Letter to the Editor

In response to Mr. Simon’s recent letter to the editor regarding the antique 1929 international ladder truck, it is important to recognize that this antique vehicle is the property of the Cranbrook Firefighters Association and not the City of Cranbrook.

The repair and restoration to these vehicles is conducted by the association on their own time at their expense and is not the responsibility of the City of Cranbrook. This truck was being restored in a city facility by volunteers associated with the Cranbrook Firefighters Association, many of whom may also be employees of the City of Cranbrook, during regular operating hours of the city facility.

A city employee is able to volunteer as he or she sees fit on their own time; however, the city is able to decide who is able to use their facilities and for which purposes keeping in mind the best interests of the community.

It has been identified that there was a safety risk to the volunteers and significant financial risk to the community regarding a lack of prescribed city safeguards and measures relating to these volunteer activities on city premises. As a result, the use of the facility for volunteer purposes to restore the antique fire trucks will be limited while the city reviews whether or not independent associations will be able to continue to use city facilities for similar purposes with appropriate measures in place to ensure the protection of both volunteers and the community.

The City of Cranbrook appreciates and thanks the Cranbrook Firefighters Association and their associated volunteers for their continued work to restore and maintain these trucks as part of Cranbrook’ s history.

Chris Zettel
Corporate Communications Officer
City of Cranbrook

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