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Tsiigehtchic's Fire Department is experiencing a small renaissance. Fire officials recently recruited a new group of volunteer firefighters, and the town also purchased a new specially built fire truck for the community. With the new truck, from left, are Lawrence Francis, Richard Stewart, Darby Blake, Angela Blake, Daniel Blake, Deron Stewart, Mickey Andre, Jake Stewart, Martina Norbert, and Albert Ross. - photo courtesy of Greg Zimmerman

TSIIGEHTCHIC/ARCTIC RED RIVER - Claude Gervais made a special delivery earlier this month. The former Inuvik region assistant fire marshal drove Tsiigehtchic's new fire truck from Fort Garry, Alta., to the Delta community. The trip took him five days but he said you can't rush deliveries like that.

"When you drive these trucks you have to make sure they arrive in one piece," said Gervais.

He said the truck should last 20 years or more if well maintained. It has special features designed for cold weather.

"It is built for the North because the pump is all closed in, and there are four different heaters keeping heat to that section," said Gervais.

The community of Tsiigehtchic purchased the brand new truck as a part of their plan to revamp the local volunteer fire department. Nine community members have signed up to join the force. Martina Norbert was the lone woman in the group.

"I'm interested in the health and safety of our community," said Norbert. At the first meeting she was trained on how to use the new truck. She said fighting fires is only one small part of being a member of the fire department. Responding to health emergencies as well as assisting in search and rescue operations is another big part of it.

"I know we need a lot of support and a lot of help to make it work in our community," said Norbert. She said she has faith everyone in the community will support the volunteers' efforts.

Inuvik region fire marshal Greg Zimmerman was in Tsiigehtchic on Sept. 11 to help train the new recruits in the use of the fire truck.

He said the number of volunteer firefighters in Tsiigehtchic had dwindled in the past few years as people moved away from town. He said he is pleased to see so many new faces looking to help.

"Now that they've got a new truck they're going to start over. There's basically 10 new members," said Zimmerman.

He said the new recruits will have to take some basic fire fighting courses to come up to the National Fire Protection Association standards. Most of that training will either take place in Tsiigehtchic or Inuvik.

Zimmerman is still hopeful that a few more people might join the force.

"It's not too late to join," he said.