The Dalum Fire Protection Association is actively working on fundraising for a new apparatus crucial to fighting rural and remote fires.
Water to extinguish fires is crucial for a rural department. While the department has tankers, they typically carry 2,000 to 2,500 gallons. In a rural setting where hydrants are nonexistent and natural water supplies are diminishing, when a tender runs out of water, it has to go searching for a source.
Currently, the department is fundraising for a mandated replacement of an aging tender. To replace it they are looking at a modern high-capacity tanker system that will help protect its Fire Protection Area, as well as Wheatland County, and surrounding areas. This will be a tractor unit with a high-capacity tanker.
The tanks will be fully insulated so they are ready to use in any conditions, and will have the ability to carry 12,000 gallons of water to help fight fires.
Fire Chief Albert Jensen says the unit would not be an initial responder but would come on the scene as a supporting unit where tenders would be able to refill and continue the important work of fighting the fire, and potentially saving lives and property. The high-capacity system would only require one operator.
“With this new tender we will be able to allocate more firefighters to fighting fire, than to delivering water,” states a letter from the Dalum Fire Protection Association.
The tender has been ordered and they are anticipating it being in service in the late spring. The truck is a Kenworth coming from the United States and the tanks are being manufactured in Quebec.
The tender comes with a price tag of $875,000 and the Dalum Fire Protection Association is responsible for fundraising for 40 per cent of the cost.
Last week CNRL stepped up to the plate and helped the department with a donation of $20,000 towards the efforts.
The Dalum Fire Protection Association is pounding the pavement for sponsorship and is offering different levels of donor recognition.
For more information, contact Dalum Fire Protection Association president Colin Jensen at
colinejensen@gmail.com.
