Yellowknife (Sep 05/03) - Sitting in the cab of Yellowknife's first fire truck, Rudy Godin flips a switch on the dashboard and slams his foot into the starter pedal.

Godin sits in the driver's seat of Yellowknife's first fire truck. - Andrew Raven/NNSL photo

With a loud roar, the truck's engine springs to life and the entire cab starts vibrating like a carnival ride.

Godin slowly lets his foot off the clutch while gingerly pressing down on the gas pedal and the 60-year-old truck lurches forward.

"Pretty neat, eh," says Godin with a broad smile spreading across his face.

The Public Works employee spent the better part of the last week nursing the old fire truck back to health as part of the city's plan to refurbish what is Yellowknife's only heritage vehicle.

The project is being commissioned by the Heritage Committee, a city-funded organization devoted to preserving Yellowknife's past.

"We decided to refurbish the truck in honour of the fire department and all the volunteers who helped keep the city safe over the years," said Bruce Stebbing, a member of the committee.

The group plans to have the truck repainted, the windshield replaced and new running boards installed. The project will cost the city about $5,600.

Once all the work is done, the truck will be put on display outside of the fire hall and used in parades.

"We hope it will also encourage others to volunteer," said Stebbing.

He also said the rich history of the truck made it a logical choice as the city's first heritage vehicle.

According to Stebbing, the truck was used by the U.S. military during the Second World War before being purchased by the Yellowknife Fire Department in 1946. In fact, the underside of the hood is still painted a drab military green.

The truck was also used to fight a number of Yellowknife's most infamous blazes, including the fire at the Old Stope Hotel.

It remained in service until 1976, when it was finally de-commissioned.

But despite its age and history, Godin says the truck was in relatively good shape when he started working on it.

"I had to replace some hoses... and wires, but the engine was still running well," he said.

Originally a vibrant red, the truck's sun-parched body is now a dull orange. But its thick, metal side panels have held up well through 50 odd Northern winters, with barely a speck of rust.

Inside the cab, paint chips litter the ground and foam stuffing pushes its way through the seats. The passenger side floor boards have long since rotted away and the only thing separating you from the ground is a narrow piece of plywood.

The dashboard is quaintly austere, with only a small fuel gauge, odometer, speed dial and starter switch.

"There's no key, you start the truck by flipping the switch... and pressing the starter (pedal)," says Godin with a laugh.

In fact, that's one of many differences between the 60-year-old truck and the family wagon. There are no door locks, no seat belts, no rear view mirrors and no heat vents.

But despite its lack of amenities, Yellowknife's first ever fire truck has an undeniable rustic charm.

"It really is a neat truck," says Godin, "I wish I had one just like it."