BOYLE - Nearly two-and-a-half years after being approved by both Athabasca County and Village of Boyle councils, the Boyle Fire Department’s new pumper truck finished the last leg of its journey from Missouri last week, arriving at the fire hall last Thursday.
It was a relatively low-key event Dec. 3, with several firefighters coming by for a quick rundown of some of the new features of the Rosenbauer TME pumper truck with aluminum body and Freightliner M2 106 chassis from Rocky Mountain Phoenix.
The new truck is a joint-venture between the two municipalities with the county covering 80 per cent, and the village the other 20 per cent, of the $575,000 price tag. It was custom-built to meet the needs of firefighters whether they are working in a rural or urban setting.
A grant from the Alberta government for $54,000; a $15,000 grant from Enbridge; and another from Pembina Pipelines for $7,000 were also a considerable help.
“They built it for us, so it’s kind of a one-of-a-kind,” said Boyle fire chief Darren Hill.
Athabasca County Fire Services regional chief Sheldon Schoepp added the distinction between rural and urban firefighting is not only a consideration for heights, but also for water supply. In an urban environment, hydrants are readily available in most cases, but in a rural setting that is not the case.
“When you’re in a subdivision or in the country, you only have a static water source, so you’re depending on drop tanks or tanker shuttle service,” he said.
The top-mount deck gun is a must to deliver a large quantity of water to a specific area from a distance during structure fires, while the two 150-foot booster reels with one-inch hose are ideal for grass fires and are attached to the high-pressure foam system which is a great help in fighting vehicle fires, for instance, said Hill.
A top-mount enclosed (TME) pump panel is also included behind the cab, which provides a 360-degree view for the firefighter operating the pump. The pump panel on the old truck was on one side, and a full view of the scene wasn’t always available.
Schoepp added the truck also has a monitor on the front bumper, which acts as another source of water for firefighters. It is also possible to drive the truck at a slow pace while pumping water.
“It’s a fairly new option on most units,” he said.
For the last 11 years, the department has been using a 1983-model pumper that was built in California and made for California weather, which has been an issue at times during the winter, said Schoepp, adding that the new pumper is expected to have a life-span of more than 25 years, depending on wear and tear and preventative maintenance.
As great as it is to get a new truck, Hill said, he’s not in any rush to put it to work.
“We’ve got this great new truck, but you don’t want it to go out very often.”
