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May 13, 2013, Redwood Meadows, Alta. – Absence makes the heart grow fonder. I hope that is true because it feels like forever since I blogged last. Laura would surely be on me more if she herself would have been in the office for more than a day in the last month. The work/life balance has been a struggle of late and the blogging lost out. But, here I am on scene and I hope I have not forgotten how to do a Size-up.

I have decided to take a more active role in the Alberta Fire Chief’s Association and was actually able to attend our latest regional meeting. Of course, I jumped in with both feet and was assigned to write a couple of resolutions for the annual meeting in Red Deer, Alta., two weeks from now.

Over the past couple of weeks, I have also been preparing my presentation on the successes, and failures, of Redwood Meadows Emergency Services (RMES), to be given at the show in Red Deer. This is my first time presenting to my peers and the nerves are starting to find their way into my head. I know I will do well; how can I not when I know the material so well? Thanks to Greg Van Tighem for searching me out and asking if I would speak – it really is quite an honour. It has also led to me putting in a successful bid to speak in Regina during the Canadian Association of Fire Chief’s Fire-Rescue 2013. So, not only has Laura made me a writer, now Greg can be attributed to making me a public speaker.

The next logical step would be to speak at FDIC. Maybe I will slow down for now though. Besides, I have never even been to the show to take it in and I think that would have to come first. RMES sent four officers down to the show last month in Indianapolis, but I stayed at home and played Mr. Mom for the week. Jennifer, my wife, is a captain and EMT with our department and does the majority of the medical training. Jennifer, along with our training officer, Deputy Fire Chief George Low, and captains Mike Norman and Gary Robertson, made the trek and came back with loads of information to pass on. I would love to head down one year, but these four made the most sense for our department. A special thanks has to go out to the entire group from Firefighters First who made it possible for many Canadian fire departments to go down to the show as a very large group. Thanks Chad and Jodi. Maybe next year will be the year that I get to head down.

Another show I wanted to attend this year occurred last weekend. The Ontario chiefs’ show has interested me for the past couple of years, but this year the show happened while I was scheduled to work the paying job – again, that work/life balance, or in my case the work/work/life balance. And now that the show is over, I should be getting the information about our Beyond Hoses & Helmets course that RMES will be hosting at the end of October. The course has been confirmed with teachers, Brad Bigrigg from Ontario and from Tom Beer from British Columbia.

Apparently, I did not think I was busy enough in the past month because I have taken on a new part-time position with a local apparatus dealer helping them write specs for new trucks, as well – you know, in my spare time. And then there is what appears to be a great partnership forming between the Comox, B.C., fire department on Vancouver Island and its chief Gord Schreiner, and our department here in the foothills of the Canadian Rockies. Gord will be bringing his Stopbad tour to Redwood Meadows in the middle of June and, as a reward to RMES members who attend the event, we will hand out two trips to Comox’s training grounds during a weekend in October. Yet another trip that I will eventually have to make.

Busy times are coming up for all of us now that winter has finally lifted its stronghold in this part of the country. Now, if we can just get through our flood season with the mountain runoff in the next month, it should be clear sailing for us. All the way to the Island in October.

Rob Evans is the chief fire officer for Redwood Meadows Emergency Services, 25 kilometres west of Calgary. Evans attended the Southern Alberta Institute of Technology in 1989 and studied photojournalism. In 1992, he joined RMES after taking pictures of an interface fire and making prints for the department. He has his NFPA 1001 level II certification, NFPA 472 Operations and Awareness (hazmat), NFPA 1041 level I (fire service instructor), Dalhousie University Certificate in Fire Service Leadership and Certificate in Fire Service Administration and is a registered Emergency Medical Responder with the Alberta College of Paramedics. He lives in Redwood Meadows with his wife, a firefighter/EMT with RMES, and three children. Follow him on Twitter at @redwoodwoof.