Critics should be willing to step up

We at the Rocky View Weekly are often fortunate to be able to write stories about communities coming together for the greater good.

However, other times, good ideas fall flat because of a lack of volunteers.

We are sad to see the proposed Community Wildland Firefighter Pilot Program for Irricana cancelled because of a lack of people stepping up to take part. (See full story on page 1).

Residents of Irricana were very vocal about the response of volunteers firefighters to an April 2 structure fire.

Rocky View County Fire Services (RVCFS) was accommodating and held a forum for residents to have their say. As if that wasn’t enough, RVCFS took initiative and created a pilot program designed to explain the rules and regulations firefighters abide by, the gear required and the rationale for specific equipment.

Although residents from Airdrie and Crossfield stepped up, no one from Irricana (the town most of the residents that vocally criticized the way RVCFS handled the situation were from) volunteered to take part in the program.

We are disappointed by this and think that residents who are legitimately concerned about the way local firefighters do their job, should be willing to walk a mile in their shoes.

We understand that everyone has a very busy schedule and it is hard to make time to volunteer, but if residents are as passionate about this as they seemed at the public forum, they should be willing to put their money (or time) where their mouth is.