Darrell Greer
Northern News Services

Yellowknife ( Jun 07/00) - Rankin Inlet fire department volunteers will soon have a new weapon to fight fires in their community.

A new fire truck has been ordered from the Fort Garry Fire Trucks company in Winnipeg, Man., and should be completed by July 26.

Kivalliq regional fire marshal Tim Hinds says the new truck is expected to be in the community by September.

"Once it's here, we'll have a rep from the Fort Garry company come up and provide our members with training on the new vehicle," says Hinds.

The Rankin Inlet Volunteer Fire Department has three women and 14 men on call 24 hours per day, seven days per week.

The department's officers are fire Chief Roger Aksadjuak, deputy fire Chief Ambrose Karlik, Capt. Michael Aksadjuak, Lieut. John Wiebe and Lieut. Mark Innukshuk.

The new vehicle will boost Rankin's fleet to three trucks and an ambulance.

The department trains members on the fundamentals of firefighting, firefighting theory, fire prevention and safety, first aid and CPR.

Hinds says volunteer firefighters respond to fires, assist at vehicle accidents, get called in medical emergencies and are sometimes called upon to rescue people on the land.

"We had a fatal accident on the land last year. They couldn't get to the site with a helicopter, so our volunteers went out with a couple of toboggans and snowmobiles and transported the person back to the hamlet."

Volunteers are not paid for their time and efforts, although they often face the danger of injury or even death while serving their community.

Hinds points to a recent truck fire in the community to illustrate the dangers of the job.

"There were two plastic and three metal pitchers of gas and diesel in the back of the truck which could have blown.

"That's just one example of the types of risk our volunteers contend with. They are truly a credit to their community."

People interested in volunteering with the department are encouraged to call the fire chief at 645-2598 or the hamlet office at 645-2895.