l-r Andrea McKenzie, Andrea McKenzie, Harold Dornbierer, Kathleen Soltis – photo 250News

Prince George, B.C. –  Surrounded by  former Fire Chiefs,  Prince George Fire Rescue  alumni  and  several honoured guests, the exhibit  celebrating 100 years of Prince George Fire Rescue was officially opened at Exploration Place this morning.The  exhibit  is part of the special fundraising  launch of the  book  Frozen Flame, the history of the Prince George  Fire Department.

Now  100 years old,  the Prince George Fire rescue started as a  volunteer  group  under the  command of E. B. London,  but  London  would  come under criticism from the council  of the day  in  late 1916, and would tender his resignation.  The City then hired  J.C. McKenzie , the City’s engineer , to be Chief,  a post he would hold  until 1937 .  Some of J.C.  McKenzie’s descendants ( including City Manager Kathleen Soltis) were on hand  today for the  official  launch of the book  and the  opening of the exhibit.

( above,  P.G. Fire rescue members past and present, line up with J.C. McKenzie’s  descendants and local  politicians  on the stairs leading to the exhibit.)

Filled with  photos of   P.G. Firefighters at  work,   the book  chronicles the  growth of the  department  from a handful of  volunteers to the full time,  fully trained  firefighters  who  are on the job today.   Along the way,   the stories of some  of the fires which changed the landscape of Prince George  are  told in pictures and  text.

Below,  former Fire Chief  Harold Dornbierer  sits in the 1928 REO Speedwagon

From the  rubble that was  left  when the Fort George Hotel  burned in 1914,   to   the  Lakeland Mills  fire ,  the  book shares  tales of  the ever expanding role of the  department.

There are just  500 copies of the  book available,  with all proceeds  going to the Burn Fund.  The book is available at Exploration Place