Donations collected at the Cactus Jalopies car show on June 1 will help the Osoyoos Fire Department upgrade its outdoor training facility. From left are Cactus Jalopies organizers Gary Dell, Greg Mulvihill, Clint Peterman and JF Launier,fire chief Ryan McCaskill and firefighter Chris Parker. (Vanessa Broadbent / Osoyoos Times)
By Vanessa Broadbent
Osoyoos Times
The Osoyoos Fire Department is $4,190 closer to upgrading its outdoor training facility, thanks to donations collected during the Cactus Jalopies car show.
Car show organizers visited the fire hall on June 24 to present firefighters with a cheque.
Along with showcasing vintage fire vehicles and completing a jaws of life demonstration at the show, firefighters collected funds at entrances. Admission was by donation.
“They just put a couple of boots on the table,” Cactus Jalopies organizer Gary Dell said.
“It gives them good exposure other than seeing them work down the road going to a fire or car accident.”
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The training facility is expected to cost around $20,000 and the contribution from the car show could help see it finished by the end of the summer.
When the upgrades are done, firefighters will be able to practice climbing to turn off natural gas lines, along with putting out a simulated car fire, propane fire and dumpster fire.
“The car will be redone in some type of steel, something that won’t burn up, so we can keep relighting,” fire chief Ryan McCaskill said.
The department already has $10,000 saved, thanks to donations from the Osoyoos United Church’s Dorcas Ladies group, the Sage Pub and the Osoyoos Rotary Club.
“We’re getting there,” McCaskill said.
