Steve Howley, of the Fire Brigades Union (FBU), says they have suffered from problems including the failure of brakes and on-board water pumps, and the vehicles have also snaked across the road.

He said the latest incident happened last Wednesday, when a TRV broke down while en route to an emergency incident in Harrogate.

Comox has maintained a fleet of three fire engines for over 50 years and replaces each engine when it is about 20-years old. The replacement of these fire engines are scheduled well in advance.

By doing so Comox is able to maintain a very good insurance rating for their community and maintain a modern fleet of equipment for their firefighters to use.

With this purchase Union Bay fire department will be increasing its pumping capacity and improving safety for its firefighters.

"His fingerprint on the department is all over the place," Tom O'Hara said, Austintown firefighter.

O'Hara says he and Fritz joined the department at the same time back in 1992. 

"Everything we do at the fire station, he had a hand in doing," O'Hara said.

"You couldn't ask for a more dedicated guy," John McHenry said. "There wasn't anything in this department that he didn't know or know how to do or how to fix."