A couple of Port Moody’s retiring fire trucks could get a second lease on life with volunteer departments in smaller communities.
Port Moody Fire Rescue chief Darcy O’Riordan says the department has received requests from the Loon Lake volunteer fire department for its 1999 American LaFrance fire engine that was just retired late last year and the volunteer fire department in Lytton Village has requested the city’s 1997 Freightliner rescue truck that will soon be replaced by a new unit.
O’Riordan said such requests aren’t unusual and the city has previously donated surplus fire equipment, including a 1995 Spartan pumper truck that was sent to the volunteer fire service in Seton Valley for one dollar to help battle wildfires.
O’Riordan said while the old trucks could be sent to auction, the return they would realize would be minimal due to evolving certification and performance standards.
He said at best the pumper truck might be worth $4-6,000 while the rescue truck could fetch up to $11,500.
In a letter to Port Moody council, Franko Borri of the Loon Lake fire department said his small community near Ashcroft and Cache Creek would benefit tremendously from the old pumper truck as its 15-20 volunteer firefighters have to service properties strung along a single, 32 km road.
“The linear distribution creates unique challenges with fire and emergency responses, particularly with only one engine responding,” said Borri, adding the pumper will also allow his department to provide mutual aid to neighbouring communities and respond to multiple incidents at the same time.
“Receiving this engine with have an enormous positive impact and financial savings to our small community.”
Kyle Parker of Lytton Fire Rescue said his department is currently without a working rescue truck because of mechanical problems so it’s had to convert its second engine into a make-shift rescue vehicle.
“As this apparatus was not designed with rescue capabilities in mind, we have been forced to reduce the amount of auto extrication equipment we can carry.”
Parker added that can be especially critical because the majority of calls are along a long stretch of Trans-Canada Highway 1.
Council’s finance committee will consider the requests at its meeting on Tuesday, Jan. 16.
