SAINT-CÉLESTIN. It was the call of the challenge that prompted Michel, Martin and Jean-François Houle to enlist as part-time firefighters at the Saint-Célestin Paroisse barracks. The young men they were at the time were unaware as the years went by and, 15 years later, the challenge would still light them up…
On March 6, 2006, the three brothers made their official entry into this brigade, born on the same day. The sons of André Houle and Danielle Jutras were then 20, 23 and 25 years old respectively. “We were sponsored by the Saint-Wenceslas Fire Department. It was he who had selected the future firefighters and who had helped the parish to set up its own fire department, ”says Jean-François Houle, who, three years later, became its first director.
“We became a full-fledged fire department in 2009. Before that, we were not independent. We only had a tanker. We could bring water but not attack a building. We gave the Saint-Wenceslas brigade a hand at the same time we learned. “
The Houle brothers had seen the call for candidates launched at the time by the parish and were curious to know more. “A lot of people showed up for the information evening. Seven were selected. It wasn’t enough to form a brigade, so there was another call and four more people joined us. ”
Today, the brigade has 16 part-time firefighters. Almost a third have been in post since the first year.
The beginnings
The first official call received by the new brigade concerned a overturned Winnebago on Highway 55. It aroused a good dose of adrenaline… which comes back at a gallop with each call! “The thrill is still there ”, confirm the three brothers.
“The first few years, we were a bit ‘cowboys’. We were in training and we pitchait pretty much everywhere. Fortunately, the Saint-Wenceslas Fire Department had taken us under its wing. We went on all his calls to gain experience. The chef, Robert Comeau, showed us and explained to us live what we were learning in the lessons. ” It paid off: “Now the experience speaks”.
Martin took over from his older brother as Director of the Saint-Célestin Fire Department in 2014. He still holds this position. Jean-François is a captain. “We reversed our roles,” they smile. The reason? Jean-François, a master electrician, wanted to start his business while Martin was perfecting his training as a preventionist (he is a preventionist at the MRC de Nicolet-Yamaska). The transfer of responsibilities went without saying, they say.
For his part, Michel does not aim for more responsibilities within the brigade. He enjoys being a firefighter and devotes a lot of energy to the family farm, which he took over in 2010.
Family spirit
The family spirit is a value firmly established among the Houle and it rubs off by the gang on the whole brigade: “The fire department is like a big family. We have a great gang. We are all enthusiasts ”.
This chemistry facilitates interventions. “We know each other. We put everyone’s strengths to work. We are also able to see that our colleague or our brother has worked hard and needs a little rest. We will generally relay him before he even needs to propose it. “
Each intervention is followed by a debriefing. This allows you to target points to improve and good shots. “It helps the team spirit.”
It also helps to become better; a non-negligible aspect as the profession of firefighter is in constant transformation. “The tactics and techniques of intervention are changing. For example, in a fire, a house can collapse after 10 minutes whereas in the 1960s it was left standing longer. This is explained by the new building materials. We must be on the lookout. The same goes for intervening in an accident with the jaws of life: there are new types of vehicles, whether electric or propane. You can’t improvise. ”
Not to mention that the firefighters’ mandate is not limited to putting out fires or intervening as first responders in the event of an accident. “We are also in civil security in general. For example, one can become lumberjacks during periods of high winds to clear paths or railroads. We also do prevention and representation. ”
To be able to play their roles well, firefighters regularly attend training sessions. They also have a monthly practice. “It’s a good responsibility. We all have other jobs, so it happens evenings and weekends. You need your family to support you in this. ”
The three brothers, who are all fathers of families, benefit from this support. Fortunately, since Michel, Martin and Jean-François Houle intend to continue their involvement in the fire department of the parish of Saint-Célestin for a long time. “We are not about to stop! We’re healthy, so we wish each other at least 15 more years! ”
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