60th Anniversary

There aren’t many people who are more important, or more respected in a community than firefighters. Add in the fact in many smaller places the fire departments are completely voluntary, and the respect for these brave men and women only increases.

There aren’t many people who are more important, or more respected in a community than firefighters. Add in the fact in many smaller places the fire departments are completely voluntary, and the respect for these brave men and women only increases.
This respect was clearly demonstrated as over 130 people gathered at the Lions Community Centre to show support for the Grand Bank Volunteer Fire Department at their 60th annual firefighters’ ball.
Speakers included Mayor Rex Matthews, MP Bill Matthews and newly elected MHA Darin King.
Firefighter Melvin Cox was recognized for 15 years of dedicated service to the department while Jeff Crews and Bob Dolimount received pins for 10 years of service. As well as the pins, retired firefighter Colin Buffett was presented with a retirement gift for his dedicated service.
The Town of Grand Bank awarded all current, retired and honoured firefighters with quality leather bags adorned with the fire department logo. Mayor Matthews was clear in his comments about the importance of the department and how there are no other volunteers like firefighters.
Fire Chief Derrick Dunne reported in the past year the Grand Bank Volunteer Fire Department had responded to a total of 18 alarms, nine more than the previous year. The department had four calls where an alarm sounded but there was no emergency at the scene; one reporting of a false alarm, one false alarm, two chimney fires, two calls for electrical wiring malfunctioning, one brush fire, one call for smoke in a home, three motor vehicle accidents, two minor structural fires and one vessel fire.

Travis Parsons, The Southern Gazette