Fireside Chat with Fire Chief Christopher Carleton

I can’t believe we are mid-year already! Keep your eyes open for all the special events happening this summer around the community. Come out and enjoy the time together with family and friends and make this summer full of memories. 

Public

Be Kind! So many of us get so busy with daily life that we forget to stop, listen, look around, breathe deeply, and simply take a moment to be thankful. I include myself in that message as well, because I have found that days, weeks, and even months can slip away while constantly "doing." Too often we become focused on schedules, obligations, finances, responsibilities and worries, while unintentionally missing the moments that truly matter most.

When the stressors of life become overwhelming, it is easy to forget the simplicity and power of kindness. Yet kindness can change everything. What can a simple hello do? What can a smile do? What can a wave, a conversation, or even acknowledging another person’s existence do? It can be transformative – not only for the person receiving it, but for you as well.

Having gone through some of the toughest fears and darkest moments of my life with my own cancer journey and my wife’s illness, I can tell you firsthand that kindness matters more than most people realize. During our time in Houston, not knowing whether my wife was going to live or die, I witnessed humanity in its purest form. Families from every background and walk of life came together under the same roof carrying fear, uncertainty, exhaustion and heartbreak. We were strangers to one another, yet in many ways we became family. We cried together, shared stories, shared meals, comforted one another, and most importantly, shared time. In those difficult moments, kindness became strength. Compassion became hope. Human connection became healing. I truly believe we helped save one another emotionally and spiritually through those shared moments of support and understanding. I know without question it helped save me.

Life has a way of reminding us how fragile and temporary it truly is. None of us know what burdens another person may be carrying behind closed doors. Someone may be fighting illness, grieving a loss, struggling financially, battling loneliness, or simply trying to hold themselves together for one more day. Because of that, we should never underestimate the impact we can have through small acts of compassion. Sometimes the smallest gesture can become the very thing that helps someone keep moving forward.

At the end of the day, people may not remember every word we spoke or every task we completed, but they will remember how we made them feel. Kindness costs us very little, yet its value can be immeasurable. Sometimes the simplest acts of humanity become the most powerful and lasting gifts we can give to one another.

Service

We proudly continue to provide some of the highest levels of service in emergency medical and fire related incidents. If we are fortunate to gain federal help, we are working on an expansion to the main part of the station which would add separate sleeping rooms for our members, updated bathroom/shower facilities, two more apparatus bays and add a station wide sprinkler system for life safety. This would bring us in line with how modern fire stations are built today. 

Community

In my opinion, we have written the definition of “community.”  Point Roberts has developed a spirit rooted in resilience, neighborly support, and genuine human connection. Here, people know one another not simply by name, but by shared experiences, mutual trust, and a collective commitment to helping each other through challenges and celebrations alike. Whether responding to emergencies, supporting local businesses, gathering for community events, or simply checking in on a neighbor, the people of Point Roberts embody a rare sense of unity and belonging. In Point Roberts, community is not just a place where people live; it is a way of life built on compassion, cooperation, and pride in caring for one another.

Important reminder for Point Roberts residents

If you’re calling from a cell phone, dial 360-676-6911 to reach emergency dispatch. Cell calls may connect to Canadian towers and route to Canadian 911. Landlines should still dial 911 as usual.

For more safety resources, visit: nfpa.org/Public-Education