Engine 23 opens at the Fish Creek Library in Calgary

A library in southeast Calgary has a decommissioned fire truck for kids to play with.

Engine 23 officially opened Monday at the Fish Creek Library on Bonaventure Drive SE.

The truck helped crews fight fires for 18 years before being donated to the Calgary Public Library.

It was located in the old Central Library downtown, but moved into storage in 2018 as the site closed and the library moved to its new location in the East Village.

Calgary Public Library officials say they were looking for the right opportunity to return the fire truck.

Engine 23 was moved to the Fish Creek Library last spring.

Opened in 1985, Fish Creek is the Calgary Public Library's largest location and is easily identified by its glass roof and unique architecture that resembles the Rocky Mountains.

To get Engine 23 inside the library, a truck weighing more than 20 tons was lifted by a crane and slid into a small opening between the peaks of the glass ceiling. It is now located on the second floor.

The crane is used to operate Engine 23 to the Fish Creek Library in Calgary. (Calgary Public Library) Calgary Public Library CEO Sarah Meiller says Engine 23 helps foster creativity and innovation.

Kids can sit in the driver's seat, listen to pre-recorded emergency calls and explore the actual switches and knobs in the rear cab, or climb on top of the truck to find a neighborhood map to practice navigation skills.

Additionally, the accessible cabin provides an authentic experience for children and parents with mobility challenges.

Calgary Fire Chief Steve Dongworth said kids can use Engine 23 to play together, learn life-saving fire safety tips and create their own adventures.

“Not only do we build reading and literacy skills for life, we give kids a fun and engaging way to learn about everything from basic fire safety to navigation skills and even future careers,” Dongworth said in a press release. .

The installation of the fire truck was made possible through the Calgary Public Library Foundation.

For more information on Engine 23 and its grand opening, you can visit the Calgary Public Library website.