New London Fire Company depends on fundraising to buy new truck
CBC News | Posted: September 25, 2015 11:18 PM | Last Updated: September 25, 2015
New London volunteers hope to raise money to pay for half of $416K fire truck
The London Fire Company is struggling to find enough money to pay for a new truck to replace the one it has used for the past 20 years.
"It's very important that we have her. And it'll benefit the communities a lot because it is a more modern truck with more modern equipment on it," Fire Chief Allen Cole said.
The department serves nine communities and goes on calls every week, about 60 in the run of a year.
A new truck will cost $416,000.
Less than half of that has been raised so far and the truck is due in October.
Less than half of that has been raised so far and the truck is due in October.
"The more we can bring in, the sooner we can pay the truck off which saves us money on interest and everything," Cole said.
"We play a very big part in the community as we're in the centre of all our districts so if you have an emergency, we're within minutes of arriving on scene from the time of the call. Where if we weren't here, it would be a longer response time."
Volunteers essential to small departments
Most small fire departments on P.E.I. are run completely by volunteers, including the one in New London which has 55.
The P.E.I. Firefighters Association says it's not uncommon for small departments to have to fundraise for new equipment.
"Well it is hard on them and honestly I think it's crazy that the departments have to volunteer all their time fighting fires and doing medical calls and then on the weekends and throughout the year they're doing lobster suppers and fundraisers and boot drives and car washes and whatever else it takes to bring in some extra money." association president Jason Peters said.
Small fire departments are funded by taxes from community members.
Small fire departments are funded by taxes from community members.
But it's often not enough to keep departments going.
"We have a vast area, but it's not a populated area as what some areas might be as if you were closer to major cities and things like that," John MacIsaac, vice president of New London Fire Company's board of directors.
"The tax base isn't quite there as what there would be in larger centres."
The New London Fire Company will continue to fundraise so it can pay off the new truck...and start upgrading other equipment it needs.
The next fundraiser is a concert at the New London Community Complex in a couple weeks.