The Salmon Arm Fire Department was among hundreds of firefighters who showed their respect Thursday to an Enderby volunteer firefighter .
Twenty five-year-old Dan Botkin was killed Dec. 28 in an explosion while fighting a fire at a log-home construction yard in Enderby. His funeral was held Thursday, and brought more than 1,000 firefighters from across Canada.
Botkin’s Canadian flag-draped coffin was brought to the arena aboard an Enderby Fire Department truck. The guard also included more than 30 fire trucks from various departments on hand for the funeral.
Salmon Arm Fire Chief Brad Shirley said he was pleased that 32 members of his department were able to attend.
“A lot had to take time off work… A lot of their employers gave them the day off with pay,” he said appreciatively.
Botkin’s death emphasizes to firefighers just how dangerous their job can be, Shirley says, noting that a fire involving a Shuswap Transit bus Friday had firefighters a little on edge.
“When they pulled up there, there were a couple of small – I wouldn’t call them explosions, hydraulic cylinders popping and a couple of tires blew.
They said afterwards it brings it all home… Everybody thinks, ‘is it my time?’”