A retired Township of Leeds and the Thousand Islands fire truck and surplus firefighting equipment will soon begin a second life helping firefighters in underserved communities, after council unanimously approved a donation to Firefighters Without Borders Canada.
During Monday’s committee of the whole meeting, Fire Chief Mike Prior recommended donating a retired 2000 GMC Topkick pumper truck, along with expired firefighting gear and surplus equipment, to the Toronto-based charitable organization.
The donation includes self-contained breathing apparatus gear, ladders, older gas-powered ventilation fans, hydraulic extrication equipment and other gear no longer used by the township’s fire service.
Prior told council the pumper has been out of front line service for years and has reached the end of its useful life for the township.
“This one is past its service, past its prime,” Prior said.
He added that much of the equipment slated for donation can no longer be used by Ontario fire departments because of its age or changing standards.
“And a lot of this gear I can’t do anything with, not even training,” he said.
Firefighters Without Borders Canada provides training and equipment to fire departments in Indigenous communities across Canada and in developing nations around the world.
Prior noted the township has a long-standing relationship with the organization, with council approving a similar donation in 2019. Members of the township’s fire service have also volunteered with the charity, including one firefighter scheduled to travel to Albania this month as part of a training mission.
Although the retired equipment has an estimated value of about $15,000, Prior said it can still make a meaningful difference in communities where resources are limited.
Council unanimously approved the donation.