Chase Volunteer Fire Department opened its doors to the community earlier this month and gave back once again to the community – and their help was appreciated.
A number of Chase volunteer firefighters were on hand Oct. 21 to meet and greet with visitors, provide tours of the firehouse and take some for a spin in a fire truck.
Wally Churchill, one of the Chase residents who lost his house in the Whispering Pines fire earlier this year, was also in attendance with Willow his dog who had managed to escape the fire on her own.
The locally known folk and country singer wanted to show his support to those who had worked so hard to save his home.
Churchill says he has been trying to get his life back together in the months since the fire. While he has had to put his music on hold, he has bought a new house and is getting some normality back in his life once again.
Brent Chamberlain, Chase Fire Chief, presented a cheque to Churchill on behalf of the department, for a sum of $150.
“It is not much,” says Chamberlain, “but hopefully it helps a little.”
The money was raised by the volunteer firefighters during a car wash fundraiser on Sept. 23, in the Safety Mart parking lot.
A cheque of the same amount was also being sent to Thelma Portier, whose house was also lost in the same fire and has since moved out of Chase.
Churchill was fighting back tears at the generosity, explaining how the department has already done so much for him.
“I have just had so much good things happen to me,” he said. “People have donated clothes to me and other things, they are just so kind.”