Canadians, when ending their careers, may retire to warmer climes.
Same can be said for at least one North Okanagan fire truck.
The Armstrong Spallumcheen Fire Department's retired ladder truck has found a new lease on life in Central America.
With support from the councils of the Township of Spallumcheen and City of Armstrong, working through the Armstrong Spallumcheen Fire Service Commission, the local fire department found a great solution as to what to do with old Unit 22, the department's first ladder truck 鈥� a 50-foot Tele-Squirt vehicle 鈥� that was purchased in 1992.
While the ladder truck was too old to meet operational requirements for Canada, the truck still had life left in it. Working with the disaster relief organization Amedica, the retired engine was donated and has found a new home in San Marcos, Guatemala, a city of 47,000.
鈥淭he Pierce Tele-Squirt Aerial fire truck has served both of our communities well for many years," said Armstrong Mayor Joe Cramer. "We are glad to see a country, such as Guatemala, greatly benefit from this donation.鈥�
Spallumcheen Mayor Christine Fraser said her council was "super excited" to be involved with the donation.
"To know that we can provide support to another community and region in another area of the world gives us great pride," she said. "It鈥檚 a big job to be elected officials in two communities who are voted in to represent our residents, and to know that this decision reflects how fortunate we are to live in an area of the world that we can be in a position to donate such integral infrastructure in another country is fantastic."
The truck arrived at its destination on April 9 to much celebration and excitement.
The truck was driven home by its new fire station that evening and greeted by the entire city of San Marcos the next morning where it received the traditional baptism of hose streams and was blessed by the local priest.
"鈥he entire Departamento (Province) is absolutely thrilled with it and held a parade celebrating its arrival,鈥� said Capt. Neale Brown, president of Amedica.
Both councils extend a special thank you to Spallumcheen councillor Joe Van Tienhoven, who was instrumental in making this donation possible.
The retired truck has now been replaced with a new E-One 78 Quint Ladder Truck, purchased in the spring of 2019 and has been serving the Armstrong Spallumcheen Fire Department well.
