A Sarnia firefighter will return to her 'day job' after lending a helping hand in the aftermath of Cyclone Gabrielle in New Zealand, as a member of Team Rubicon.
Dylan Kenny has been a member of Sarnia Fire Rescue Services for about 1.5 years.
The fourth-class firefighter left for Hawke's Bay on March 30 and returned to Canada during the Easter long weekend.
Hawke's Bay was one of the worst-hit areas. Global News reported that 11 people died during Cyclone Gabrielle in February.
Team Rubicon is a veteran-led disaster response organization. Inspired by her father, Kenny began working with the humanitarian organization as a volunteer in 2018 and has been deployed on two international, one national, and several domestic operations.
"[They] varied from wildfire recovery, to flood and cyclone relief, to pop-up COVID clinics," said Kenny. "Working with Team Rubicon is sometimes indescribable … It is hard and always very dirty work but in the end, it is so extremely rewarding knowing that as a team, we are able to make a difference in somebody's life."
Kenny said the work done with Team Rubicon is similar to that at Sarnia Fire, as those involved have a "deep sense of duty" to help others.
Sarnia Fire recently expressed its gratitude to the 24-year-old on social media.
"Once again she is making us proud!" read a Tweet.
Once again she is making us proud! @SarniaFire's very own Firefighter Dylan Kenny is helping out, this time on the opposite side of the World. https://t.co/xvEiaY531g
— Sarnia Fire Rescue (@SarniaFire) April 4, 2023
