Volunteer Ashcroft firefighter dressed in tux helps crew on grad night

ASHCROFT – When Tim Roden put on his tux for his graduation Friday he probably didn’t imagine he’d be helping out his fellow Ashcroft firefighters as they battle a house fire.

The volunteer firefighter had just picked up his girlfriend in 16 Mile for the high school graduation festivities when the house fire on Mesa Vista Drive was called in.

While he didn’t suit up in his regular firefighter gear and battle the blaze directly, Roden says he was able to help out his crew by taking empty oxygen bottles back to the fire hall in his car to have them refilled, according to a Facebook post.

“I feel really bad I couldn’t be there to help the crew, but there will always be another fire. Only one grad,” Roden said in the post.

Ashcroft firefighters were called to the blaze late Friday afternoon, June 5.

According to a witness, the homeowner burned both his arms trying to fight the fire. A neighbour tried to save a boat parked nearby but an explosion, along with the quickly spreading fire, stopped the effort.

To contact the reporter for this story, email Howard Alexander at halexander@infonews.ca or call 250-491-0331. To contact the editor, email mjones@infonews.ca or call 250-718-2724.