It was the perfect week to show support to their local fire department during Fire Prevention Week last week.

Last Friday the Oak Lake Sifton Fire Department held a Bar-B-Que and car wash fundraiser at the Deleau General Store, receiving great response from the surrounding communities. 

General Store owner, Scott Phillips, is also a councillor for the RM of Sifton.  Phillips says along with the food and car wash, local fire department members were able to sell raffle tickets for some pretty grand prizes as well! 

Phillips shared the concern over whether the fire department will be able to hold their annual fishing derby on Oak Lake due to the low water levels.  This being their biggest annual fundraiser, the department felt now was the time to do a BBQ /car wash fundraiser while the weather still held.

“With the low levels on Oak Lake and COVID, you never know what’s going to happen so we thought during Fire Prevention Week we’d have a BBQ and car wash, and introduce the fire department and some of the new members in the area and honor them for all the hard work and dedication throughout the year.”

Money raised will go towards upgrading their department’s equipment.  “We’ve got a new bush truck coming and it’s paid for,” he shares. “But there’s always something that’s unforeseen show up.  Our guys are really good with the budget and really good at making sure finances are in place before doing anything.” 

“They’ve got full support from the council as they’ve got a very big area to cover, plus the beach and the Trans-Canada Highway,” adds Phillips.  “There’s a lot on their plate when the phone rings.”

The low lake levels are concerning for the community, and this week’s rain won’t be enough to make up for the lack over the past year.  With little moisture throughout the past summer and during the winter before that, Phillips shares how this might impact the winter kill this coming winter.

“Oak Lake is just extremely low and anyone who has anything to do with the lake is just forecasting a terrible winter kill.  We’re hoping that we’ll get a lot of moisture before freeze up, but it’s not looking promising.”

The annual fishing derby at Oak Lake is a favorite among ice-fishing anglers.  Phillips says this is the big event that raises a significant amount of funds for the fire department.

“That’s their big fundraiser.  They don’t do a whole lot of fundraising during the year because they can’t have a different raffle or draw every month.  It might go ahead but looking at the level of the lake it’s not looking positive.”

Phillips says the plans to hold the ice fishing derby will depend on rainfall and snowfall over the next 5-6 months.