The Nanoose Volunteer Fire Department has a new addition to its firefighting arsenal.
The Regional District of Nanaimo announced the arrival of a new fire engine, the Fort Garry Spartan MetroStar, a single-drive axle frontline fire truck that replaces the 1999 International, 316 fire engine which is at the end of its life cycle.
The new fire engine represents a substantial investment in community safety and protection according to a release from the RDN. The approximate cost of $1.1 million is funded by $661,450 in Growing Community Funds and $438,550 from reserves.
The truck is specially designed to meet the unique challenges of rural firefighting in the community. It provides the firefighters with a purpose-designed layout, enabling them to better respond to a variety of emergency and non-emergency incidents in the community.
“Our new fire engine has been designed to support our community’s fire protection and emergency response needs," said Leo Groenewegen, NVFD fire chief. "With the new equipment comes decades of dedicated and reliable service to our residents and mutual aid partners in the Oceanside area. It is a welcome and much-needed addition to our fleet.”
The fire engine will serve Nanoose Bay and the neighbouring mutual-aid communities for the next 20 to 25 years. With input from the NVFD and RDN Fire Services, Fort Garry Fire Trucks designed and built the fire engine with these specifications:
- 380 horsepower Cummins L9 Engine
- An 800-gallon water tank
- A 1,500-gallon-per-minute pump
- A 5” rear pump intake
- A 25-gallon automatic foam system
- Seating for six firefighters
- Storage for 10’, 14’, 24’ and 35’ ladders
“I’m delighted to see the arrival of this important addition to Nanoose Bay Volunteer Fire Department’s firefighting resources," said Bob Rogers, director, Electoral Area E (Nanoose Bay). "It will greatly assist the dedicated firefighters who serve our community in fire and emergency response.”
