Firefighter battling BC wildfire became a Canadian citizen while on the front line
Instead of attending his Canadian citizenship ceremony, a firefighter named Walter Roos was on the front lines battling one of BC’s massive wildfires.
During a press conference, West Kelowna Fire Chief Jason Brolund said he learned about the “massive sacrifice” Roos made Monday.
The man, who is from the Netherlands, is one of 500 firefighters responding to the McDougall Creek fire, which broke out on Tuesday, August 15, about 10 km from West Kelowna. By Sunday, it was an estimated 11,000 hectares in size, and several homes had been destroyed.
Evacuation orders remain in place, and thousands remain on alert in case the fire grows further.
Brolund added that Roos attended his ceremony through Zoom from the back seat of a fire truck.
“Congratulations to Chief Walter Roos for taking his oath of Canadian citizenship while battling the West Kelowna wildfires,” tweeted Immigration Minister Marc Miller. “A new Canadian and already a hero! That’s merit in action.”
FĂ©licitations au chef Walter Roos pour avoir prĂȘtĂ© son serment de citoyennetĂ© canadienne tout en luttant les feux de forĂȘt de West Kelowna. Un nouveau canadien et dĂ©jĂ un hĂ©ros! Ăa câest le mĂ©rite en action. #polcan pic.twitter.com/2gA4bGnrIj
â Marc Miller á áá«áá§á áážáá§á€áášáŁ (@MarcMillerVM) August 22, 2023
“He remained in his truck filling out his Canadian citizenship paperwork while his crew action continued wildfire hotspots,” a statement from the City of West Kelowna reads.
“Walter is now a Canadian citizen, and West Kelowna Fire Chief Jason Brolund was one of the first to welcome him as a Canadian citizen battling the McDougall Creek Wildfire,” the City added.
Brolund said telling Roos’ story “gives me goosebumps.”
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