The new fire truck arrived in Archerwill this morning. (submitted photo/Steven Christianson)

By Cam Lee

Generous donation

‘Absolutely overwhelming’: Archerwill Fire Department gifted new fire truck from N.S. department

Jul 3, 2024 | 12:00 PM

A huge gift for the Archerwill Fire Department from a fellow group of firefighters that has been through the same devastation.

The Archerwill Fire Hall burned to the ground in February, and the blaze destroyed three trucks and firefighting equipment. The department in Shinimicas, N.S. had a similar fire in 2020 that burned down their hall and three fire trucks, and they have donated a used pumper truck to Archerwil that arrived in the community this morning.

“It’s absolutely overwhelming,” Archerwill Fire Chief Steven Christianson told northeastNOW. “It’s been quite a journey from our devastating fire hall loss to this happening, it brings it around to be a very heartwarming deal through the fire community.”

Christianson said the Shinimicas Fire Department faces very similar circumstances and made do with what they could for trucks and equipment for a while, and when things improved for them, they decided to pay it forward.

“It’s nice to look out the door as we’re doing the work on the hall and see that truck sitting there and starting to get a home ready for it to go into,” said Christianson.

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Work on the new fire hall in Archerwill is about 50 per cent complete, according to Christianson, and they hope to be finished in around three weeks.

Christianson said the gesture from the Shinimicas Fire Department shows the camaraderie and togetherness of fire fighters country wide. He praised Fire Chief Matthew Mundle and the Shinimicas Fire Department for their compassion and generosity.

“You see it happen all the time and it’s just overwhelming, but it really, truly hits home when it happens to you.”

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Cam.lee@pattisonmedia.com

On X: @northeastNOW_SK