Photos Karen Graham.
A wide variety of trucks, emergency vehicles and even a tank were on display at this year’s Touch a Truck event hosted by the Millbrook-Cavan Firefighters’ Association in partnership with the Millbrook Agricultural Society.
A steady stream of visitors walked, rode and drove to the Millbrook Fairgrounds on Saturday, September 24th to see another exciting Touch a Truck event hosted by the Millbrook Cavan Firefighters’ Association. Organizers set aside the first hour of the event for those seeking a quiet stroll to appreciate the wide range of vehicles from across the area spread throughout the fairgrounds. By 11 o’clock, horns and sirens were blasting away, triggered by visitors seeking a more boisterous experience with the equipment.
Photo Karen Graham.
Vehicles of all shapes and sizes were on display, including police and paramedic vehicles, Fire trucks, UTV’s, race cars, farm vehicles, cranes, and even a tank from the Ontario Regiment Museum in Oshawa. While most vehicles made their own way to the fairgrounds, the tank required a float service to arrive, and Collins Float services delivered this extraordinary exhibit. Youngsters took full advantage of the opportunity to get up close and personal with the imposing equipment, clamouring aboard, taking the wheel and sounding horns and sirens to great delight.
This joyful noise intended to entertain was interrupted just before noon by a more sombre tone when some of those sirens were sounded by firefighters leaving the event to respond to a service call. Heads turned as two emergency vehicles, which had been strategically located close to an exit, slipped through the gate, and visitors were reminded that sirens are the sound of our first responders on their way to help someone in distress.
The Millbrook Lions’ food trailer was a welcome addition keeping hungry visitors fed. Would-be firefighters took turns testing their aim with a fire hose, while others watched an auto extrication demonstration as members of the fire department used their equipment to take apart a car which had suffered life-threatening injury prior to the event.
The event was supported by a wide range of organizations who provided the vehicles on display, including Cavan-Monaghan Township and Fire Department, Peterborough County Roads Department, Peterborough Paramedics, Squirrel Creek farms, Orville Thertell Electric, Wuis Brothers, Eagleson Excavating and many more.
Admission to the event was by donation, and attendees provided a trunk full of food donations destined for the Millbrook Food Share. Cash donations for the day reached $1900 and will be split between the Millbrook Agricultural Society and the Millbrook Cavan Firefighters’ Association after the expenses of the event have been paid.
The Millbrook Cavan Firefighters Association is a volunteer organization that raises funds which are used to support a variety of local causes and to maintain the Fire Museum at 2 Hay St. This historic building is usually open during events in town, when the public is invited to visit and take a close look at some of the equipment that once put out fires in town.
Thanks to all involved for providing a great opportunity to get together and see the variety of equipment and operators that help keep our community safe. KG
