A Yukon Energy pick-up truck donated to a Whitehorse-area fire department has taken on the new role of fire fighter. Several months ago, Yukon Energy donated one of its fleet vehicles to the Golden Horn Fire Department. The pick-up truck has now been repainted, the necessary equipment installed and the vehicle has been put to work.
Fire department officials say the truck has been a real asset to this year’s fire suppression efforts, especially during the high hazard days of June and July.
Spokesman Kevin Taylor says that on one occasion, Golden Horn firefighters were called out to a smoke report along the Yukon River Road. The smoke was about five kilometres down the road and not accessible to the large pumper trucks. The pick-up truck was able to get into the site and extinguish a fire in a small brush pile.
“At the time, fire conditions were rated high. Because of the condition of the road, the travel time and the fact that the pumper was too large to travel the road, this fire could have turned into a major conflagration in no time, threatening everything in its path including Golden Horn, Cowley Creek and the rest of the south end of town,” Taylor said. “With the help of Yukon Energy and the generous donation of the pick-up truck, a major incident may have been avoided.”
“This came about as a result of a letter we received from the fire department, asking if we would be willing to donate a vehicle,” Yukon Energy spokesperson Janet Patterson said. “It just so happened that we had a truck that we were getting ready to put up for sale. Because of the enormous public benefit, Yukon Energy decided to sell the vehicle to the fire department for a dollar. In fact, the total bill was $1.07 because we had to charge GST!”
Patterson noted that Yukon Energy isn’t usually able to donate vehicles, but in this instance everything fell into place to make the donation possible.
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Contact:
Janet Patterson
Communications Supervisor
Yukon Energy Corporation
(867) 393-5333
janet.patterson@yec.yk.ca
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