Cathy and Les Friend - Wildfire
Donation protected
Les and Cathy Friend tragically lost their home to a wildfire near Puntzi Lake. Those who have the good fortune to know Les and Cathy know that this was no normal home, and of course they are not your average couple.
Les and Cathy have made the Chilcotin their home for many years, holding down a variety of jobs ranging from trapping, to guiding, to cooking, and of course firefighting. Les worked as lookout, firefighter, and fire warden before becoming the loaderman at the Puntzi tanker base. Cathy worked as a firefighter and dispatcher before choosing to move into the kitchen – a decision that has brightened the day of hundreds of firefighters from across Canada – especially on enchilada night. Les and Cathy raised two sons out in the Chilcotin, dealing with frigid winters and the organized chaos of busy fire seasons with grace and enthusiasm.
The home that Les and Cathy built was their dream home. Nestled in a beautiful spot on the shores of Puntzi Lake it was not just a house but a work of art. Les and Cathy gathered the materials – the walls and beams that held the house up were made of fir carefully selected and milled by Les. The kitchen floor was made of aspen tiles painstakingly cut, polished, and laid by Les and Cathy. When you walked into the house you felt at home. The care and pride with which it was built was evident everywhere.
Of course the best part of walking into the house was the warm smile and firm hug you got when you walked in the door. I don’t think it’s possible to find people who are more caring, supportive, and kind. Over the years that Les and Cathy have spent at the Puntzi tanker base they have developed a large and committed extended family of firefighters that have passed through Puntzi and been enveloped in the warmth and hospitality that Les and Cathy extend. Cathy has spent countless hours patiently listening to wide-eyed rookies recount tales of their heroism, and just as many hours listening to the jaded veterans as they vent their frustrations about things that don’t go their way. Les has spent just as many hours teaching people about firefighting, fixing things, and making things. He has lent tools out countless times so people can finish some special project. With a smile and a pat on the back he would then show the sheepish wannabe tradesman how to fix the tool when they bring it back a little worse for wear.
The selflessness of Les and Cathy can perhaps be shown best by their reaction to the firefighters and tanker pilots who gave everything they had to save the houses in the path of the fire. As they returned heartbroken and exhausted Les and Cathy spent hours assuring them that they did everything they could to stop the fire. They have continued to look out for their crews and are more concerned about their welfare than their own.
Les and Cathy have given us more over the years than we’ll be able to give back, but we can try.
Please give generously.
Les and Cathy have made the Chilcotin their home for many years, holding down a variety of jobs ranging from trapping, to guiding, to cooking, and of course firefighting. Les worked as lookout, firefighter, and fire warden before becoming the loaderman at the Puntzi tanker base. Cathy worked as a firefighter and dispatcher before choosing to move into the kitchen – a decision that has brightened the day of hundreds of firefighters from across Canada – especially on enchilada night. Les and Cathy raised two sons out in the Chilcotin, dealing with frigid winters and the organized chaos of busy fire seasons with grace and enthusiasm.
The home that Les and Cathy built was their dream home. Nestled in a beautiful spot on the shores of Puntzi Lake it was not just a house but a work of art. Les and Cathy gathered the materials – the walls and beams that held the house up were made of fir carefully selected and milled by Les. The kitchen floor was made of aspen tiles painstakingly cut, polished, and laid by Les and Cathy. When you walked into the house you felt at home. The care and pride with which it was built was evident everywhere.
Of course the best part of walking into the house was the warm smile and firm hug you got when you walked in the door. I don’t think it’s possible to find people who are more caring, supportive, and kind. Over the years that Les and Cathy have spent at the Puntzi tanker base they have developed a large and committed extended family of firefighters that have passed through Puntzi and been enveloped in the warmth and hospitality that Les and Cathy extend. Cathy has spent countless hours patiently listening to wide-eyed rookies recount tales of their heroism, and just as many hours listening to the jaded veterans as they vent their frustrations about things that don’t go their way. Les has spent just as many hours teaching people about firefighting, fixing things, and making things. He has lent tools out countless times so people can finish some special project. With a smile and a pat on the back he would then show the sheepish wannabe tradesman how to fix the tool when they bring it back a little worse for wear.
The selflessness of Les and Cathy can perhaps be shown best by their reaction to the firefighters and tanker pilots who gave everything they had to save the houses in the path of the fire. As they returned heartbroken and exhausted Les and Cathy spent hours assuring them that they did everything they could to stop the fire. They have continued to look out for their crews and are more concerned about their welfare than their own.
Les and Cathy have given us more over the years than we’ll be able to give back, but we can try.
Please give generously.
Organizer
Jodi McInally
Organizer
Williams Lake, BC
