For the first time, Prince George Firefighters are offering a 2015 calendar as a fundraiser.
It was years ago that the idea came onto the local firefighters' radar but it just wasn't financially feasible until this year.
With the right sponsorship for each page and showcasing the local firefighters in action around the community, proceeds from the calendar will go to the B.C. Professional Fire Fighters Burn Fund for the Burn Fund Centre.
Everyone who is burned and needs intense emergency treatment in the province or the Yukon must go to Vancouver as that's the only place in the province with a level one burn and trauma centre.
The Burn Fund Centre provides a safe environment for burn victims and their families to stay at no charge, relieving the financial burden of living away from home for extended periods during a very stressful time. The new centre will be located equal distance between Vancouver General Hospital and B.C. Children's Hospital to allow for easy access for those needing the specialized treatment.
The centre has a sustainability element as there is commercial space on the bottom floor that will generate enough long-term rental revenue to ensure families won't have to pay for their stay at the centre.
The Prince George firefighters have pledged to sponsor one of the eight accommodation suites at the centre.
The ground-breaking ceremony for the Burn Fund Centre took place Sept. 17 and construction should start in November, with completion date set late next year.
The fundraising target of $13 million is only about $1 million shy of its mark and Prince George firefighters want to help get it that much closer by donating calendar proceeds.
The calendar will promote the Prince George firefighters and the services provided by the Prince George Fire Rescue Service.
"This calendar will show the community what their tax dollars are paying for," said firefighter Capt. Rob Ingham, calendar committee chair. "We were the forerunners in B.C. in the mid 80s when we started doing the first responder program and it was six or seven years later that the rest of the province got into it and now we've again stepped up and we're the first department in B.C. to do what's called the EMR, emergency medical responder program, that's shown through a staged picture in the calendar."
The calendar features all aspects of what firefighters do in and around Prince George, including providing medical services, high-angle rescues, swift-water rescues, dealing with hazardous materials, and fully operating dispatch services for 79 fire departments in the northern half of the province. There's even a fire prevention branch of the department that provides free smoke alarms to those in need.
"Our calendar has more of a community-based theme," said Trent Blair, calendar committee volunteer and Prince George firefighter.
The calendar launch is at the Prince George Cougars afternoon game Sunday at 2 p.m. There will be stations on the concourse with firefighters promoting and selling the calendar.
"We'll be talking about burn prevention to provide some education," said Blair. "And mascot Sparky the dog will be there, too."
After the launch the calendars will be available at Save On Foods and Canadian Tire for $20 each.
