P.E.I.'s North River Fire Department is taking possession of a brand new pumper-tanker fire truck Friday, and it's paying cash. The fire department is avoiding an estimated $140,000 in interest charges thanks to the success of a Chase the Ace fundraiser that started in the fall of 2015 and ended with a million dollar jackpot almost a year later.
The new pumper-tanker replaces a 1987 model, which is being passed on to a department in North Dakota.
The new truck is custom-made, as most fire trucks are, said Smith. It is modelled on the 1987 truck, but with a bigger cab. The new truck will fit five instead of three, and have room for firefighters to put on their gear as they travel to a fire.