It should come as no surprise that a community, which built its own firetruck, is fundraising to build its own fire house.
Rick Barnett, is helping raise money for the fire house/shed on Gambier Island with his wife Lorrie Barnett. He notes Lorrie is a consummate volunteer who is responsible for the creation of the official Gambier Island Fire Team Society after applying for charitable status. Their first fundraising event takes place this Saturday, July 13.
“It's just three bands, your hot dogs, pop, chips, that type of thing, but what's making it really special is we've turned this into what we’re calling a legacy tile campaign.”
Through the campaign, participants can purchase a tile, which will include their name and then be placed on the side of the fire house.
“Just like when you go to a hospital and a family has donated big money to build a wing of the hospital, we're raising funds from $100 up to $250,000 to name the hall and these tiles will be on the side of the building for at least the next 100 years,” says Barnett.
Gambier Island got its first-ever functioning fire truck in 2021, after resident Doug Buckle built it from scratch. Buckle was an emergency vehicle technician for the West Vancouver Fire Department for 19 years, and previously built fire trucks for Lions Bay and Pemberton. It took Buckle about 18 months to complete the truck, after he found a used cab chassis with low kilometres on it. He cleaned it and a friend painted it.
Next, he found a fire engine’s compressed air foam unit that had never been used. He outfitted the truck with a siren, light bar and added room for a stretcher by taking out the rear seat.
Inside, the firefighting gear includes spill equipment, an AED, first aid equipment, a generator and spotlight for nighttime emergencies. Not only will there be water from high pressure hoses, but the compressed air foam system reduces the amount of water needed to put out fires.
But now the fire truck needs a shelter, so that’s when the Barnett’s got involved. A community member has donated a piece of land for the fire house, which is estimated to cost $500,000. Rick hopes locals and visitors will make the trip over to Gambier for what he describes as a good time. The Fireball Dance runs from 2 to6 p.m., July 13, at the Gambier Community Centre, with Estelle and the Honeydews, Queens Groove and Jamie Dale & Friends.
Participants can show off their firefighting prowess in firefighting games between acts or try their luck at the raffle and 50/50 draw. A cash bar and $5 hot dogs are also available. Tickets are $20 each. Visit gambierisland.org/Events.htm to buy tickets, purchase a legacy tile and/or make a donation.
With files from Keili Bartlett.
