Revelstoke fire department proposes buying new pumper truck

The Revelstoke fire department is in need of a new pumper truck with their current machine already ten years past the recommended replacement timeframe of 20 years.

They are currently using a 1986 International Superior in their fleet, which is 30 years of age. Under the NFPA’s (National Fire Protection Association) 1901 Standard for Automotive Apparatus, aging apparatus is a risk to firefighters, says a new report from the department.

Revelstoke’s fire chief Rob Girard has prepared and submitted a business case to council regarding the buying options. He’s recommended purchasing a new truck saying it will benefit the city with more years of use and reduced insurance premiums.

The report focuses on a special rating that fire insurance underwriters give to a city’s fire department, arguing that a better rating means cheaper fire insurance rates for Revelstoke residents, which has the effect of offsetting the cost of buying new equipment like the pumper truck.

The new truck will cost about $470,000 and has been catered for in the city’s 2015–2019 budget. It will rely on a loan from the Municipal Finance Authority, paid back over five years at $94,000 per year.

Councillors will consider at the May 26 meeting whether to authorize the fire chief to go ahead and issue an invitation to tender on the purchase of a fire pumper truck or rather defer the purchase.

If approved, the new truck is anticipated to be delivered in 2017.

For more, read the report on the new pumper truck by following this link.