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Library fire engine a hit with kids
Theresa Seraphim
for Spotlight
Call it the little engine that could – or rather, the little engine that does …
The fire truck in the new Slave Lake library is easily the most popular aspect of that building. At a recent story time, after firefighter Jim Meldrum read three tales, the children clambered onto the vehicle.
It’s a project that was several years in the planning and execution, said Meldrum, one of five fire department members who built the truck.
The idea came in 2004 through the Surrey, B.C. fire department, when an injured firefighter missed being able to go out on calls and built one to help pass the time.
When Meldrum heard about that engine, he contacted the deputy fire chief and the librarian in Surrey, with the thought of duplicating the project in Slave Lake.
There was just one hurdle to overcome.
“There were no plans done on the truck in Surrey,” explained Meld- rum. So, when he visited the Surrey area in October 2004, he got lots of pictures of the truck, to get an idea of its dimensions.
“(The lack of plans) was our biggest challenge,” said fellow builder Bruce Turnbull.
“It’s very close to the same size,” said Meld- rum. “But ours is way nicer – they’ve even admitted it.”
In 2007, construction began, with Tyler Warman getting the Rotary Club on board and various businesses being approached to donate items and skills towards the project.
“(Current fire chief) Jamie (Coutts) did a lot of the legwork,” said Meldrum.
Besides him and Turnbull, the builders included Kim Roman- iuk, Joanne Hunter and John Pukanich.
“The chief construction supervisor was Bruce (but) the five of us were equal partners,” said Meldrum.
Going by Meldrum’s pictures, the group made plans for the truck. Turnbull’s son James used those to build a scale model of the truck (currently displayed on the library counter). The builders used the shop facility and tools at Roland Michener Secondary School, putting in about 10,000 man hours on the project.
“It took around two years,” said Meldrum.
“We had no idea how high to make the seats,” said Turnbull. That was when the builders asked Abigail Zimmer to sit in the truck so they would know it was the right size for children. The finished truck is seven feet wide, 10 feet long and six feet high.
Among the business donations were the mag wheels (Fountain Tire), the glass in the windows (Glassman), and the decals (Trim-Line). Heavy Equipment Repair was also involved. The engine was painted by Avalon Autobody staff.
Turnbull, with tongue firmly in cheek, praised what he saw as the town’s involvement in the project.
“The firefighters are pleased that the town provided this beautiful garage to store the truck in,” he said. “And the fact that there are books all around is nice, too.”
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Children crowd into the fire truck after a recent story time at the library. The engine has proved to be the most popular item in the building.
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The engine’s builders pose in front of the fire truck. From left are current deputy fire chief Todd Whitby, John Pukanich, Jim Meldrum and Joanne Hunter. Missing is Kim Romaniuk.
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