Youngsters got to use the fire hose at Thursday's Melfort Fire Department open house. (Cam Lee/northeastNOW)

By Cam Lee

MFD open house

Melfort Fire Department open house highlights new equipment, history

Oct 11, 2024 | 5:00 PM

Hundreds of people filed through the Melfort Fire Department (MFD) Thursday night for their open house.

The event saw the young, and young-at-heart, learning more about the department, their equipment, and how it’s used.

Fire chief Leonard Whitney told northeastNOW that the open houses are fun for the department as well.

“We bring out all the toys for this event, and we get [people] from one year old to ninety-one years old, so it’s a great event for everybody to come out and have some fun,” Whitney said.

(Cam Lee/northeastNOW)

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The department had a chance to show off their new aerial unit and new Jaws of Life equipment from the T-Rex program put on by SGI.

Whitney said the kids love the open houses, and putting on special kids’ versions of turnout gear the department has invested in over the years.

(Cam Lee/northeastNOW)

“They love trying that stuff on and seeing what they look like in it, and it’s just great to see the smiles on their faces when they do that.”

The event also saw displays of articles highlighting some of the MFD’s biggest and most important calls over the years, from the old Broadway School fire in the 1950s to the North East Outreach and Support Services shelter fire in 2014.

Whitney credited Deputy Chief Doug Walsh for his record-keeping preservation efforts.

“It’s quite the site to see for all the history that we have for the Melfort Fire Department and very interesting even to the members that have been on for many years,” said Whitney.

Crowds got to see the department’s new aerial unit and other equipment. (Cam Lee/northeastNOW)

He reminds everyone that the department is recruiting, and they are sitting at 20 members of the MFD, with room to add six more. Anyone interested can call or email Leonard at City Hall or approach any existing member for more information.

The event was held in conjunction with Fire Prevention Week in Saskatchewan, which runs from Oct. 6 to 12.

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Cam.lee@pattisonmedia.com

On X: @northeastNOW_SK