In honor of his late mom, Lieutenant Zach Walker and five other members of the Lacombe Fire Department travelled to B.C. this past weekend to lend a hand to their fire department.

Walker’s mom was involved in a fatal motor vehicle collision in Baynes Lake a few months ago and in her memory the Lacombe Fire Department donated their old set of extrication tools, also known as the jaws of life, to the Baynes Lake Fire Department.

Walker and his crew spent a couple days training the firefighters on how to use their new tool, something Walker says they were extremely grateful for.

“They were ecstatic to have us down there. It’s a set of tools they’ve been fighting for years to get, since I joined back there almost five years ago now.”

“They were fighting for them, but unfortunately it just wasn’t in the budget. They were eager, jumping on the tools on the training days. There was a real excitement.”  

The tools have the potential of cutting their response time in half, says Walker and having his team behind him, made it extra special.

“As soon as they heard about the loss of my mom, the guys have been there next to me the whole step of the way.”

“For them to come out and support me on this kind of venture and the Lacombe Fire Association and all that was just unreal.”

The trip also gave Walker a chance to see his brother Ethan, who is also a firefighter, volunteering for the Baynes Lake Fire Department.

Plaques of Walker’s mom Juanita have been embedded on each tool.