Penticton Fire Department invites public to welcome new fire truck

PENTICTON – The Penticton Fire Department will be following tradition when it places its newest piece of equipment into service this weekend.

Part of a fire department’s traditions involve fire truck housing ceremonies, something which has been going on since the 1830s.

The ceremony will involve a blessing of the department's new truck Rescue 201 as it is put into service, according to a media release from the City of Penticton.

The Penticton Fire Department invites members of the public to join fire personnel at Station 201 at 250 Nanaimo Ave. as they introduce their latest piece of firefighting equipment.

“Firefighters are known for their pride in the job, but nothing stokes the flames of tradition like a traditional housing ceremony,” says fire chief Larry Watkinson.

The ceremony begins at 10 a.m. on Saturday, April 2 with a welcome and introduction, followed by a “wet down” of Rescue 201. The Fire Chaplain will then provide a blessing prior to the unit’s inaugural “Push In” to the fire hall. Cake and coffee will be available following the event at 10:30 a.m.

To contact the reporter for this story, email Steve Arstad at sarstad@infonews.ca or call 250-488-3065. To contact the editor, email mjones@infonews.ca or call 250-718-2724.

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Steve Arstad

I have been looking for news in the South Okanagan - SImilkameen for 20 years, having turned a part time lifelong interest into a full time profession. After five years publishing a local newsletter, several years working as a correspondent / stringer for several local newspapers and seven years as editor of a Similkameen weekly newspaper, I joined iNFOnews.ca in 2014. My goal in the news industry has always been to deliver accurate and interesting articles about local people and places. My interest in the profession is life long - from my earliest memories of grade school, I have enjoyed writing.
As an airborne geophysical surveyor I travelled extensively around the globe, conducting helicopter borne mineral surveys.
I also spent several years at an Okanagan Falls based lumber mill, producing glued-wood laminated products.
As a member of the Kaleden community, I have been involved in the Kaleden Volunteer Fire Department for 22 years, and also serve as a trustee on the Kaleden Irrigation District board.
I am currently married to my wife Judy, of 26 years. We are empty-nesters who enjoy living in Kaleden with our Welsh Terrier, Angus, and cat, Tibbs.
Our two daughters, Meagan and Hayley, reside in Richmond and Victoria, respectively.

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