Four very brave, and very frozen Airdrie firefighters came down from their temporary rooftop home at the Toad 'n Turtle Pubhouse and Grill in Airdrie ending 72 hours in very winter-like conditions and ending their most successful campout yet.  

Airdrie firefighters Martin Medynski, Travis Smutt, Andrew MacPherson and Tyler Graham turned into firefighter-sicles when they went to the roof on Thursday and spent 72 hours enduring over 15 cms of snow and frigid conditions all to raise money for Muscular Dystrophy.

Medynski says the saw real winter this year.  "It was pretty cold.  Pretty cold but we had lots of people come by, visit us, make donations so it went by pretty quick.  Yeah, we saw the best of winter for sure.  The wind and the snow, I don't know what the total amount that fell was but it was enough to make our tents collapse at night and make us shovel in the morning."

Medynski says all of their tents collapsed a few times under the weight of the snow.

Enduring three days of wintery weather was well worth it as the fundraising total surpassed previous years.  "Our best one yet," enthuses Medynski.  "This is the fifth year that Airdrie fire has done this.  Last year we were able to raise $17,000.  We don't have a final count yet but we know we topped that with donations from citizens and then the silent auction and also the online donations that we got."

The firefighters say they expect the total to top the $20,000 mark.  

Medynski says now that the campout is over he has definite plans, and not one of them involves ice.  "Once I get off, I'm going to go home, see the wife and the kids, and take a very long shower.  That is my plan."

And for those of you who may be wondering, when the four firefighters emerged from their tents this morning, they did not see their shadows.  "No," says Medynski, "No shadows.  Spring's coming."

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