This year marks the 50th anniversary of a very important part of the City of Thompson - the Thompson Fire Department. Different events will be taking place from Sept. 18 to 20 to celebrate the milestone.
The Thompson Fire Department first got started back in 1959 with the arrival of Thompson's first fire pumper and a 1959 travel-all vehicle that would serve as an ambulance. All this operated under the city's first ever fire chief, Gord Bessie, who will be in attendance at the 50th anniversary celebrations.
Sixteen volunteer firefighters joined the fire department under the direction of Local Government District of Mystery Lake administrator Carl Nesbitt. Additional equipment was purchased and the original ambulance that was used by the fire and emergency services crew was replaced in 1965 with a GMC travel-all. In 1969, a second triple combination pumper was added to the roster of fire equipment, and two full-time firefighters were hired, along with a deputy fire chief.
By 1970 there were four full-time firefighters, and the following year four more were hired. Plans for the new City Hall and fire department complex were made and on Aug. 26, 1971 the ribbon was cut at the new City Hall building.
Currently, the Thompson Fire & Emergency Services is made up of four to five member platoons, each made up of 20 members, one dispatcher, 19 auxiliary staff members and a chief, deputy and safety officer.
Rhonda McDonald, whose husband is an auxiliary member of the fire department, has been volunteering to help put on events for the department for awhile now. She is currently working with a six-person committee to organize all the events that will help celebrate the 50th anniversary.
McDonald says they are currently searching for past members of the fire department through an e-mail chain, and are hoping to contact around 100 who live throughout North America.
The anniversary celebrations will include a come and go luncheon for past and present members at the fire hall from 12 to 2 p.m. on Sept. 18; a meet and greet pizza night at the Army Navy/Air Force building from 1 p.m. to 1 a.m. on Sept. 18; a community event which is being held at the City Centre Mall on Sept. 19 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. that will feature activities for children and different displays; a hospitality event at the Army Navy/Air Force building from 1 to 5 p.m. on Sept. 19; a formal ball, which costs $50 per ticket, which will be happening at the St. Joseph's Ukrainian Hall from 6 p.m. to 1 a.m. on Sept. 19; and a farewell pancake breakfast at the fire hall the next day from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m.
Deputy Fire Chief John Maskerine says he's glad the City of Thompson will have the opportunity to celebrate its fire and emergency crews this year.
"For 50 years we've been protecting the citizens of Thompson and the outlying areas also ... our tradition is we do what's asked of us, and whether it's hot or cold out we'll be there for you," he explains.
Maskerine says he hopes to see the same dedication fire and emergency services has seen throughout the past 50 years continue on into the future. He says it's also important for the department to keep up a good relationship with the citizens of Thompson.
"I think being in contact with our citizens, whether it's the seniors or the young ones, is important. We'll always have time to sit and talk with them or pull a child up on our knee during the Santa Claus event, or go to Rotary Place and share some time with them. It's just part of what we do as firefighters," he says. "It's much like a sports team - if you know the people are behind you, you just go out and do your job that much better."
Thompson Fire & Emergency Services also brings many school aged children in to the department to show them the equipment and visits school during fire prevention week to teach children about fire safety.
Tickets for the formal ball will be available to the public near the end of this month.
