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Vol.2,7,Tuesday, No. 43 Tuesday, August 28, 2012 Vol. 7, No. November 8, 2011
Lamont Fire Fighters fly with ‘Heroes in the Sky’ unnoticed." Since the inception of the calendar initiative, funds raised total over $3.5 million. "Last year marked the fifth year for this event, and by the end of the weekend, over $200,000 was raised to go directly to the participating departments. As if being volunteer firefighters wasn't enough, some departments even give back to those in need in their communities rather than using the funds themselves." Sartison said, "We know that volunteer firefighters make a significant contribution to communities, but how can we possibly measure it? Over $9,000 of Alberta's 12,000 firefighters are Michelle Pinon Editor
Lamont's unsung heroes will be taking to the skies Sept. 8 and 9. Fire Chief John Helton, along with fellow crew members, will be lifted onto the rooftop of Lamont Foods at Noon on Sept. 8 in a bid to raise awareness and funds for the volunteer department. Helton said they are trying to raise money to replace and upgrade breathing air equipment, through the sale of ‘The Fire Within’ calendars. In return, volunteer firefighters will be showing their appreciation to community members by flipping burgers and pancakes during the upcoming two day event.
The Fire Within calendars sell for $20 a piece, and proceeds are used help bridge the financial gap between what municipalities can afford to pay and the growing needs of volunteer fire departments, including Lamont, and neighboring provinces and states. Lamont firefighters will be offering free hamburgers from 11 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Saturday, and serving up pancakes from 8 a.m. and 12 Noon on Sunday. For the past five years volunteer fire departments across Canada and the United States have partnered together for the Heroes in the Sky event. Chad Sartison, chair of Firefighters 1st, states that: "Funds raised through calendar sales make it possible for fire-
fighter to access training and equipment that they otherwise wouldn't have." Helton couldn't agree more, saying the cost of equipment is very costly. For example, a new breathing apparatus can cost between $3,000 to $5,000. "The calendar initiative is truly community based, and every dollar raised by the Lamont Volunteer Fire Department firefighters through the selling of the calendar will stay in Lamont." Sartison added that, "The Heroes in the Sky event is exciting because despite some natural friendly competition among departments about who can sell the most calendars, in the end it is all about supporting each other and
doing something meaningful together during the weekend. With the anniversary of Sept.11, it is a timely occasion to be recognizing the immense contribution of all firefighters everywhere who day and night risk their lives, yet largely go
volunteers, and every time you leave city limits you are in their hands. But the volunteer fire service across Canada is in need of attention and funding, and it is getting more difficult for rural fire departments to attract volunteers. “The goal of this campaign is to raise much needed funds, but perhaps more importantly, to raise the profile of these everyday heroes. My hope is that we can build awareness that will prompt the public to ask their elected officials what their plan is for the volunteer service, because this, more than funding, will help to bring about change."