Capt. Eric Miller (centre) received a 25 year BC service medal from Parksville Mayor Ed Mayne (left) and PFD Chief Marc Norris (right) on Monday night, recognising his contributions as a volunteer firefighter. (City of Parksville)

By Alex Rawnsley

25 YEARS OF SERVICE

Parksville volunteer fire captain recognized for 25 years of service

Jul 21, 2020 | 5:16 PM

PARKSVILLE — A key member of Parksville’s volunteer fire department was recognized for his lengthy career.

Capt. Eric Miller was presented with the BC Fire Service 25 Year Long Service Award on Monday, July 20, honouring a career mainly spent serving Parksville as a volunteer.

Miller told NanaimoNewsNOW his primary driver remains giving back to the community he’s called home for over 20 years.

“The community here in Parksville is very, very good to the department. We don’t lack for equipment or anything else that we need.”

Miller’s firefighting career began in Whitehorse, then a short stint in Vernon before settling on the mid-Island. Friday, July 24 marks Miller’s 20th anniversary with the Parksville department.

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“I still love showing up for calls, showing up for training, it’s one big family at the fire hall,” Miller said.

Outside of his duties on the front lines of emergency response, Miller is tasked with leading the training of new recruits and volunteers to be effective firefighters.

“Teaching them the fundamentals so they can be a basic firefighter and be helpful on an emergency scene. Somebody with no skill, no training what so ever…it’s gratifying to take them from there to the next level.”

The 62-year-old Miller said he wants to keep going for another two-to-five years but admitted getting up in the middle of the night for calls is becoming tougher.

Parksville Fire Department chief Marc Norris said the experience Miller brings to the department is invaluable.

“Eric is a great example of exemplary service,” Norris said. “If he can use his experience to bring along some other volunteers and all of our members and show just what a great example can do in the community…he’s a credit to our fire department and a real stand up guy.”

alex.rawnsley@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @alexrawnsley