The Reminder is making its archives back to 2003 available on our website. Please note that, due to technical limitations, archive articles are presented without the usual formatting.
Snow Lake's Friend's of the Firemen issued a news release on April 22 and followed it up with an interview opportunity later that evening at the local Fire Hall. The release correlated the success of their fundraising initiatives for a new fire truck with the updated totals in their fund, as well as the Town of Snow Lake's Public Service Vehicle Replacement Reserve Fund (PSVRRF). "The Friends of the Firemen Committee have worked tirelessly to raise funds for a much-needed new fire truck," the committee stated in their release. "They have raised $64,015.08 since last February through donations, hosting socials, penny parades, sale of ResQMe tools, and various raffles. The fire truck reserve fund, including the above funds has now reached $198,978.29." However, it appears much of the good news ends there. When their commitment and ability to raise cash is weighted against the inflationary costs of a new fire truck, it's two steps forward and three back. Case in point, when the committee initially looked at a new truck last year, the model they fixed on came in at around $273,000 plus tax; the same model with a few new compliance additions, now costs out at $359,000 plus tax. If this is the course the cost of this much-needed new vehicle is to take, all the hard work they have put, and hope to put, into fundraising seems, well, pretty discouraging. In a candid interview session after the upbeat news conference, one could easily sense the frustration within the volunteer department. Firefighter Curtis Baldwin noted that the brakes went on their present truck the previous week and that they were having major problems finding a master cylinder for the 30-year-old truck. Uncertainties Of uncertainties such as this, Chief Cory Anaka says his biggest fear is getting a fire call in the middle of the night and not being able to start the truck. "That's been a concern since I came here," said the chief. Being able to start the truck isn't the only thing causing anxiety; Anaka says that metal fatigue is also becoming a factor. "A lever to turn one of the nozzles on, just snapped off a while back," he said with an air of concern. They tried to get a replacement and their parts contact felt it was pointless to even try looking for a piece so old. Asked what they think of refurbishing the current truck rather than buying a new one, firefighter Rick Leaman stated emphatically that regardless of what is done to the current vehicle, it would still be sitting on a 30-year-old chassis with a 30-year-old motor. See 'Hired' on pg. Continued from pg. "Just like putting a million-dollar saddle on a $25 horse," firefighter Brian Yurkemik added. There are also the added concerns about the pump on the truck. Firefighter Brad Gogal says from what he understands, the pump won't pass a pump test. He says that could leave the town open to a lawsuit if it couldn't pump enough water during a fire. Even the fundraisers themselves expressed some worry. "We were mighty excited, we had just about $200, 000," said President of the Friends of the Firemen, Bev Erickson, about the cash they had raised after it was combined with the money in the PSVRRF. "It was a downer at our last meeting when we discovered that we had raised enough money (the $64,000 they raised) to just cover the price increase," she added. Bev Atkinson also raised alarm over the possibility of the money they raised being put into an old truck. "If you take all of this money that we've raised and you put it into the old truck, and it doesn't work very well, or completely crashes, that's it, then we have no money to buy a new one," she said. The new truck the department is looking at would alleviate all or most of these concerns. Chief Anaka says that there is equipment on this new vehicle that would replace components of the current fire truck, their mini-pumper, and the rescue unit. "Basically, what we would be getting is three vehicles in that one," he said. Firefighter Clint Parsons concurred, noting one big consideration is the fact that the new truck will have a four-person cab behind the main cab for firefighters, gear, and to operate the pump from. "You won't have to stand out in -40 below to run this pump, you can do it from inside," said Parsons. Commitment It appears what is needed, pure and simple, is a commitment. Whether it be from Hudbay Minerals or the Town of Snow LakeÉ someone has to step up to the plate. Throwing tens and twenties at this effort is admirable and the people who do the fundraising work are heroes, just like the firefighters they rally around, but it won't get this fund where it needs to be quickly. People or companies writing five- or six-figure cheques will! My Take on Snow Lake runs Fridays.
