Emily and Brendan Bailey, the fire chief couple in Wells are stepping away from the district's Volunteer Fire Brigade.
"Close to a decade ago I was sort of sitting on the fence with one leg in Vancouver and one leg in Wells and when I decided to make the plunge and move up here full time, I made a commitment to myself to join the brigade and give back," Brendan told The Observer.
Emily was recruited to the brigade in 2019 while working as a summer student in Barkerville, she stuck with the brigade when she became a full-time resident of Wells and said she has a passion for emergency services.
The Baileys went to the District of Wells and suggested they take on the role of chief together because of an increased workload for the chief due to legislative changes and their ability to support one another with their different specializations.
"As a couple, our jobs also have busy seasons and quiet season kind of opposite, so it was nice to be able to tag team," Emily said. "If Brendan is interpreting in Barkerville in costume, (he) can't really have a radio on him. Whereas I could cover that time or when I'm on call for the mine, that's when Brendan can cover the fire department."
Emily said they specialize in different things and could rely on each other and let the other take the lead when one of them has more experience in a situation. Working together was a fun experience for them, Brendan added.
One of their favourite things about their time with the brigade was helping build and support a team of people who are passionate about serving the community.
Brendan said fires are rare in Wells and Barkerville, but the brigade has dealt with three significant events while they've been members.
"But that brings your team together and it really challenges you as a leader to make sure that you're really doing your job, that you are curating a good team, that you have all the training and that you are providing all the training," Brendan said. "We have a great team and we're really proud of the team that is the current brigade."
The main reason the pair are stepping away was their son, who was quite vocal with his occasional yelling during the interview.
"This little guy makes it really hard for us to remain on duty," Brendan said. They've taken a parental leave but continued on as instructors, training leaders and administrators with the brigade. "The workload is just too much to manage with the little guy and we still found ourselves getting called out to fires and that's not safe for a little one so we needed a break for awhile."
Emily will be taking on a big role with the Cariboo Gold Project as the health and safety superintendent. She was awarded Canada's top 20 under 40 in occupational health in 2022 and competed at the 2022 International Mine Rescue Competition. Out of 22 teams, her all-female team placed sixth overall and came in second in high-angle rope rescue, third in theory and technician and fourth in underground live fire suppression. Emily placed third in a solo category as a closed circuit breathing apparatus technician.
Brendan has been an interpreter in Barkerville for many years. With a background in theatre and performance, he wrote and performed Sawney's Legacy, a play where "an Edwardian doctor explores the legacy his father, poet James Anderson, left in a far away mining camp in a far away place called Cariboo," the play's synopsis reads. The duo also have a production company called Noble Players Theatrics where they focus on sharing stories of the gold rushes.
He is also working on a book about the museological (study of museums) history of Barkerville called Where the past is present.
They said they enjoyed connecting with the community in their role as chiefs and working with other fire departments like Quesnel, Kersley, Red Rock-Stoner and Barlow.
"Fire service really is a community and it's been wonderful to be part of that," Brendan said.
They said they love being out in Wells and are excited to raise their son there.
"We're proud to be part of the community and want to support the department as they move forward," Emily said. "I just want to thank the community for supporting us during our tenure, we're going to continue to be involved in the community."
