Master Corporal Carol Bastien.Supplied
A military policeman destined for a tour of duty in Afghanistan made a quick detour to save a house and its sleeping occupants from a fire.
Master Corporal Carol Bastien and his wife, Karine Rondeau-Lavaute, were loading his luggage into the family car around 5:30 a.m. Thursday when they noticed smoke coming from a nearby house. MCpl. Bastien and his wife, who are both stationed at Canadian Forces Base Esquimalt, stopped what they were doing and rushed to help.
They pounded on the door until they woke the residents. MCpl. Bastien then traced the source of the smoke to a fire on the second-floor deck and put out the flames before they got out of control. Langford Fire Chief Bob Beckett reported that the fire was started by a discarded cigarette that ignited a shrub on the deck. The chief said he did not know how the MCpl. Bastien extinguished it.
Warrant Officer Michael Collet, MCpl. Bastien's commanding officer, said he'd expect nothing less.
"He's a good man. One of the best people I've ever met in my life, actually," said WO Collet. "If we had more people like him there wouldn't be many unfinished jobs. … He's a hardworking guy and he gets things done."
Sara Helmeczi, a public affairs officer at CFB Esquimalt, said MCpl. Bastien has served for 18 years, the first 10 with the navy, and the last eight with the military police.
WO Collet said this is not the serviceman's first stint overseas. He was previously deployed in Bosnia, but this is the first time he will serve on the ground in Afghanistan. WO Collet said MCpl. Bastien will be assisting with security in the Kabul area.
"He's going to do very well over there and we look forward to his safe and quick return," he said.
WO Collet said MCpl. Bastien is a family man with a 17-month-old daughter. He and his wife moved to B.C. in 2008 from Dundurn, Sask. The two are originally from Quebec.
Fire Chief Beckett said he is "extremely grateful" for the soldier's assistance," adding that "in consideration that he's heading off to Afghanistan, we wish him well in his deployment."