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Meet our volunteer firefighters

The Sooke News Mirror profiles the volunteers in our region
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Captain Murray Lambert

Over the next while the The Sooke News Mirror will be featuring and introducing the districty volunteer firefighters to the residents of Sooke.

 

Who is Capt. Murray Lambert?

Capt. Lambert, 49, is a naval veteran who has been volunteering with the Sooke fire department for the past 14 years.

 

“One of the biggest reasons you join the fire department is to help your community,” Lambert said, noting the fire department’s regular community service work like the Canada Day celebration, haunted house, food drive and Santa Run.

“Those little things we do on top of fire fighting, it’s pretty special,” he said. “ It’s not just putting out the fire or doing an MVI on the side of the road, there’s so much more that we do.”

 

What brought you to Sooke?

“Originally it was my job. I was in the Navy and I was posted out to Sooke, back in Victoria.”

 

What do you like most about Sooke?

“I like the sense of a small town. You can drive down the street and wave to a dozen people you know and say ‘hi’ to everybody. And just the beauty of the area we live in.”

 

What is your favourite saying?

“‘Put on your hard hat’... we all try to make sure everyone is safe.”

 

When the well runs dry, how do you recharge?

“For me, when it gets a little hectic, I like to go fishing, I like to keep active -- fitness-wise, and spend time with my wife.”

 

What/who is your strongest influence?

“I guess my father was, to a big degree. I’ve always sought his advice and looked to him for different things.

“For us at the fire department, it’s each other because there are so many different groups of people at the fire hall, from different backgrounds.”

 

The world would be a vastly better place if only people would...

“Realize how blessed they are with what they have, instead of wanting more or thinking they don’t have enough.

“I’ve been everywhere in the world, and I’ve seen utter poverty and heartache, and then I come home to something as beautiful as Sooke and think, ‘my God, what do we have to complain about?’”

 

No one is better than me at...

“No one is better than me at completing the Occupational Health and Safety  minutes and posting them on every month.”

 

I just can’t get the hang of...

“I’m pretty lame when it comes to knots... a lot of the time it’s good there are other guys there, who know how to do their knots.”

 

If you could have dinner with anyone, living or dead, who would it be?

“Bill Clinton, I just think he’s interesting -- just where he’s going with his charities and stuff like that.”

 

If you couldn’t do what you are doing, what would you do?

“Police officer, originally I wanted to be a police officer.”

 

What do you do for kicks?

“Just hang out with friends, whether it’s a birthday or gathering.”