Firefighters in Whistler will soon have a new tool at their disposal.
On June 6, the Resort Municipality of Whistler’s (RMOW) mayor and council approved $1.17 million for the Whistler Fire and Rescue Service (WFRS) to acquire a new fire rescue pumper truck.
The WFRS’ current pumper truck is 26 years old, and is recommended for retirement.
The new pumper truck will serve as a first-response unit, and will be the first fire truck out of the hall to respond to emergencies once it arrives.
The contract to build the new truck went to Manitoba-based Fort Garry Fire Trucks Ltd., as its lower bid and sustainability commitments best fit the municipality's objectives.
According to RMOW central services supervisor Paul Klein, finding a single vehicle vendor proved challenging, as most companies that create specialty emergency equipment like fire trucks have moved to larger fleet replacement contracts for multiple vehicles.
“I've come across a number of different people in my position [who have said that the] challenge is getting anyone to the table on a single-vehicle purchase. A lot of these companies are now looking for multiple-vehicle purchases,” Klein said. “So we're very fortunate to end up with three quality truck builders coming to the table and make submissions to our RFP.”
At $1.17 million (taxes not included), the single fire truck is a significant line item in the RMOW’s vehicle-replacement budget, accounting for about 30 per cent of the budget for the next two years.
Klein noted that it is the first of many equipment purchases that will be required over the next five years, as the municipality looks to replace aging vehicles in its fleet.
“As we look forward, we're looking for a total of three to five truck purchases over the next five years. That's another reason this one is crucial to act on now,” Klein said.
“The further we push this first purchase up, the further [it] approaches the next apparatus purchases, and we're gonna get into a place where trucks are pushing 30 years old. And again, it's affecting [us] as well as obviously more importantly, the health and safety of our community and that fire protection.”
RMOW staff expect the new unit to arrive in spring 2024, and the old fire truck will head to public auction. Find more info at whistler.ca/fire.
