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Meet Sooke's volunteer firefighters

The Sooke News Mirror is profiling the area's volunteer firefighters
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Volunteer fire fighter Duane Cutrell

Who is Duane Cutrell?

Cutrell is a naval communicator with the Canadian Armed Forces and recruit volunteer fire fighter in Sooke.

One thing Cutrell would like locals to know is that fire fighters wear many different hats, one of them being public educator.

“As well as fire fighting we also do community outreach and we try to make the community a safer place by public education,” he said. “We’re there to talk about safety anytime they’re interested.”

What brought you to Sooke?

“When I made the decision to move out to Sooke, I was looking for some place that was a little quieter, a little more scenic. We did some looking around Langford and a couple of other communities, and there was the right sort of property that we wanted to build on, so we moved out here.”

What do you like most about Sooke?

“The people, there’s a lot of friendly people out here.”

 

What is your favourite saying?

“That what does not kill you, makes you stronger.” Friedrich Nietzche

When the well runs dry, how do you recharge?

“Take time to relax and take your mind off work or whatever you’re doing, and just go out and enjoy nature.”

What/who is your strongest influence?

“I’d have to say that being part of the military was my strongest influence. It really helped shape my life and make me the person I am today. “

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

“If everybody would rememebr that we’re all the same, we’re all equal.”

Accomplishments you are proud of?

“As far as fire fighting is concerned, I recently got my level 1 fire fighter certification.

“I’m a volunteer blood donor, and I’ve made over a 100 donations, so I’m proud of that accomplishment.”

No one is better than me at...

“Because I’m in the communications trade, I am really good at working with radios and computers. I’m good at fixing things.”

I just can’t get the hang of...

“I’m not good at winning contests.”

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

“John A. McDonald, he was of course a very prominent Canadian. He formed the country and made Canada what it is today. I think it’d be interested to talk to him about what his ideas for the country were and how Canada evolved -- if it went where he thought it would go.”

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

“If I couldn’t do fire fighting I’d be doing a community oriented thing -- working in emergency social services or search and rescue, that sort of thing.”

What do you do for kicks?

“Like any other guy I like to play video games. As far as healthy pursuits, I enjoy hiking, and taking pictures, going out for a run every once and a while.”

 

The Sooke News Mirror will be  profiling area volunteer fire fighters, to let the community know who they are and why we’re proud to have them in our midst.