NIPAWIN— The Nipawin Fire Department has started a new program where they can give drive-by birthday greetings for local children.
The drive-by consists of the department taking two fire trucks, driving by with their lights flashing, and stopping to give a red fire hat and foldable Frisbee to the birthday child.
Bruce Pihowich, Nipawin’s acting fire chief said the idea came from one of their captains, who pointed out some other departments were doing birthday drive-bys.
“Other departments are doing it, and his daughter just turned 19 and he said, ‘she would like a drive-by,’” Pihowich said.
“Two hours later I got a request from someone, phoned and asked if we do them, so I said, ‘well, we’re just going to have a meeting about that tonight.’”
After the department was in support of the idea, Pihowich phoned the town and got permission to use the trucks.
He said the cost isn’t a large issue, as it doesn’t consume too much fuel to do the greetings and each member volunteers their time.
“We leave the hall and we’re back in 10 minutes kind of deal. Nipawin isn’t that big, it doesn’t take much to get around it.”
Pihowich said the program has been positively received, with the department responding to eight birthdays in one week.
Originally, the drive-bys also consisted of the fire trucks turning on their sirens— which were quickly stopped after unfortunate results.
“I think we scared the little fella, so we just go with the lights.”
To book a drive-by, people in the Town of Nipawin can call the fire hall at 306-862-4000.
