Fire Chief Sarah Shoemaker Doubles Volunteer Team in 10 Years

Sarah Shoemaker had just one year of firefighting experience when she became fire chief of Nolalu Fire in Ontario. A decade later, she's grown the volunteer team from 10 to 25 firefighters and built something extraordinary in her rural community.

The department responds to everything from medical emergencies and car accidents to fires and missing person searches. No one on the team gets paid for their service, yet they show up every time their neighbors need them.

Under Sarah's leadership, the department launched an in-house peer support program called the Community Assist Program. The team also provides public education through Facebook, local schools, and the community center, reaching far beyond traditional firefighting duties.

Sarah says the motivation comes from a simple place: wanting to give back. "There's that satisfaction of being able to help your community in that kind of way," she told TBnewswatch. "It helps with the drive humans have to do good for other people."

Beyond building a larger team, Sarah worked tirelessly to secure funding for better equipment. She transformed what firefighting could look like in a small, rural setting.

Why This Inspires

Sarah's fellow firefighters know her for taking as much time as needed to support each team member. Coming into the role unprepared as a young woman pushed her to ensure the next generation would have better support and knowledge.

Women remain rare in fire service leadership, though Sarah notes the frontline in rural areas now approaches equal representation. The shift into upper leadership roles started only in the last decade. She wants whoever comes after her, man or woman, to step into the role with confidence and preparation.

This month, TBnewswatch honored Sarah as their Community Hero for March's "Women Leading the Way" theme. She'll receive a $200 donation to the charity of her choice for building a department that puts community care at its heart.