Vancouver Finally Gets New Fire Trucks ews Editor By Garth McLennan, oe EB; the first time in 11 years, the Vancouver Fire Department will be the recipient of a new set of fire trucks. The VFD has acquired 18 brand new, shiny red vehicles to help them combat the flames at a cost of $18 million. The new trucks, which were constructed in Nebraska and then completed in Abbotsford, are said to be much more environmentally friendly and efficient than their predecessors. The new trucks use a state- of-the-art foam spray system, which puts out fires more effectively, uses just 10 per cent of the water that was used by the previous trucks, and does far less damage to surrounding nature. “The beauty of it is, it puts fires out more quickly—it smothers everything. There will be less polluted water going into the sewer system,” said Captain Rob Jones-Cook. Older trucks traditionally extinguish fires through massive amounts of pressurized water, which, though effective at putting out fires, also waste a substantial volume of water and are capable of causing significant damage to nature and property through the impact of the water. Firefighter Doug Booth of the Vancouver force provided an up- close demonstration of the capability of the new foam spray system in front of the new fire trucks at a parking lot near Sunset Beach. The older trucks won’t be retired. They will be used less frequently and kept in reserve in case one of the newer vehicles goes down, which gives the fire department a wide variety at their disposable and will minimize response time to fires. GO PLACES FROM HERE WITHA $5,000 IRVING K. BARBER BC SCHOLARSHIP 150 scholarships of $5,000 awarded annually to 2*'-year BC students transferring to complete their degree APPLY BEFORE MARCH 31 Visit: www.bescholarship.ca or talk to your campus Financial Aid Office today THE IRVING K. BARBER British Columbia Scholarship Society IN PARTNERSHIP WITH VICTORIA FOUNDATION Investing in the skills and talents of British Columbia‘s students February 4, 2008 News Shorts By Garth McLennan, News Editor Local Man Charged with Murder Burnaby man Dylan Butler, 18, who attended New Westminster Secondary, has been charged with one count of second-degree murder and one count of attempted murder for the slaying of Filipino teenager Deward Ponte, 15. Ponte’s companion, 18, was also stabbed but is in stable condition. It has been alleged that the two groups of teens met and a fight ensued with which resulted in Ponte’s death. Police have said they have sufficient evidence to pursue charges against Butler after conducting a massive, 40-officer search of the murder scene’s surrounding area. SFU Receives Huge Donation Simon Fraser University is the recipient of a generous $4 million donation from noted philanthropist Djavad Mowafaghian, who is an Iranian-Canadian, and immigrated to Canada 21 years ago. The money will be devoted to the healthcare sector. $1.5 million will be supplied to research of infectious disease, while $2.5 million will be sent to research the health policies of children. The new lab has been built to combat the spread of disease in children. Mowafaghian has also given $6 million to B.C. Children’s Hospital in 2004, the largest donation in the hospital’s history. The Umbrella Defense A new form of self-protection has recently emerged, the art of defending oneself with— get this—an umbrella. Devon Boorman, a European martial arts champion, has begun conducting $45, four-hour courses that specialize in combating foes with an umbrella. “Umbrellas are something we've always thought synonymous with the rapier and we thought it was a really practical thing,” said Boorman, 27. The courses offered cover a range of self-defense techniques. Students are taught how to react when approached by an aggressor with a knife, what to do when grabbed or how to respond when someone is throwing punches. “None of the techniques here are deadly but you will certainly make someone feel uncomfortable. You can let someone know you can do something to protect yourself without seriously hurting them,” Boorman said. The school is located at the Academia Duello on Richards Street.