Darrell Greer
Northern News Services

Chesterfiled Inlet (July 10/02) - Once again Kivalliq hamlets have demonstrated their willingness to help each other out during times of crisis.

The front-mounted pump of Chesterfield Inlet's fire truck was found to be unserviceable on March 4, while a mechanic from Winnipeg's Fort Garry Fire Trucks Co. was doing a routine maintenance inspection.

The pump was more than 20-years-old and a new piece would have to be manufactured in the United States and shipped to the Kivalliq.

However, Fort Garry has a long involvement with providing both service and training to all seven Kivalliq fire departments, and the company knew there was a possibility parts for the pump may be obtained from Arviat.

Kivalliq regional fire marshal Tim Hinds phoned Arviat senior administrator Darren Flynn on March 5 to explain the Chester the situation.

"I told him (Flynn) the community would like to borrow the pump from Arviat's second vehicle, which is additional to hamlet requirements," says Hinds.

"The SAO said Arviat would gladly do that to help out their good friends in Chesterfield Inlet."

The pump was quickly transported to Chester.

Repairs were attempted twice before it was realized the Arviat pump also had problems.

The Fort Garry mechanic was able to get a makeshift pump operational on the Chester truck long enough for him to return to Winnipeg and have proper repairs undertaken on both pumps.

While that was happening, the fire department in Rankin Inlet sent its portable pump to Chester to be available as a backup.

"It was nice to see the three communities share the responsibility to ensure Chesterfield was covered while its main pump was out for repairs."

The damaged pumps weren't actually completed until the end of May, and shipped to the Kivalliq via Winnipeg this past month.

Hinds says the repair time took so long because the company which originally manufactured the pumps no longer exists.

"Parts are no longer produced, so the pumps themselves had to be manufactured.

"The trucks in Chester and Whale Cove still require fleet replacement.

"They are on the capital plan to be replaced, but that may take a few years yet."