“This truck allows five or six of us to respond to a motor vehicle accident immediately, instead of having to wait for others to arrive, because it seats six,” says Redvers Fire & Rescue Chief Brad Hutton. “The truck also has a self-contained breathing apparatus, hydraulic rescue equipment - including the jaws of life - a ladder that can reach three storeys, a 500-gallon pumper capacity, axes, air chisels and more.”

“It's a remarkable gift,” says firefighter Brodie McColl. “And it allows six firefighters to attend to a scene with this single unit, which is equipped with everything we'd need to respond to an emergency.”

The Engine Operator Training takes place every year; the goal is to train firefighters with 3-5 years of experience in maintenance and use of a fire engine. The firefighters say Camp Williams is a perfect location because the terrain is almost identical to what they will face during the fire season

The new pumper-tanker came with new hose, equipment and tools. The only thing from the old truck that will be on the new one is the self-contained breathing apparatus.

 

After the firefighters and their families pushed the truck into its new home at the Montcalm Township fire station, they took time to ooh and ahh over the new apparatus.

 

“I haven’t got to look through all of it and see all the bells and whistles, but from what I’ve seen so far, it’s going to be a great apparatus,” Brygal said after stepping off the truck.

 

The old pumper-tanker was built in 1985, and Dickinson hopes the new truck will serve the department just as long, if not longer.

The city council voted Thursday night to put the truck back in service to save the city $60,000 in the budget lawmakers are working on for next year.

Most of that $60,000 would have paid to move the tools on the heavy rescue truck to another vehicle.

As city officials look for savings in the 2018-2019 budget, there was debate between some council members and the fire department's management over overtime costs.

This replaces aging, hard-used vehicles in the fleet. They are built to allow several firefighters to live out of them for two weeks, so that if mutual aid from elsewhere in the state is required the crews can assist.

The additions come as firefighters are busy training and going out to help homeowners prepare their properties to mitigate against wildfire.