Home »
Cranbrook gifts fire truck to Elko
The City of Cranbrook has gifted one of its older fire trucks to the community of Elko to aid it in its attempts to establish a volunteer fire department.
Mayor Scott Manjak and his entire council were on hand, along with Regional District of East Kootenay officials and East Kootenay MLA Bill Bennett to take part in the handover ceremony to Electoral Area B director Heath Slee and Jaffray/Baynes Lake Fire Department Chief Dave Boreen on Friday, Oct. 7.
The truck is a 1990 Ford Pumper, which Elko will take possession of once Cranbrook Fire & Emergency Services receives delivery of a new engine, which is currently being manufactured. The city anticipates delivery of the new engine in the fall of 2012.
The 1990 truck only has 57,000 km on it, but because it is more than 20 years of age, it must be taken out of service because of a Fire Underwriters’ requirement. However, it will serve Elko’s needs nicely, exclaimed Slee.
“It’s going to give us a big boost,” he said. “Oftentimes it’s been heard there is a divide between rural communities and urban in the East Kootenay. This is clearly not the case.”
“I see this as an opportunity for our community to help out our rural neighbours to the benefit of both Elko and the City of Cranbrook,” said Manjak. “Elko has a desire to have its own fire and emergency services and we are pleased to be able to gift them one of our engines.”
Slee said the gift will help launch the fire department more quickly because of the money being saved by not having to purchase a truck.
“For several years we have been trying to get fire service to Elko. The donation of this engine should help lower the costs because we should be able to defer having to buy at least one brand new truck and certainly helps in our continued efforts to raise funds for a fire service. On behalf of the community of Elko, I would like to sincerely thank the City of Cranbrook for its generosity,” he stated.
Manjak said he became aware of Elko’s need through the regional district and after learning that the city had to disperse with the 1990 truck, rather than “maybe get $20,000” for it, it was discussed with council and decided upon to present the truck to Elko.
City of Cranbrook Fire Department Lt. Ed Swanson spoke highly of the rig heading east.
“You are getting a good truck,” he said, noting it has a high capacity pump.
“It’s a good engine. We’ve had no difficulty with it whatsoever. It will be more than adequate,” he said.
MLA Bennett’s arrival at the podium resulted in a peel of laughter from those gathered, as a ‘bong, bong, bong’ horn sounded.
Once the laughter subsided, he commended the city “for such a thoughtful decision.”
Ian Cobb/e-KNOW
Photo above – Back row (left to right): Councillor Angus Davis; Jeremy Bertrand, Cranbrook Fire Services; Paul Relkoff, Cranbrook Fire Services; Ed Swanson, Cranbrook Fire Services; RDEK Area B Director Heath Slee; Cranbrook Mayor Scott Manjak; Councillor Jim Wavrecan; Dave Boreen, Jaffray/Baynes Lake Fire Chief; David Lind, Deputy Director – Cranbrook Fire Services; Dan McNeill, RDEK Manager – Building and Protective Services.
Front row (left to right): RDEK Area C Director Rob Gay; Councillor Bob Whetham; Councillor Liz Schatschneider; Mary Schatschneider; Councillor Diana J. Scott; Councillor Denise Pallesen; East Kootenay MLA Bill Bennett; Jane Mackay, Elko Fire Department Society Director.
