A North Shuswap firefighter is using some of the attention he鈥檚 received while celebrating his 90th birthday to promote his fire department.
The Celista Fire Department鈥檚 pump operator, Benny Hanson, has been with the department since 2004 and turned 90 on Feb. 1. He was first talked into volunteering by the department鈥檚 former fire chief while the pair were installing a fireplace.
Before he became a firefighter in his retirement, Hanson kept busy with careers in the communications, electronics, mechanics and engineering sectors. He always had an interest in such things, overhauling a tractor for the first time at the age of 17.
Hanson was the type to never stay put.
鈥淚 believe if you do one job for too long, you become robotized, you don鈥檛 think,鈥� he said. 鈥溾�y philosophy was change jobs every four years.鈥�
Hanson spoke fondly of his former job with BC Tel, which he said was a challenge he loved. He鈥檚 also proud of communications work he did along the Alaska Highway, among many other jobs.
Hanson said he鈥檚 always been the kind of guy who hates to be wrong, always researching to get his facts right. That mindset has served him well as a firefighter and he knows the pumps he works with like the back of his hand.
Celista Fire Chief Roy Phillips has been with the department for 18 years, 17 of which have been alongside Hanson.
鈥淏enny鈥檚 awesome, he鈥檚 so full of knowledge,鈥� said Phillips. 鈥淗e brings a lot to the table for us, a lot of training, a lot of insight.鈥�
Phillips said firefighting is not just a young person鈥檚 game and there鈥檚 many different kinds of positions at a department.
鈥淵ou don鈥檛 see a lot of firefighters at that age and we just don鈥檛 want to see him go. We want to keep him.鈥�
Hanson said when it comes down to it, the best learning a pump operator can get is from experience. He鈥檚 happy to share his knowledge and encourages others to volunteer for the fire department if they鈥檙e interested.
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