An old truck is getting a new purpose.

Soon Langford Fire RescueB次元官网网址檚 recently decommissioned engine will be on the road again, heading south to Mexico. In the fall of 2015, a five-person team went down to Cabo San Lucas as part of the departmentB次元官网网址檚 ambassador program.

B次元官网网址淭hey had this amazing experience,B次元官网网址� said Assistant Chief Geoff Spriggs. B次元官网网址淪eeing the diversity of the calls they have to deal with B次元官网网址� ItB次元官网网址檚 more than just dragging a hose around and fighting fires.B次元官网网址�

But the ambassador program isnB次元官网网址檛 just about technical training. On Saturdays the Cabo department hosts children and youth from the community. They play games and get them involved in community outreach projects. B次元官网网址淭heyB次元官网网址檙e probably the best community-minded, community-spirited department IB次元官网网址檝e seen,B次元官网网址� Spriggs said. B次元官网网址淲e have a lot to learn from them.B次元官网网址�

So when the topic came up last year of what to do with this old truck, council agreed to donate it to a jurisdiction in need. The Cabo department was one of the first to come to mind.

B次元官网网址淭he relationships we have are remarkable. If someone needs help weB次元官网网址檒l try to help them,B次元官网网址� said Langford Fire Chief Bob Beckett about the ambassador program. Of the Cabo department, he said, B次元官网网址淭hey have what they call a bone yard where they take the equipment, break it down and make it work B次元官网网址� To have a reliable piece of equipment makes all the difference.B次元官网网址�

With that in mind, Langford Fire Rescue reached out to their Mexican counterparts and asked what types of equipment they could use. A wish list was generated and departments from Colwood to Abbotsford have chipped in, with donations ranging from medical supplies to ladders. Local community groups have also contributed hand tools and the Westshore Sunrise Rotary Club, along with the YMCA-YWCA of Vancouver Island and others, are sending supplies for an orphanage in the area.

But getting the fully stocked truck to Mexico is no small feat. Once word reached the Cabo department that the truck would be coming, they sprang into action trying to find ways to raise roughly $4,000 to cover fees and expenses in their country.

The department operates on what is essentially a volunteer system, with the fire chief getting paid a meagre wage through donations. Any programs, initiatives or new equipment needs are paid for through fundraising.

Langford Mayor Stew Young noted the Cabo department operates a little souvenir stand out of that hall, which provides one of their main sources of income through the sale of t-shirts, hot dogs and car washes. To ask the department to cover some of the costs and to cut that from their already overdrawn budget was unthinkable, Young said.

So, to help cover the roughly $10,000 it will cost in total to get the truck to Cabo, the City of Langford reached out to the West Shore Developers Association. Members didnB次元官网网址檛 hesitate in pulling out their chequebooks to help and raised the needed funds in no time.

The association got the fundraising ball rolling with a donation that was quickly matched or doubled by member businesses. including Westbrook Consulting, Keycorp Consulting Ltd., Limona Construction, Southpoint Partners Ltd., DB Services of Victoria Inc., Westhills Land Corp., Wensley Architecture Ltd. and Capital City Paving.

Doug Wong, a relatively new member of the association and a senior project manager with Wensley Architecture Ltd., said, B次元官网网址渁s soon as we heard about it we jumped on board B次元官网网址� ItB次元官网网址檚 a community effort.B次元官网网址�

Association members were invited to Langford Fire Rescue last week to have one final look at the old engine before she heads on her way.

Early next month, two firefighters will drive the truck to the U.S.-Mexico border and transfer it to the Cabo department. After the truck clears customs and is at its new home, four other Langford firefighters will fly down at the end of April to do some training.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 not a small amount of money to make this happen, but the result is 10-fold,B次元官网网址� Young said. B次元官网网址淭his will be one of their nicest pieces of equipment B次元官网网址� ItB次元官网网址檚 going to make a real difference.B次元官网网址�

This truck will be the third the City of Langford has donated to other jurisdictions.

katie@goldstreamgazette.com