(Waskesiu Fire Department/Facebook)

By Derek Craddock

ABOVE AND BEYOND

Waskesiu Fire Department ‘humbled’ by generosity after call for donations

Jan 8, 2022 | 10:00 AM

The community of Waskesiu came together in a big way to help fund much-needed equipment for the local fire department.

Last month, the Waskesiu Foundation, a non-profit group in the community, put out a call for donations to help replace aging equipment for the department with new, battery-powered systems.

“We’ve got gas-operated equipment on the firetruck right now and space is a premium, we only have the one truck in Waskesiu,” said Chief of the Fire Department, Les Karpluk. “Some of the equipment can be finicky at the best of times. Some of our gas-operated equipment has also aged. It was time.”

Karpluk said he had put in a proposal for the equipment to the Waskesiu Foundation for the 18-volt equipment, which he said would be more efficient for the crew.

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“Another big benefit is it’s very environmentally friendly with zero carbon emissions from the equipment.”

Earlier this week, the foundation announced the total amount of donations was $24,736.80, well exceeding the $19,000 the fire department needed.

“It’s amazing the support of the people who live in Waskesiu but more so people who have summer homes there, that visit there,” said Karpluk, who added the extra funds will help purchase new self-contained breathing apparatus sets (SCBA).

Karpluk said he and the rest of the volunteer-based fire department are lost for words with the overwhelming generosity of the community.

“Without them, we wouldn’t get this equipment. To raise over $20,000 in just a few weeks is just amazing. We’re just humbled by it and we just appreciate it so much.”

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derek.craddock@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @pa_craddock