Fire truck parking inside library is a handmade gift from Surrey Fire Department to encourage literacy and fire safety education

By Karin Mark

It's a kid magnet, with its glossy red paint, flashing lights, rooftop ladder and rows of neatly laid hose. As soon as children spot the fire truck, they're clamoring to climb aboard, sit in the cab and stand on the rear step.

And take a book from its shelves, of course.

The most popular bookshelf at Semiahmoo Library in Surrey, B.C. is a realistic fire truck replica that was custom-built and donated by the Surrey Fire Department.

Measuring 7.5 feet high, 11.5 feet long and 4.5 feet wide, the one-of-a-kind project was meticulously crafted out of wood and then painted to a high sheen.

"I think it's going to be a real focal point for us," said Beth Barlow, chief librarian for the Surrey Public Library system. "We're hoping it will really enhance kids learning about fire safety."

The truck was a housewarming present from the fire department to the library, which opened in September 2003 on what used to be the parking lot for one of Surrey's fire halls. The other part of the gift had been a $250 donation to buy fire safety books when the library first opened.

"It was going to be our legacy, our gift to Semiahmoo Library," said Surrey Assistant Fire Chief Bud Livesey, the project coordinator. "The whole idea was to promote fire safety and promote reading. We just wanted kids to grab a book - a fire safety book - and read it."