By Barbara Simpson @ The Sarnia Observer
The Sarnia Historical Society is seeking financial help to share the history of the Sarnia fire department with the public.
Local author Phil Egan detailed plans to write the first book on the department’s 175-year history during a pitch for funding at Wednesday’s Lambton County council meeting.
The historical society is seeking a $6,000 grant from the county towards the estimated $28,000 cost to publish the book. Corporate fundraising efforts have drummed up $12,000 for the project so far.
The 200-page book, with a working title of Walking Through Fire: The History of Sarnia’s Bravest, will feature a collection of stories and photographs of the department whose roots date back to the 1840s.
“A history like this has never been written,” said Egan, who is also secretary and treasurer of the Sarnia Historical Society.
Egan was motivated to take on the project because in 1985 his sister Frances died in a house fire. In the aftermath, his family organized a fire alarm fundraising drive and spurred the creation of a municipal smoke alarm bylaw.
About 1,000 copies of Walking Through Fire are expected to be printed. Copies are expected to be available to the public in September.
County council referred the funding request to its budget deliberations set for March 16.
