Borden Fire Hall Carwash Raises $2,000 for Kids with Burn Injuries

The Borden Fire Hall ran and operated a community carwash in support of Camp Bucko

With lights flashing and sirens wailing the Borden Fire Hall was stationed across from the CANEX plaza on Base to run a community carwash on 21 June, with all donations going towards Camp Bucko; a camp program for kids with burn injuries where they can feel safe and have fun.

Members from the Canadian Forces Fire and CBRN Academy (CFFCA) and the CFB Borden Fire Department staffed a four-stage operation including an initial wash, soap, rinse, wax and drying station with a firefighting twist.

The rinse station was formed by a firetruck’s ladder bucket that poured water atop each passing vehicle. CFB Borden Deputy Chief Tom Smith helped organize the event and shared what it meant to him to be able to give back to the community by donating to Camp Bucko.

“We’ve been involved with the charity since 2016 and we do charity carwashes annually,” Smith said. “We’ve even had firefighters from our fire department go down to volunteer as camp counselors and they say the experience has been absolutely amazing.”

Camp Bucko hosts two programs with one being a residential day camp and the other being the International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF) Camp in Atlanta, Georgia, where two campers from the residential camp are chosen to represent Canada each year with parent chaperones.

For Smith, being able to give time and funding for children to experience camp activities in an inclusive environment is something him and his team are proud to be a part of.

“It’s amazing just to see the appreciation on their faces,” Smith said. “The biggest sense of accomplishment for me is hearing from our guys who went down as camp counsellors because they get a chance to experience this hands on.”

To learn more about Camp Bucko and how you can help support their mission, click here.

“To see firefighter representation, not only donating money, but donating time to go to these camps to help the kids… it’s just an all-around great feeling,” said Smith. “We’re part of something. We’re just a small, little part of a big puzzle trying to help these kids and making this charity a success.”