Fire Within
Shannon LeClair – Times Reporter
The Fire Within began as a way to help fire departments raise money for equipment and training while raising awareness in the community.
Every year fire departments around the country are invited to participate with the Fire Within by being featured in a calendar shot by photographer Charles Hope.
This year the Strathmore firefighters association decided to have the calendar dedicated to them as a way of celebrating the town’s 100 anniversary. Firefighters could be seen going door to door, and in front of local stores, in a campaign to sell the calendars. The money raised by the event is also being used to fund projects they have going on around town. One of the projects is the monument in front of the fire hall.
“It was a hard sell. I’m not going to say it wasn’t successful, but it was a challenge for the fire fighters to sell the calendars to make money the way they wanted to,” said Mure Furzer, Strathmore fire chief.
The fire within began when Chad Sartison, a volunteer firefighter in Priddis realized fire departments needed a way to raise funds and awareness. The motto of the Fire Within is “To Train, Educate, and Equip.” Many people are unaware they are in volunteer firefighters’ care outside of the city. Some of these fire departments don’t have the equipment needed or the volunteers to help protect their community.
“FDIC represents a training opportunity coveted by all fire departments, which often lies well out of the reach of volunteers fire departments’ budgets,” said Sartison in a press release.
Alberta has the heaviest presence in the calendars, due to the fact the project started here and this is where it is most visible. For the past three years the Fire Within have selected volunteer firefighters to join the Fire Department Instructors Conference, FDIC.
This year 11 trips were awarded to the conference, with some departments sending additional members at their own expense. Over 30,000 fire fighters from across North America attended the event.
The Strathmore Fire Within calendar will be available for purchase at the Relay for Life for $10.