Foremost fire department raising money for new rescue unit

By Jamie Rieger
When local volunteer firefighters attend the scene of a motor vehicle collision or fire, they need to take with them gear and equipment needed to carry out the operation.
Oxygen tanks, generators for running lights for events that happen at night, extrication equipment, and lots of other items are often needed at the scene.
The Foremost volunteer fire department currently uses a one-tonne truck for hauling this equipment, but are looking to replace it with a five-tonne model that would better suit their needs.
“We need a five-tonne rescue unit to haul the generators for the lights and a truck with the light towers built right in,” said spokesperson, Lorne Buis, who added that the Foremost volunteer fire department responds to situations throughout the south part of the County of Forty Mile.
“A larger unit would be much easier for our firefighters and much more efficient in an emergency,” he said.
The fire department is currently holding a raffle for 2015 RZR 600 side-by-side as one of their fundraising efforts to raise money for a bigger rescue unit that would be used primarily for MVCs and structure fires.
“We aren’t going after a new one, but there was one recently in Montana for $60,000 that would have met our needs. Unfortunately, we did not have the funds and it is no longer available,” said Buis.
Buis also said the community has been very receptive to the fundraiser and they are over halfway to reaching their goal.
Raffle tickets are available from Foremost fire department members or at W. Buis Holdings in Foremost. For further information, contact 403-867-2436.