– by Susan Simosko –
Fortunately for us, Brett Mikkelsen thinks about a lot more than putting out fires. As Chief of Sidney’s Volunteer Fire Department (SVFD), Brett and his colleagues are firmly committed to providing the most effective fire protection service possible. That includes everything from promoting fire prevention; to ensuring Sidney firefighters have the skills, training and fitness levels required to meet the daunting challenges of their work; to helping sustain businesses in the event of a major disaster; to working collaboratively with other emergency organizations. And that’s just for starters. Brett’s comprehensive understanding of the community and his vision for how the Department can best serve that community are awe inspiring – and reassuring.
A long-time resident of Sidney, Brett is a graduate of Parkland. He completed a Graduate Certificate in Project Management from Royal Roads University and the Fire Officer Program at the Justice Institute. He’s also a licensed paramedic. Brett is a high energy, forward-thinking leader who believes that “all real progress is achieved outside your comfort zone.” In keeping with that philosophy, he works hard to ensure the SVFD keeps “ahead of the game” and prepares for the long-term future.
For many years, Brett worked at Philbrook’s Boat Yard as a project manager. “At one time,” Brett says, “it was the largest private employer on the Peninsula. I learned so much there! But the job involved considerable travel and that wasn’t compatible with raising a family.” Brett and his wife have two young children.
In 1996 Brett joined the SVFD as a volunteer and last year was made chief. SVFD is a “composite” model of fire fighters: some volunteer and some paid. The reason for this? “We have daytime staffing challenges,” says Brett. “With so many people working outside of Sidney, a mix of career staff and volunteers ensures adequate coverage.” The SVFD has six career staff and roughly 35 volunteers. At night, Brett reminds me, all firefighters are volunteers.
Brett says that strategies for fighting fires are different today than 20 years ago, largely because of the nature of building materials. “Lightweight construction and the heavy use of plastics in homes means that today’s fires burn faster and are more devastating,” he says. “That’s one of the main reasons we focus on prevention. We offer a free service to help people install or replace their smoke alarms,” Brett explains. “We also give feedback about how best to protect a property. Any resident or business can phone us for help or advice anytime.”
The shift from single-storey homes to those that are in four- or five-storey buildings is another change that has led to high-rise training for Sidney’s firefighters. “We need to learn the latest firefighting tactics to stay abreast of the changes within the community,” Brett tells me. “That’s a top priority.”
Brett says he looks forward to having a new Community Safety Building, one that is seismically safe and with adequate space for training. “As Sidney grows,” he adds, “we need to continue to evolve to meet the increasing demand for a highly nimble and effective fire service.”
Brett says the best thing about his job are the people. “We’re like one big family,” he says. “I feel incredibly fortunate to have this job.”
And likewise Brett, we feel incredibly lucky – and thankful – to have you as our Fire Chief!
