Churchill’s volunteer fire department is hoping you’ll help it raise the money needed for the town to buy a new fire truck.
The department’s complement consists of two pumper trucks, one from 1969 and the other from 1991, as well as a half tonne truck.
While the 1969 truck still responds to fires, it is showing its age and volunteers want it replaced for safety reasons.
“It works but sometimes the pump can be temperamental, the engine can be temperamental,” said E.J. MacCuaig, the deputy fire chief.
That’s why the department has launched a GoFundMe page to collect donations to purchase a replacement truck for the hall. A goal of $50,000 has been set.
“We are looking at buying a used one,” said MacCuaig, “It might be ten or 15 years old but it will be good enough for us to use.”
A brand new truck can cost over $1 million and he knows that’s an unrealistic purchase.
Within one day ten people donated a total of $1,650. Trucks the department has been looking at cost around $100,000. Volunteers are working on other ways to bring in money including selling clothing.
MacCuaig hopes raising half the needed amount would make it easier for the town to purchase the truck.
He said with only 800 permanent residents, there isn’t a large tax base to draw funds from.
MacCuaig said while the town is small, the population can jump because of thousands of people a year coming to see polar bears and beluga whales.
The Churchill Volunteer Fire Department is completely run by volunteers and has around 15 members available to respond to calls.
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