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Rookie firefighter fills big boots left by quintessential colleague

Central York Fire Services firefighter Brooklin Bamlett is the first recipient of the newly created Chris Lowe Memorial Award

Central York Fire Services firefighter Brooklin Bamlett comes from a family of first responders, which is fitting, considering the new recruit’s desire to help others and the chain of ‘firsts’ already in her wake.

The only female graduate of the Central York Fire Services class of 2018 is also the first recipient of the newly created Chris Lowe Memorial Award, an honour bestowed on a rookie firefighter who embodies the outstanding firefighting skills, high academic achievement, teamwork and dedication as that of the award’s namesake.

“This young man (Chris Lowe) represented the fire service on its best day,” Fire Chief Ian Laing said. “He was willing to do the work, and when you go into a fire station and the captain says, ‘This is my go-to guy’, he was just one of those people. He went above and beyond and was first in line to do whatever needed to be done.”

Lowe died suddenly Nov. 16, 2017 in a non-duty related incident. He was 37. He worked at Aurora’s 4-3 fire station where, today, the memorial plaque in his honour was mounted and given a permanent home.

Bamlett, herself, is now stationed at that Aurora fire hall, after a three-month stint at Newmarket’s busy 4-1 fire hall on Gorham Street.

“It really was a true honour to be chosen as the recipient and to be compared to such a great firefighter like Chris,” Bamlett said. “He embodied so many good skills and attributes that I think everybody would aspire to. He was a proud and dedicated firefighter.”

Firefighting as a career rose to the top of Bamlett’s mind because it’s physically challenging and affords the opportunity to deal with medical emergencies. Her late father, who developed brain cancer that was ruled as a line-of-duty death, was a firefighter.

“I have, and always will, aspire to be half the firefighter he was,” she said.

Bamlett’s launch into the firefighting sphere began as a volunteer firefighter with the Georgina Fire Department in 2017 for just over a year. She still recalls the excitement mixed with nerves when her department pager would go off.

“I’ve been told the adrenalin goes away the more you’re on duty, but you definitely get some adrenalin,” Bamlett said.

After attending the Ontario Fire College in 2017, as well as taking additional fire-related courses at the Fire and Emergency Services Training Institute, Bamlett landed the firefighter job with Central York in June. She is the fifth female firefighter at the fire service, which serves the towns of Newmarket and Aurora out of four fire halls, two in each community. The department responds to about 5,000 emergency calls per year.

While at Newmarket’s Gorham Street fire hall from June to October, Bamlett, fresh from graduation, responded to medical calls, car accidents and helped to fight two fires.

“It’s a good fire hall for a new person to get lots of experience in,” she said. “Firefighting is a great way to be a part of something bigger than yourself. Your job is never boring and you can feel good about your job because you know you’re helping other people. It shows you that there’s so much more to life than just you. It really is an amazing job.”

Prior to firefighting, Bamlett worked in construction, building fences and decks, and also worked as a dispatcher at Toronto Police Services. She has also been an active community volunteer, most recently with Newmarket’s Habitat for Humanity.

The Chris Lowe Memorial Award will be given to a new recruit each year, chosen by their peers.

“It’s a celebration of what Chris brought to the department,” Fire Chief Laing said. “Brooklin Bamlett, like Chris, was her class valedictorian and she displays all of the behaviours that are regarded as exemplary.”


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Kim Champion

About the Author: Kim Champion

Kim Champion is a veteran journalist and editor who covers Newmarket and issues that impact York Region.
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