Courtesy of the Beaverlodge Fire Rescue Team / Facebook

By Shaun Penner

Steve "Bubba" Rawlyk

Area fire departments hosting bottle drive in support of retired Beaverlodge fire chief

Apr 26, 2021 | 2:12 PM

Area fire departments are coming together to host a bottle drive in support of former Beaverlodge fire chief Steve “Bubba” Rawlyk this week, who has recently battled a series of medical issues and continues to receive care in hospital in Edmonton.

Beaverlodge Firefighter Kish Wickramasinghe, who is helping organize the drive, says it was just last Friday that they were approached by a Bezanson firefighter Jordan Storey, about putting together a bottle drive to support Rawlyk and his family.

“And he had offered for us to use his trailer for a bottle drive and had just asked if I could get something organized for him,” said Wickramasinghe. “Friday, within a couple of hours I got a hold of a couple of fire chiefs and asked if it would be okay for us to set up a trailer (at their stations) for a couple days at a time.”

After speaking with administration with the County of Grande Prairie Regional Fire Services and the Wembley Fire Department, the trailer will make its way around the region starting Monday.

The trailer has been set up at the Dunes Fire Station in the County of Grande Prairie (On Highway 668 south of the City of Grande Prairie) for April 26 and 27. It will then be stationed at the Wembley Fire Station from April 28-29, before being stationed at the Beaverlodge Fire Hall on April 30 and May 1.

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Wickramasinghe says they would be happy to place the trailer at other locations if other departments were wishing to collect donations.

“If there are other departments that are wanting to help out, we will definitely make arrangements to have that trailer brought over for them.”

Rawlyk, who retired in 2018 after 20 years with the Beaverlodge Fire Department, fell and injured his shoulder back in March, which required surgery.

Following the surgery, Rawlyk wound up with an infection which sent him back to the hospital.

It was during a third visit to the hospital, according to the fire department, where Rawlyk tested positive for COVID-19 and has since had to be taken to Edmonton for intensive care.

Wickramasinghe says they simply wanted to try to do something to help one of there own during a difficult time.

“The fire department brotherhood has really stepped up for Steve. He’s been a big part of the community for so long that everybody just wants to help and make sure he is doing okay.”

A GoFundMe has also been established for Rawlyk and his family for expenses related to his hospital stay in Edmonton, which has surpassed its fundraising goal in less than two days, reaching over $12,000 as of Monday evening.