Firefest, This Year it was Epic

Firefest, the fundraiser for the Dwight Volunteer Fire Dept. takes place Sat. of the long August weekend, and this year it was bigger than ever. Dwight Beach is the biggest, sandiest, longest public beach in Lake of Bays. Thoroughly well used throughout the season, when the road shuts down for Firefest, it becomes a place of wonder.

The crowds start to come around five p.m., enjoying the music of the Northern Lights Steel Drum Orchestra. This group is a perennial favourite, with their bright light rhythms and wide mix of ages at the drums. They play tirelessly, with more energy than you would think anyone could supply! (You can hear a snip of their music here!)

This group is based in Sprucedale, and travels all over to perform. Ages of the performers ranges from 8 to 80, and they do a terrific job. If they're ever at a venue near you, be sure to go.

As dusk fell, the volunteers found themselves almost running out of food! This year, there was pulled pork on the menu, along with pizzas baked

right on site. Heinz was kept on the go with his portable pizza oven, and that too sold out. Hotdogs, sausages and hamburgers lasted until the crowd moved on to dessert -- sticky buns and candy floss!

There were rides on the O.P.P. police boat, as well as on the Lake of Bays Fireboat. We're darn proud of the group of volunteers who did all the fundraising to provide us with this boat. And yes, it has been used to help people in distress on the lake, or in regions that are more quickly reached by water. The firetrucks were also on hand, and we'd forgotten (until young Joey and his sister Mielina reminded us with their enthusiasm) just how exciting it is for youngsters to sit in a firetruck, and switch on the lights. The Fire Safety House was on site, teaching kids how to safely get out of a house on fire.

One of those volunteers who helped lead the charge for the Fireboat is Marie Poirier. She is always at Dwight Beach for the Firefest, but she is not as relaxed as the crowd of spectators. That's because her husband and son are both members of the Dwight Volunteer Firefighters, Station 20 based at Fox Point and Port Cunnington Road. And it's Matt, her son, who is one of the volunteers out there on the barge setting off these fireworks. Marie really doesn't exhale until the grand finale, when she knows everyone is safe and sound.

Now, this is no backyard fireworks display. You can't get these puppies at the corner store. These rockets are huge. It takes over three weeks to set up the barge and co-ordinate the show. Many thanks go to the very generous sponsors who provide the fireworks, enabling the Firemen to put on a Community Event of this scope. Those of us who live here, and those of us just passing through who get to enjoy this show, really cannot thank you enough. It is a tremendous amount of work -- and you can see in the photo that catches one of the firemen out on the barge, how big and powerful these explosive charges really are!

So here's a cheer for our Volunteer Firefighters, and for the sponsors who help put on this great event, and for all of those behind the scenes who work the gate, provide the food, clean up the next day and pull together as a community to make this such a special day.

And here's a cheer for the families of the Firefighters, who -- while they may enjoy the show -- never really relax while their guys are on the line.