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Last updateFri, 10 Jan 2025 12pm

Drumheller Fire and Rescue unveil new rescue truck

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A new rescue truck has been added to the Drumheller Fire and Rescue fleet, and department members are currently working on transitioning items from its old rescue unit and figuring out where everything will go.
In May of this year, Drumheller council approved a total budget of $526,000 for the purchase of a new rescue truck, an increase over the previously allocated amount of $490,000, and on Saturday, October 28 the new unit arrived at the Drumheller Fire Hall.
“The new truck is going to give the department tremendous capabilities,” Drumheller Fire Chief Derian Rosario tells the Mail.
The purchase came in under budget by about $10,000, and Chief Rosario says the department was fortunate enough to receive the unit as quickly as it did as the manufacturer had the chassis in stock. He notes it is not unheard of for new builds to take upwards of 20 to 48 months to procure.
Chief Rosario shares that the department had outgrown the old rescue truck, which had served the department for some 22 years.
He adds, while there are no real limitations on service life on non-pump units like the rescue truck, it is considered best practice to upgrade about every 20 years to keep up with changing technology.
The new unit will allow the department to have a significant increase in storage capacity while maintaining firefighter carrying capacity.
A commercial vehicle inspection has already been completed, and radios are in the process of being installed.
Chief Rosario is hopeful the unit will be ready to be put into service later this week, and he says he is grateful for the tremendous support of both the Town and council for recognizing the department’s need.


Rotary installs centennial project

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On Monday, November 6, the Rotary Club of Drumheller took delivery of its centennial project. The new picnic structure for Rotary Park arrived, and immediately crews from the manufacturer and the Rotary Club began the installation. They were helped along by Grant’s Oilfield, which dropped the structure into place. The Rotary has been actively fundraising for the project to celebrate its centennial coming next year, and the shelter is a great addition to the community as a place for people to gather and take over from the hot summer sun. At the installation are (l-r) Rotarians Linda Fisher, Madison Colberg, Grant Adie of Grant’s Oilfield, Rotarians Bonnie Pedersen, Doug Stanford, Brent Pedersen, Jim Fisher, and Gary Krabsen.

Dog, owner shocked at Downtown Halloween

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Halloween is a time for tricks and treats, but one Drumheller family is recovering from a traumatizing experience during the Downtown Trick or Treat event after their dog suffered an electrical shock during the event on Tuesday, October 31.
Cassy McEwan took her daughter and a friend to the trick or treat event, along with her two dogs, but could not have imagined how the evening would play out when her dog Bowie stepped into a puddle at Centre Street and 3 Avenue East on the north sidewalk near NN News.
“We were walking along the sidewalk and just passed the barricade when my dog suddenly started crying and screaming,” she says, adding Bowie dropped to the ground.
At first, Ms. McEwan thought Bowie’s costume was causing him distress or pain, and started trying to remove it. She was kneeling just outside the puddle Bowie had stepped in and at first did not realize Bowie was being shocked. It wasn’t until she tried to roll Bowie onto his side that Ms. McEwan says she “felt the current” going up her arm.
Bystander Nicole Hall stepped in quickly to help, picking up the family’s smaller dog while her husband helped to get Bowie out of the puddle.
An ATCO employee who was attending the event was recognized by a witness and an on-call technician was called in. The technician worked to stop the electrical current and “remove the electrical hazard.”
“Town Public Works staff have been working with ATCO to further investigate the area and ensure that the site is safe,” reads a statement from the Town of Drumheller. “This investigation included energization of cables and voltage checks to ensure no issues in the cable feed to the light.”
It further notes power will remain off and further work will be completed “to ensure safety when the power is turned back on.”
Bowie did suffer some burns to his paws but is expected to make a full recovery. Ms. McEwan says she is grateful for everyone from the Town and ATCO who have both reached out to her and her family since, and especially to those who stepped in to help during the incident, including the Hall family.


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