The Drumheller Fire Department has a new tool in its box to help fight brush fires.
The Town has outfitted one of its retiring trucks with a brush firefighting setup that is versatile, nimble and modern.
Fire Chief Darien Rosario explains they repurposed the chassis of its old rescue truck and made it a brush truck. The rescue truck has expired for use as a primary responder but was still a relatively low mileage truck. A brush truck does not have to adhere to the same standards.
They outfitted the truck with a new deck console and bumper. By doing this they saved about $110,000, and also have the equipment to transfer to a new chassis when the useful life of the current truck expires.
“When we upgrade this truck, all we are doing is buying the chassis and the labour to take these pieces off and put them on the next one,” said Rosario.
The budget for the new unit was budgeted at about $205,000.
“I know the town doesn’t have much money and aging infrastructure, so it is good to be able to build something like this and actually be affordable at the same time,” he said.
The new brush unit replaces the former truck which was a pickup-style truck with a firefighting skid.
“This truck doubles our capacity and abilities with water and all of that. It is still small, and nimble with four-wheel-drive and is able to go into different places. It carries more water, has a bigger pump, and has the ability to carry all of the bits and pieces as well,” said Rosario.
Earlier this year the department had a brush fire in the Riverside area, and called on mutual aid from Munson, with its brush fire truck to battle the blaze.
The new equipment also has foaming capabilities which helps with firefighting efficacy by breaking the surface tension of water. They also equipped the truck with new firefighting equipment including rapid deployment bags to quickly respond.
“I am not one to buy a truck and then look at all the empty compartments on it. If we are going to have a truck, we are going to have it properly stocked, and this is the most wildland equipment the town has ever had,” said Rosario.
