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UPDATED: Cache Creek fire chief remembered as 㽶Ƶֱchampion, an unsung hero㽶Ƶֱ

Hundreds turn out to honour Clayton Cassidy, whose body was found after he was swept away by floods
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Clayton Cassidy㽶Ƶֱs brother, Patrick, speaks at the service for the fire chief who died after he was swept away by heavy floods in early May. The line of duty memorial was held Saturday at Cache Creek Park. Credit: Kevin MacDonald

Close to 1,500 people, including more than 400 firefighters, gathered Saturday to honour fallen Cache Creek fire chief Clayton Cassidy.

Cassidy, 59, had served for more than 30 years on the Cache Creek Fire Department and spent more than a decade as chief. He was reported missing on the morning of May 5 after apparently being swept away by floodwater as he was checking rising water levels in washed out areas of the community. His body was found on May 27, and recovered on May 28.

The celebration of life began with a procession of family members and firefighters from the Cache Creek fire hall to the park.

㽶ƵֱWe are here to celebrate a life well-lived,㽶Ƶֱ said retired chaplain Ray Parker of Kamloops Fire Rescue as he conducted the service.

He quoted from John 15:13 㽶Ƶֱ 㽶ƵֱGreater love has no one than this: to lay down one㽶Ƶֱs life for one㽶Ƶֱs friends.㽶Ƶֱ

㽶ƵֱClayton Cassidy was that sort of man,㽶Ƶֱ Park said. 㽶ƵֱAs a firefighter, he would run into those places we would run away from. His love of the fire service was second only to his love of his family and of the Village of Cache Creek.㽶Ƶֱ

Chief Ryan Day of the Bonaparte Indian Band said Cassidy was much honoured by the Bonaparte community.

㽶ƵֱA well-loved, well-liked, cherished soul was taken into the water. These lands and these waters took him home to the spirit world to be with his ancestors. He watched over many of us in human form, in one place at one time. In spirit form he will be in all places at all times, and I know he is watching over us.㽶Ƶֱ

Cassidy㽶Ƶֱs brother, Patrick, a year younger, told stories about how he and Clayton had a special bond growing up, being the two middle children in the family: 㽶ƵֱClayton used to say to me 㽶ƵֱI㽶Ƶֱm stuck in the middle with you.㽶Ƶֱ Clayton took on the role of looking after others, and he carried that compassion all his life.

㽶ƵֱHe was a man of integrity and honesty; hard-working. He loved his wife, his family, and his community, and he left us too soon.㽶Ƶֱ

B.C. fire commissioner Gordon Anderson was there on behalf of the province. 㽶Ƶֱ(Cassidy) made the ultimate sacrifice. He was there to protect his community, and the turnout today shows that Chief Cassidy was appreciated.㽶Ƶֱ

Longtime friend and Cache Creek councillor Wyatt McMurray, who spent many hours searching by helicopter for the missing fire chief, called Cassidy his best friend.

㽶ƵֱOn the morning of May 5, I got the call that I will never forget. The words 㽶ƵֱClayton is missing㽶Ƶֱ are words I㽶Ƶֱll never forget. Suddenly nothing seemed important except finding Clayton.

㽶ƵֱThe reaction of all the volunteers exemplifies small towns. People in Cache Creek and Ashcroft were trying to find one of our heroes, and never giving up.

㽶ƵֱClayton was one of those quiet heroes. He worked hard, looked after his family, tried to do the right thing. There are many quiet heroes in our communities, but Clayton took it to the highest level. He was a guy you could always count on. Clayton was always there.

㽶ƵֱHe was always game for everything that was up. We all send you our love. We㽶Ƶֱve lost a champion, an unsung hero, and a friend.㽶Ƶֱ

Cassidy㽶Ƶֱs three sons all spoke movingly about their father. Middle son Kevin, a member of Kamloops Fire Rescue, said his father would be 㽶Ƶֱhumbled and speechless to see how many people are here to honour him.

㽶ƵֱI wish I could find bigger words than 㽶Ƶֱthank you㽶Ƶֱ to express my and my family㽶Ƶֱs thanks for all those who spent thousands of hours looking for my dad.㽶Ƶֱ He singled out the fire departments of Cache Creek, Ashcroft, and Kamloops, as well as the search and rescue teams, emergency responders, and police who assisted with the search, with special thanks to Ashcroft fire chief Josh White and Ashcroft fire captain Jonah Anstett, who found his father on May 27.

㽶ƵֱFirst responders keep helping people, and finding people, as best we can.㽶Ƶֱ

㽶ƵֱWe will remember him fondly, and with great respect,㽶Ƶֱ Parker said as he concluded the service. 㽶ƵֱWe are grateful and thankful for a life well-lived.㽶Ƶֱ

He then explained bells played a large part in the life of firefighters, signalling the call to duty and the end of an alarm.

When a firefighter dies in the line of duty, a bell is rung three times, three times each, to show that the firefighter has returned to quarters.

The bell was rung, and under the bright sunshine of a June day, Clayton Cassidy 㽶Ƶֱ a man of honour, integrity, compassion, and great love 㽶Ƶֱ was brought home and laid to rest.



About the Author: Ashcroft-Cache Creek Journal Staff

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