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VIDEO: Pumpkins go splat at Vernon fire department

Vernon Fire Rescue Services held its first pumpkin drop event Saturday

Residents looking to get rid of their jack-o-lanterns after Halloween had a fun way of doing so.

Vernon Fire Rescue Services held its first-ever pumpkin drop event at the fire hall Saturday, Nov. 5, where members of the public were invited to bring their pumpkins up to the top of the fire station’s hose tower and hurl the gourds four storeys down to a target on the ground below.

“Basically we’re just asking folks to come down and give a donation if they’re able to go up in the hose tower and drop the pumpkin from up there, it’s about three or four storeys up, and watch it go splat,” said firefighter Chris Ovington. “The kids like it.”

Funds raised at the event will go to the firefighters’ charitable society before making their way to local non-profit groups.

“We want the money to stay local in Vernon. Not 100 per cent sure but maybe Kids Sport or hospice, those are common charities that we donate to from the charitable society,” Ovington said.

Ovington said the firefighters are hoping to make the pumpkin drop an annual event.

A number of kids climbed the hose tower to send their pumpkins off the ledge, with a crowd erupting in cheers each time the pumpkins exploded on the ground. The firefighters also extended their ladder truck to drop a pumpkin from an even taller height.

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Brendan Shykora
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Brendan Shykora

About the Author: Brendan Shykora

I started as a carrier at the age of 8. In 2019 graduated from the Master of Journalism program at Carleton University.
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