Community support vital
North Sydney fire department holding coin card campaign
Community support is critical to the survival of a volunteer fire department according to North Sydney Chief Lloyd MacIntosh.
“There wouldn’t be a fire department without the community, it supports us in everything we do,” said MacIntosh. “There is a huge social aspect to a local fire department, it is often the hub of the community where people gather. But, at the end of the day we fight fires and provide emergency services such as medical first responders, Jaws of Life, water and ice rescue. It’s the assistance we get from the community that helps us provide those specialty services.”
The North Sydney Volunteer Fire Department is in the midst of a coin card fundraising campaign to help pay for new equipment.
The coin cards went out on April 5. The campaign continues through to the end of the month.
“We had some cards returned to the fire station within the first few days,” MacIntosh said. “They are starting to come in larger numbers now. For a lot of folks, they
leave it until April 30 to either mail them, drop them off at the fire station or across the street at the firemen’s hall.”
Monies raised will help update the fire departments equipment including a new Jaws of Life to replace 30-yearold equipment, a more versatile grass fire truck that can also be used to fight vehicle fires and structure fires until a bigger apparatus shows up as well as a backup generator to be used for the warming station. In the event of a prolonged power outage, the generator will be used to power both the fire station and the firemen’s hall.
“We are hoping to conduct a coin card campaign around the same time every year and the support of the community is vital,” said assistant deputy chief Nelson Scott. “Having the proper gear helps the fire department save lives.”