Volunteer Firefighter Killed

[five_alarm]

CLEARWATER (B.C. News Group) - One Clearwater volunteer firefighter was killed and several others injured in an early morning blaze on Monday, March 29. According to Clearwater RCMP, the fire at the Chuckwagon Restaurant and Pub was spotted and reported by a person delivering newspapers in the area. Clearwater Volunteer Fire Department received the call shortly after 4 a.m. Four fightfighters entered the burning building but had to retreat. Two escaped, but two others became trapped inside. One of the trapped firefighters was able to call 911 on his cell phone to assist those on the outside in locating him. Once the fire was contained, a rescue team was sent in, and located the firefighter who had called 911. He was taken to Clearwater Hospital by ambulance, and then transferred to Royal Inland Hospital in Kamloops with what are believed to be non-life-threatening injuries. The second trapped firefighter was located in the basement, apparently having fallen through the floor. He was removed from the scene and transported to hospital, where he was declared deceased. As of Monday afternoon his name had not been released, pending notification of next of kin. Several other firefighters were treated at the scene for smoke inhalation, and another was taken to hospital for a minor injury. As of Monday afternoon, fire investigators from the Kamloops Fire Commissioner\'s Office were on the scene and the cause of the blaze had not been determined. Clearwater RCMP expect to be notified by the fire investigators if they find anything suspicious. Police state that the fire at the Chuckwagon Restaurant is not believed to be connected to the fire which destroyed the Hitch N Post Pub in Blackpool on March 20.

Source: B.C. News Group

[colin911]

My sincere condolences to the family of the firefighter as well as to the brothers and sisters in his department. Such a loss is tough to deal with.

Just a reminder to all of us to work safely.

Colin

[FireEMTGuy]

Rest in peace.

CLEARWATER (CBC) - People in the neighbouring communities of Barriere and Clearwater are mourning the death of a volunteer firefighter who played a heroic role in fighting last year's wildfires.

Chad Schapansky, 23, was one of two firefighters trapped in the burning Covered Wagon restaurant in Clearwater on Monday.

The other man was rescued after using his cell phone to call for help.

But RCMP Sgt. Steve Giesinger says Schapansky could not be found as quickly because the floor collapsed beneath his feet – was unconscious when he was found.

"You know, it's a small town, and a small volunteer fire department, so everyone's badly shaken, particularly the other firefighters."

Schapansky was one of the first out-of-town volunteers to help fight last summer's wildfire in Barriere – where he led other fire crews by driving a truck through a wall of flames.

The RCMP says investigators have concluded the fire was caused by an electrical fault under the main floor of the building.

The Workers' Compensation Board and the B.C. Coroner's office continue to investigate.

[dianaweston]

As a member of Chad's immediate family, I would like to sincerely extend my thanks for your kind words posted here.
Personally, this is the first tragedy of this proportion that I have been faced with and it still seems so surreal. These kind of things only happen to people on TV....or so everyone thinks until it happens to you.
Chad's funeral is on Monday, April 5th at 1pm in Clearwater. We had a church already booked but have just received word that over 400 fellow firefighters will be attending the service, so we are now searching for a larger venue.
I will post the new location when it has been decided.
Thank you again for putting your life on the line everyday for all of us and may God bless each one of you and keep you safe.
Sincerely,
Diana
(Chad's Cousin)

[five_alarm]

CLEARWATER - The North Thompson Valley lost a very brave and community-minded young man early Monday morning. Chad Schapansky, age 23, lost his life while fighting a fire at the Covered Wagon Restaurant and Pub in Clearwater. He had apparently fallen through the floor and became trapped in the basement.
Plans are progressing for Chad Schapansky's funeral on Monday, reports Lloyd Strickland. Visiting firefighters will muster at the Clearwater Firehall at 11 a.m.., to be transported by schoolbus to the Evangelical Free Church.Family, friends and well-wishers are invited to a reception at Clearwater Legion Hall. Kamloops Fire Department is helping out by organizing the funeral, Strickland said. Donations for a scholarship in Schapansky's name can be made at the local Interior Savings Credit Union, Box 2587, Clearwater, B.C. V0E 1N0.


Source: Clearwater Times (http://www.firehall.com/refer.php?url=http://www.clearwatertimes.com/portals-code/list.cgi?paper=7()cat=23()id=214825()more=&linkid=522&parent=news(headlines)&)

[five_alarm]

CLEARWATER - "We came to show support for the family ... not just the immediate family, but the firefighting family as well," said Kerry Zado, assistant chief of the Langford Volunteer Fire Department. "People who do what we do realize that it could've been any one of us," added Langford firefighter Chris Davenport. Langford firefighter Leanne Lang noted that some members of their crew recently had a close call themselves. The three traveled from their community on Vancouver Island to join about 500 other firefighters at the funeral of Chad Schapansky on Monday. Possibly another 500 members of the family and the community attended the service in the Evangelical Free Church or the ceremony in Riverview Cemetery. The 23-year-old Clearwater volunteer firefighter was killed March 29 while battling a blaze at the Covered Wagon Restaurant.

Source: Clearwater Times (http://www.firehall.com/refer.php?url=http://www.clearwatertimes.com/portals-code/list.cgi?paper=7()cat=23()id=218263()more=&linkid=535&parent=news(headlines)&)

[five_alarm]

CLEARWATER, BC - In the warm sunshine on May 7 volunteers poured the concrete around the memorial stones for the new park by the Clearwater fire hall. The park is for the memory of Chad Schapansky.

Evan Capostinsky, Fred Hess, and Dan Daase of the Clearwater Fire Department were joined by Johnny Marlow from the Clearwater Rotary. They were using gravel donated by Doug Braaten and supplies from Early Bird Building Supply, run by Chad's father, Dan Schapansky. Marlow says once the concrete sets a paving crew from Pace Paving will make some trails around the park.

The concrete was poured around the three boulders, which were brought in from Lone Butte to Clearwater. The central boulder is going to have a plaque and photo of Chad when it's finished.

Source: clearwatertimes.com (http://www.clearwatertimes.com/portals-code/list.cgi?paper=7&cat=43&id=426480&more=)