The Armstrong/Spallumcheen ladder truck arriving at its new home, San Marcos, Guatemala (photo courtesy of the Township of Spallumcheen)

By Liam Verster

Firetruck Donation

North Okanagan firetruck arrives in Guatemala

Apr 19, 2025 | 6:00 AM

A firetruck that previously served in the North Okanagan has arrived at its new home in South America.

The Armstrong/Spallumcheen Fire Department retired a ladder truck that was too old to meet operational requirements for Canada, but still had life left in it.

Working with the disaster relief organization Amedica, the ladder truck was sent south to serve it its new home, San Marcos, Guatamala.

The donation of the fire truck was approved in May of 2023, and a plane carrying the vehicle touched down in South America on April 9, 2025. The following day it rolled into San Marcos, where it received a traditional baptism of hose streams and was blessed by the local priest.

“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,” Armstrong Mayor, Joe Cramer, said.

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“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,” Christine Fraser, Mayor of Spallumcheen, added.

The donation of the firetruck was spearheaded by Spallumcheen Councillor, Joe Van Tienhoven.