A donation on Tuesday will help better prepare First Nation fire departments across the province.

The Esquimalt fire department gave a Mack engine to the First Nations含羞草研究社� Emergency Services Society, which will use the truck to deliver and enhance fire response training across B.C.

含羞草研究社淚含羞草研究社檓 just grinning ear to ear,含羞草研究社� said Dean Colthorp, the society含羞草研究社檚 manager of corporate and fire services. 含羞草研究社淲hen we get a donation like this where we know that we含羞草研究社檙e going to see some benefit for our communities that we serve 含羞草研究社� it含羞草研究社檚 a great day.含羞草研究社�

Esquimalt Fire Chief Steve Serbic said it was awesome for the department to be involved in the donation, which will help small, remote and northern First Nation communities be better prepared.

含羞草研究社淥ne of the coolest things about donating this truck is it含羞草研究社檚 going to go around to all these communities and actually (be used to) show them, give them hands-on skills, on how to prepare and how to protect their communities,含羞草研究社� he said. 含羞草研究社淚t含羞草研究社檚 just one truck, but it can make such a difference.含羞草研究社�

The Mack engine was received by the Esquimalt department fire since 1988 and was last used by the department as a training truck. 含羞草研究社淭hey含羞草研究社檙e incredible vehicles, they last forever,含羞草研究社� Serbic said.

While newer trucks have modernized some manual operations in firefighting, the pressure gauge systems in trucks haven含羞草研究社檛 changed much in the last 100 years, noted Reo Jerome, the society含羞草研究社檚 fire services officer.

Added Colthorp: 含羞草研究社淚t含羞草研究社檚 an older model, but it allows you to understand the mechanism of the pump a little bit better. This one allows you to really master your skills as a pump operator, as well as a driver.含羞草研究社�

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B.C. has about 70 Indigenous fire services, each with about 10 to 15 members. With constant turnover in volunteer squads, training is always needed.

含羞草研究社淚t含羞草研究社檚 a great benefit,含羞草研究社� Colthorp said of the truck. 含羞草研究社淵ou can含羞草研究社檛 even put a dollar value to it quite honestly, it is something that含羞草研究社檚 going to be used and worked hard.含羞草研究社�

The truck may be used to provide basic training, but Serbic said any knowledge and know-how can be crucial in emergency scenarios, such as when a fast-approaching wildfire is on its way.

含羞草研究社淲hen you含羞草研究社檙e in a small or remote community and you do not have the support of a larger department, or infrastructure where people can come help you, it含羞草研究社檚 super important to understand what (you) need to do,含羞草研究社� he said.

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