Ponoka Storm soccer teams were treated to a cool down this week by the Ponoka County Fire Services East District fire department.
The truck rolled up after the U9 teams’ games finished up on Monday, June 28, at the Ponoka Secondary Campus soccer field. A firefighter sprayed the players with a blast of refreshing water from a hose while standing on top of the truck.
A few of the Ponoka Minor Soccer Association (PMSA) volunteers have ties with the fire department, including one of the U9 coaches who is a volunteer firefighter.
PMSA president Rob McArthur believes they came out on a request. This isn’t the first time they’ve helped out in a hot situation, either.
Several years ago they came out to Lucas and watered the field for an hour, says McArthur.
“As long as they don’t have a call or can quickly leave if they receive a call, they seem pretty happy to help out,” he said.
Some of the PMSA games were cancelled later in the week due to air quality advisories but are expected to be back on the pitch by Saturday morning.
Other first responders and community organizations also pitched in during the heat wave to try to help residents stay cool.
Ponoka Victim Services along with Ponoka RCMP and Maskwacis RCMP members handed out freezies at the splash park and Ponoka Family and Community Support Services were giving away free ice cream treats and cold bottles of water Wednesday, June 30.
