By Leslie Cholowsky, Editor
Forestburg’s FRESS station has seen some changes recently, with a new Chief appointed, as Doug Brown takes over that role now that Kevin Lunty has moved to Deputy Regional Chief. There’s also a new Captain, as Chad Kuefler has moved into Brown’s former role.
Last Wednesday, May 6, the Forestburg Department also revived an old tradition when they received their new rescue unit.
Brown says that historically, fire apparatus like pumps and hoses were pulled by teams of horses. However, horses weren’t able to back heavy wagons back into the fire stations, so firefighters had to detach the horses outside, then manually push the pumper carts back into the fire hall. Horse-drawn steam engines were even more difficult to back in, so the tradition continued.
Brown says that while modern trucks can easily back into their halls, the tradition of firefighters pushing the trucks honours the old timer firefighters, and the history of the fire service.
It also demonstrates teamwork, because pushing any vehicle requires coordination, which represents the unity and camaraderie essential to any effective firefighting team.
Departments often invite residents or community leaders to help push the truck, as Forestburg did on Wednesday, inviting Mayor Dwayne Giroux to help push. This represents a collective ownership of the equipment that is funded by taxpayer dollars.
Brown says the final act of pushing the truck into the bay signifies that it’s officially ‘in service’ and ready to respond.
For Forestburg, the new unit is a rescue unit, not an engine, but Brown says, “Although its not an engine hopefully the same significance will be there.”
Read this and more from the May 13 edition of The Community Press!
