Carseland to begin fundraising with firefighter challenge
Shannon LeClair
Times Reporter
Carseland Fire Fighters Association is hosting their first annual firefighters challenge on May 4 with the support of Strathmore Rural Fire Fighting Association Board of Directors. Departments from around Alberta have signed up to participate in the all-day event. There will be a course set up, and participants will be expected to complete a number of obstacles to the best of their ability to try and win the top spot.
“We decided as a fire crew here, our fire department, to put on our firefighter challenge for a fundraiser, we wanted to do something different but we tried to keep it fire-orientated and family-orientated as much as possible,” said Carseland Fire Chief Curt Emde.
One challenge is where three 50-foot hoses will have to be put together, and once the water runs through them, the first sign must be knocked down. Then it will be simulated that the centre hose has broken and so a scissor clamp must be used to hold the water from continuing to flow, the line changed out before hitting the second sign to complete the challenge.
“All the exercises that we have included are from practical use on the fire ground,” said Emde.
“We want the kids to come out and see what it means to be a firefighter and potentially inspire future generations of volunteer firefighters. It’s a lawn chair affair; bring your lawn chair and your benches and your kids. There’s a sandbox, a skateboard ramp, refreshments and a concession provided by local community associations, all at the community centre.”
Other fire halls in Wheatland County, Standard, Rosebud and Rockyford have fundraised in recent years to upgrade their facilities and to be able to better serve their communities.
For now Emde said the department would just like to raise funds to help better serve their community. The hope is to maybe at some point expand on the current hall.
The current Carseland fire hall was built in 1987 and had a couple of trucks and a handful of dedicated volunteers, but due to growth and the institution of the EFRT team as well as increased demand for fire protective services and the fire industry itself the department has outgrown the hall.
“We’ve grown as a department, and with the increased service of the EFRT team we’re to the point that we’re bursting at the seams,” said Emde.
There are 18 active members, and a total of 21 on the roster at the Carseland fire hall. The local clubs, organizations, businesses, Strathmore Rural Firefighting Association and Wheatland County have been instrumental in helping support the Carseland fire department over the years. Emde wants to publically thank everyone for the all of their continued support.
The 1st Annual Carseland Fire Department Firefighters Challenge will be held on May 4 at the Carseland Community Centre. It’s scheduled to be a full day of fun, with the challenge happening from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m. and a dinner and dance beginning at 6 p.m. It is free to sit and watch the challenge, and tickets for the dinner and dance are $25. To find out more information, or to purchase tickets contact Garren Dugan by phone at 403-370-2927, or by email at gdugan-cfd@live.com, or Curt Emde at Cge403@gmail.com.