The Horsefly Fire Department has received a much needed financial infusion to help with building a new fire hall in the community.
Taseko Mines is donating $50,000 toward the project, the company announced last week.
“We are committed to the Cariboo,” says Taseko vice-president Brian Battison in the press release.
“Many of our Gibraltar employees, their families and friends live in rural communities. We understand the importance of fire safety.
“When we heard of the need in Horsefly, where the department relies completely on donations and receives no tax support, we wanted to help. Like rural citizens everywhere we salute the volunteers and the sacrifice they make in providing fire protection to their communities.”
A new fire hall is needed in Horsefly so the department can maintain its class four status.
The existing fire hall was built in the 1950s and is expensive to heat and too small to hold modern fire trucks and equipment.
“Our goal is to raise approximately $200,000 so we can build the replacement hall this year,” says Fire Chief Morhart.
“Local residents Bill and Nancy Myckatyn put up $50,000 to start the campaign and challenged others to get involved. Today, Taseko met that challenge. Taseko’s support is tremendously appreciated.”
The Taseko contribution brings the donations total to $106,000, with $6,000 coming from other donors.
“Every bit is appreciated,” Morhart says.
“The new building will be much more energy efficient and save HVFD about $6,000 per year in heating costs alone.”
He says the fire department is hoping other large and small donors come on board soon so the building can be completed this year.
The Horsefly Volunteer Fire Department covers an area of 364 square kilometers and handles more than 40 critical and community service calls every year including:
• First response to medical emergencies stabilizing patients for one to three hours until an ambulance arrives
• Grass and wild land fires, especially in high hazard areas beside roads and under power lines
• HVFD members also assist on wild land fires throughout the Cariboo
• Auto accidents, extracting and stabilizing victims
• Auto and structural fires
• Search and Rescue while awaiting the arrival of the nearest S&R team which is in Williams Lake
Contact: Chief Cecil Morhart 250 620-3336 for information on the HVFD
Contact: Brian Battison, vice-president, corporate affairs 1-778-373-4543 for information on Taseko Mines.