The City of Armstrong and Township of Spallumcheen
WHERE DO FIRE TRUCKS GO WHEN THEY RETIRE – SOUTH OF COURSE!
The Armstrong Spallumcheen Fire Department retired ladder truck has found a new lease on life in San Marcos, Guatemala.
Faced with the question “what to do with a retired fire truck” the Armstrong Spallumcheen Fire Department with support from Councils of the Township of Spallumcheen and City of Armstrong found a great solution.
While the ladder truck was too old to meet operational requirements for Canada, the truck still had life left in it. Working with the disaster relief organization Amedica, the retired engine was donated and has found a new home in San Marcos, Guatemala.
Unit 22 Arrives in San Marcos, Guatemala
In 1992 the Armstrong Spallumcheen Fire Department took delivery of its first ladder truck, a 50’ Tele-Squirt truck. After 30 years of dedicated service the truck “aged out” of our fleet and was retired. Councils of the Township of Spallumcheen and City of Armstrong working through the Armstrong Spallumcheen Fire Service Commission came up with a unique way to make use of the life left in this truck.
In May of 2023, the A/S Fire Service Commission approved the donation of this truck working with a disaster relief organization, Amedica.
“The Pierce Tele-Squirt Aerial fire truck has served both of our communities well for many years. We are glad to see a country, such as Guatemala, greatly benefit from this donation,” says Armstrong Mayor Joe Cramer.
“The Township Council have been super excited to be involved with the Armstrong Spallumcheen Fire Service Commission, Armstrong staff and Council in ensuring this donation was a success. To know that we can provide support to another community and region in another area of the world gives us great pride. It’s a big job to be elected officials in two communities who are voted in to represent our residents and to know that this decision reflects how fortunate we are to live in an area of the world that we can be in a position to donate such integral infrastructure in another country is fantastic,” noted Christine Fraser, Mayor of Spallumcheen.
The truck arrived at its destination on April 9, 2025 to much celebration and excitement. The truck was driven home by its new fire station that evening and greeted by the entire city of San Marcos the next morning when it received the traditional baptism of hose streams and was blessed by the local priest. Amedica representative Captain Neale Brown, President of Amedica noted that, “…the entire Departamento (Province) is absolutely thrilled with it and held a parade celebrating its arrival.”
Both Council’s extend a special thank you to Councillor Joe Van Tienhoven, Township of Spallumcheen, who was instrumental in making this donation possible.
The retired truck has now been replaced with a new E-One 78 Quint Ladder Truck in the Spring of 2019 and has been serving the Armstrong Spallumcheen Fire Department well.
Quick Facts
• San Marcos is a city in Guatemala of just over 47,000 people, the capital of the Department (Province) of San Marcos
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