(paNOW Staff/ Glenn Hicks)

By Ronald Quaroni

Fire Support

City debuts fire truck

Feb 2, 2020 | 8:00 AM

Although it hasn’t gotten its final paint job yet, the Prince Albert Fire Department (PAFD) is excited about their latest piece of machinery.

Parked outside the arena during the mayor’s State of the City address earlier this week was a brand new fire truck. The fresh engine will replace an aging truck that had reached the end of it’s life expectancy.

Fire Chief Kris Olsen said the new ‘Quint Apparatus,’ truck comes with an aerial ladder feature which will better serve fire crews.

“When we show up as the first arriving unit we will now have an elevated/raised access to roofs for extinguishment and rescue as well as a light source,” Olsen told paNOW. “In the past we would show up with an engine, with the ladder company in the rear.”

The PAFD does own a large double-axle ladder truck, but according to Olsen the new smaller engine allows crews better access and manoeuverability when responding to calls.

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The truck is not quite ready to hit the streets though.

Olsen said a local shop will now start painting up the currently all-white truck with city specific markings. Firefighters will also need to go through orientation on the vehicle and it will need to be outfitted with the new gear.

While the cost of the engine rings in at just over $1 million, Olsen said having up to date equipment is well worth it.

“It’s essential. We can’t deal with a breakdown in the middle of rescue or a fire scene. Though the price tag may seem high, it’ll be in service for a very long time,” he said.

The new fire truck is expected to serve Prince Albert for 20-25 years.

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Ron.quaroni@jpbg.ca

Twitter: @RonaldQuaroni