Shell donates $7000 towards UTV for Beaver Mines Fire

Allen Tapay of Beaver Mines Fire with Shell Waterton's Rod Sinclair

Beaver Mines Fire Brigade was given a $7000 donation by recently Shell Waterton to be used towards the planned purchase of a UTV, a multi-purpose all-terrain vehicle for off-road firefighting and rescue.  Shell Waterton Community Affairs Co-ordinator Rod Sinclair presented Allen Tapay of the Beaver Mines Fire Brigade with a cheque on Friday, March 1. 

Beaver Mines Fire Brigade currently has six members and is under the umbrella of Pincher Creek Emergency Services. They're always looking for more able hands and more effective equipment. 

According to Tapay they have been fundraising for a year after a proposal was made by their Lieutenant, Steve Oczkowski.  "Steve has been at the forefront of our fundraising efforts," said Tapay, "and more credit to him."

"I'm proud of our crew's effort."

"We worked a casino for 16 hours to raise close to $11,000," he explained.  Tapay said there were also private donations towards the cause as well, including one for $2000.  He's having a final look through the catalogue.  The vehicle he has in mind is designed to haul two up front and a wounded person with an aide in the rear.

He assured me there will be a good photo-op when it arrives.

He explained that the vehicle would be quite useful for dealing with lightning strikes ("We had on particularly bad year.  It only takes one."), off-roaders, hikers getting hurt, and an increased ability to haul water to remote locations.  To get more to the fire or emergency, faster, with more stuff, and more often.  Tapay said they are also trying to buy a trailer and a slip-in fire/rescue unit for the box of the UTV.

Shell Waterton rep Rod Sinclair explained that Shell saw this kind of donation as "Social Investment Funding".  

"We want to put it into the community in a way that has the broadest effect," he said.  "This has the potential to help a lot of people in the community."

- C. Davis, story/photos