BARRHEAD - The Barrhead Regional Fire Services is one step closer to replacing one of its aging fire trucks.
On Sept. 17, County of Barrhead councillors unanimously approved a recommendation from the fire services committee to put down the municipality's half of a $203,180 deposit to purchase a 2025 Rosenbauer commercial crew cab pumper from Rocky Mountain Phoenix.
Town of Barrhead councillors approved their half of the recommendation on Sept. 10.
The fire services committee is a joint Barrhead municipality body consisting of two councillors from the town and county and two public members. The county's representatives are deputy reeve Marvin Schatz and Coun. Paul Properzi.
The total purchase price of the unit is $812,720, and it will eventually replace Engine 33, although not necessarily immediately upon its arrival.
Funding for the unit will come from the fire equipment capital reserve.
County manager Debbie Oyarzun stated that the municipality owns Engine 33, a 2006 Rosenbauer Pumper, making it available for use by the fire department.
She added that the BRFS planned to retire the unit in 2025, and the county included the estimated $800,000 replacement cost in its multi-year capital plan, reiterating the cost of the unit under the fire services agreement it has with the town is to be split equally between the Barrhead municipalities.
Oyarzun said the BRFS obtained three quotes from specialized fire truck builders, the highest of which was the engine from Rocky Mountain Phoenix, with the lowest being from Commercial Emergency Equipment at $765,000 and Fort Gary Fire Truck at $780,000.
However, she said the two lower bidders have asterisks attached to their bids.
"They provided costs, but they were not confirmed due to changes to be [Environmental Protection Act] compliant and supply chain uncertainties; the companies would only be able to finalize the price at the time of delivery," Oyarzun said, adding the estimated time to build them was considerably longer as well.
Commercial Emergency Equipment estimated 26 months until completion, while Fort Gary Fire Truck was slightly quicker at 20 months, compared to six months for Rocky Mountain Phoenix.
It should also be noted that all three bids do not include the cost of outfitting the truck.
BRFS and the fire services committee also prefer Rocky Mountain Phoenix for operational reasons.
"The pump is at the back of the truck versus the middle of the truck, so it is safer for the firefighters and more deployable [for provincial wildfire equipment requests]," Molzahn interjected.
Reeve Doug Drozd agreed; adding the Rocky Mountain Phoenix truck by having the pump at the back makes it an "aggressive wildfire" fighting tool, as does its all-wheel drive capability.
He also added that the new unit could bring in more revenue for the department.
Drozd said when the province requisitions equipment, they pay BRFS a set rate for its use.
"The old unit, they got something like $400 an hour. This one will be $600 an hour, which all goes into a reserve to replace this type of equipment," he said.
Coun. Walter Preugschas asked about the plans for Engine 33 once the new unit arrived and how much it is potentially worth on the open market.
Molzahn said they don't have an estimate of its sale value.
Drozd interjected the BRFS is also considering keeping Engine 33 in its deployable ranks longer, even after the new unit arrives.
"It is old, but it's not at the end of its useable life, so [the BRFS] may decide to keep it in their ranks as a potential backup," he said.
Barry Kerton, TownandCountryToday.com
