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Since the early ninteen-hundreds,
Enderby has had several interesting and helpful men as the driving force behind our fire
departments. But firefighting was not always as mechanised as the high-tech fire
departments that we know today.
J.C. English was appointed in 1906 as Enderby's first acting fire chief. The few firefighting equipment then possessed by the fire department was kept in readiness for an emergency. He had erected hose-hangers to allow the hoses to dry quicker and to prevent them from rotting. He later had electric lighting put in the firehall to make the task of nighttime firefighting a little easier to prepare for.
J.C. English proposed several systematic methods for keeping Enderby's fire department properly functioning; unfortunately, most of his ideas were rejected, thus leaving over a thousand-dollars worth of equipment in a $25 shed. During his appointment as chief the first Bell Block fire occurred. This incident proved that Enderby needed more organized and efficient methods of firefighting in the near future.
Jim Sutherland became chief in the mid ninteen- thirties. By this time the process of firefighting was becoming a little easier. We now possessed a small fire truck and police constables were appointed as assistant fire marshalls. In this time period it became illegal to park a car within ten feet of a fire-hydrant. Jim Sutherland also owned Sutherland's Bakery from 1931-1972.
Russel Hutchison worked for the department of highways for nearly twenty years and retired in 1967. Russel also owned and ran the local Hutchison Blacksmith Shop.
Bill Cameron worked in association with the Enderby Creamery and NOCA Dairies in 1929. Bill later went on to become a champion buttermaker.
John Pritchard was an active member of the Enderby fire department for over seventeen years, ten of which he was the fire chief. John resigned his role of chief in 1959. John Pritchard was a person who had done good things for the community since his childhood. At the age of fourteen, John saved two children from drowning on two separate occasions. For his acts of bravery John was awarded the Bronze Metal of Royal Canadian Humane Association and later received a letter from Bishop Alexander Kootenay for his courageous rescues. In 1934 he married Margret Stroulger and they lived and farmed in Grindrod until, in 1941, John was severely burned and forced to give up farming.
In 1942, despite his injuries, John opened Pritchard Motors on the corner of George St. and Mill St.. He later became partners with Pat Stroulger and became a General Motors dealer. He later sold this company to Don "Moose" MacPherson, who at this time was sixteen years old and worked for Pritchard. In 1947 Pritchard purchased the first school bus to operate in the Enderby area. He grew to own a "fleet" of five 55 passenger busses. At the age of 64, Pritchard had driven his fleet of busses one million miles or 25 000 hours without a preventable accident. This feat made John Pritchard the first school bus driver in North America to become a "Million Miler.11 After retiring John decided to collect and restore old farming equipment. By 1983 John had collected and restored three thrashing machines, three binders. six John Deere tractors, and two seed drills back to working order. John Pritchard passed away on January 21, 1990 at the age of 76 years.
Don MacPherson became the fire chief in December 1965. During his running as chief he acquired a new pumper truck and another fire truck. Soon after he became chief the Shuswap River Fire Protection Area was formed. Many large fires occurred while Moose was chief: The Boots Hardware Fire of 1966, The Pesbyteriari Church Fire of 1969, and the The A.L. Fortune Secondary School Fire of 1975.
Ron MacPherson, son of Don MacPherson, became Enderby's new fire chief in February 1988. Shortly after Ron became chief a new 911 Emergency phone number was introduced to the Enderby area, which noticeably decreased response times for the Enderby fire department. Today both Don and Ron MacPherson own and operate Interior Motors, small engine repair and sales, as well as being firefighters.
Clint Skyrme
ALF School 1989