Oak Bay Fire Department features a new face on the roster this month. Trent Frenkel joined the department as probationer firefighter May 1.
He served as a volunteer firefighter for eight months in Blackfalds, Alberta, on top of eight seasons as a firefighter with the BC Forest Service.
“It’s been a long process but it feels good to finally obtain the career I’ve been working towards,” Frenkel said during a break from confined space rescue drills last week.
“Being a small department, it’s a family feeling and that’s something that always attracted me to this department particularly.”
Longtime Oak Bay firefighter Lieut. Gordon Marshall slips into the role of assistant chief this month with the retirement of Tom Pearse.
Marshall began his career with the Oak Bay Fire Department as a firefighter probationer on April 1, 1992 under then Fire Chief Bob Randall.
Promoted to lieutenant in 2003, Marshall was involved in developing the auto extrication program for the department and has held positions as first responder instructor and development and maintenance of operational guidelines.
Over the course of his career he has been involved with the muscular dystrophy drive, Santas Anonymous and Alzheimer’s walk. He’s served as a softball coach for Beacon Hill and Oak Bay little leagues as well as volunteering for fundraising through the Firefighter Association’s charitable organization.
Prior to joining the Oak Bay Fire Department, Marshall worked in Fire Security at the Royal Jubilee Hospital.
An avid collector car restorer, his mechanical knowledge has been of great assistance with the maintenance of the fire department’s vehicles and equipment.
Marshall also had significant involvement in the planning, development and training of the Capital Regional District’s Emergency Hazmat Response Team where he held the positions of platoon leader and instructor.
With the promotion of Marshall to assistant chief, senior firefighter Duane Adsett was promoted to lieutenant.
