Fire department adds to childrenSA国际影视传媒檚 fun at community events

The children lining up, cheering and chanting in wait of a ribbon cutting to open a new fire station bouncy castle resembled something of the unbridled exuberance of a Black Friday sale.

They could barely be kept back, and once the ribbon was cut, they rushed the bouncy castle before adults quickly made them form a queue, lest the stampede get out of control.

The Inuvik Fire Department, through its volunteer firefighters association, purchased the bouncy castle and debuted it at the annual childrenSA国际影视传媒檚 party Sunday, May 7.

Helga Sawkins, dispatcher with the department and social director for the association, had been working on getting the bouncy castle for two years.

SA国际影视传媒�I said, you know what, this is what we need for the community,SA国际影视传媒� said Sawkins, taking a momentary break from organizing the lines of children. SA国际影视传媒淭he kids are going to love it.SA国际影视传媒�

Hudson Gillis, five, certainly seemed to.

He said the slide was his favourite part, SA国际影视传媒渂ecause I always fell down.SA国际影视传媒�

With all costs involved, including transportation, the bouncy castle cost the firefighters association about $5,800.

SA国际影视传媒�When it came in, I didnSA国际影视传媒檛 realize it was so big,SA国际影视传媒� said Sawkins.

Asked if she was happy with its reception, Sawkins said, SA国际影视传媒淟ook at our lineups SA国际影视传媒� it speaks for itself!SA国际影视传媒�

Jonathon Michel, platoon chief with the department and vice-president of the association, said the idea was inspired by the joy children get from riding in real firetrucks.

SA国际影视传媒�You canSA国际影视传媒檛 put a price on excitement like that amongst young kids,SA国际影视传媒� he said. SA国际影视传媒淭heySA国际影视传媒檙e still excited about stuff do do with firetrucks, and this is just an extension of that.SA国际影视传媒�

Michel said the townSA国际影视传媒檚 firefighters were equally excited by the castle.

SA国际影视传媒�If you were to be at our training night on Wednesday when we opened it up to make sure it was all in good order, there was the same level of excitement with our firefighters,SA国际影视传媒� he said, showing cell phone photos of firefighters testing it out.

The bouncy castle is intended for use at community events throughout the year, such as the upcoming Canada Day.