Firefighters rally to support late colleague's kids

The flag at Saskatoon's Fire Station No. 1 flies at half-mast today, in honour of Darren Grindheim, a 38-year-old dispatcher at the fire hall who died of cancer. He also volunteered as fire chief in the town of Hanley, Sask., approximately 60 kilometres south of Saskatoon, where he lived. 

What's more is that as a widower, he left behind his two kids: 13-year-old Josh and 10-year-old Abby. 

Saskatoon firefighters are now rallying to his and his kids' cause. They've started a crowdfunding campaign using the site gofundme.com to raise money for a trust fund for his kids.

He was a hard worker, a wonderful family man and what a tragic loss.- Dave Bykowy, Saskatoon's Assistant Fire Chief

"Most everybody knew his children, or at least had seen them around here and what not. So of course we want to do everything that we can to help them," said Adina Arcand, one of Grindheim's former co-workers. 

In two days, the crowdfunding project has brought in more than $21,000. The page has no limit as to how much can be raised, either. 

His colleagues' effort likely has something to do with the strong bonds formed between emergency services workers.

"You have to have a fair amount of trust in your partners that you work with, just based on the nature of the job we do and some of the calls that we can take. And it's pretty close quarters in here too, so you end up forming bonds with people fairly quickly," Arcand said. 

"He was a hard worker, a wonderful family man and what a tragic loss," said Dave Bykowy, Saskatoon's assistant fire chief.

Grindheim died a little over a week after his cancer diagnosis. Arcand will be one of his pall-bearers at his funeral, which will be held on Saturday afternoon at Hanley's Centennial Hall. There will be a full honour guard from Saskatoon's fire department.