash of barn fires and later to Ladner schools. Some of these fires were attributed to a known arsonist and others were accidental in nature.
In 1952, there was a serious barn fire on the Embree farm in East Delta. The barn was totally destroyed and 96 dairy cows were lost. This tragic fire was witnessed by a local third generation farmer, Gordon Huff.
Huff was not yet a firefighter, but he was there to help. In 1953, Huff joined the volunteer fire department and he and other volunteers and their equipment were initially in a converted chicken house in East Delta known as Hall #4. Firefighters were later located in the existing fire hall on Highway 10 now used as a training facility.
The impetus for Huff joining the fire department was the tragic Embree fire. Huff excelled as a firefighter and soon became chief at Hall #4.
Huff was a perfectionist and a demanding leader. Those who know him appreciate he suffers foolish people a very short time. He is also a gregarious and outgoing personality, much admired by many.
Huff speaks proudly of the fact he supervised as many as 17 volunteers at any one time and that 14 of his team became full-time firefighters in Delta and neighbouring municipalities. He also relished the fact he brought on board Delta's first female volunteer.
In 1988, after 35 years of service, Huff retired from his volunteer position. He was recognized by three levels of government for his outstanding service and was received and appropriately thanked by Delta's mayor and council.
Huff celebrated his 90th birthday (he looks 65) with family and numerous friends and colleagues at a hosted birthday breakfast last month. He's a man to be remembered in the history of Delta's fire service. Happy birthday, Gordon, and many more.
And a good night to you, Alan and Joan.
