Forest Grove Fire Chief passes after 34 years of service

Courtesy of the Cariboo Regional District:

Former Forest Grove Fire Chief
Bob Felker

On Tuesday, September 13th, long time Fire Chief of the Cariboo Regional District’s (CRD) Forest Grove Volunteer Fire Department (VFD), Bob Felker, lost his battle to cancer. It is a great loss to the CRD and the fire department to lose such a dedicated volunteer who served for 34 years with the Forest Grove VFD. Chief Felker leaves a significant void of knowledge, skills, experience and leadership for others to fill.

Fire Chief Bob Felker joined the Forest Grove VFD on October 1, 1982. The fire service was his number one passion in life. He brought his technical and electrical aptitude to the fire hall creating a living hall that literally turns itself on and off when an emergency call comes in. In the fire service, the Forest Grove Fire Hall is affectionately called “Gadget Grove.”

In October of 2015, Chief Felker was diagnosed with cancer. Bob stayed on duty as Fire Chief until he could no longer spare his energy to anything other than the fight for his life. Unfortunately it was a fight he was not destined to win. Bob leaves behind his wife, his family, his fire department and his brotherhood.

The Cariboo Regional District is submitting an application to recognize Bob’s passing as a Line of Duty Death by the Canadian Fallen Firefighter’s Foundation based on the length of his service and the type of cancer he suffered from.

A memorial service for Fire Chief Bob Felker will be held exactly 34 years from the date Bob joined the fire service. The service will be at the Forest Grove Community Hall on October 1, 2016, at 2 p.m. All are welcome. Prior to the service, a procession of fire and first responder vehicles will be driving from 100 Mile House to Forest Grove.

The family has asked that donations be made in lieu of flowers to the 100 Mile District General Hospital’s Oncology Unit in memory of Fire Chief Bob Felker.