In fact, one of those pieces of equipment is going to take up so much space that Steady Brook-Little Rapids Regional Fire Service fire chief Jamie Robertson said it wouldn’t have fit in the old hall.
That piece of equipment is a new pumper truck.
Municipal Affairs and Environment Minister Eddie Joyce announced funding for the truck at the town’s community hall on Friday morning.
The province is putting in approximately $248,000 towards the cost of the $342,000 truck, with the Town of Steady Brook covering the rest.
“With the addition of this new pumper we’ll have something that is much more reliable and also larger capacity to better service our communities,” said Robertson after the formal announcement.
He said the present truck stationed in Steady Brook is a 1988 pumper that’s been experiencing some mechanical issues of late.
As the number of calls — fire and highway accidents — the department responds to between Steady Brook, Humber Village and Little Rapids increases, having reliable equipment is becoming more and more important.
The new truck will have a 1,000-gallon water tank, double that of the current truck, a larger pump, will be equipped with foam and will have double the seating capacity to transport firefighters.
Robertson said the department may make some slight modifications to the truck’s specs to make it suit its needs.
The truck hasn’t gone to tender yet, but Robertson expects it will take 12-14 months before it arrives. The fire hall should be completed by late November, early December.
While the 1988 pumper is no longer useful for the Steady Brook-Little Rapids Regional Fire Service, Robertson said it could find a home in another community.
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The Steady Brook-Little Rapids Regional Fire Service has 19 active volunteer firefighters
Its current fleet includes:
A 1988 pumper and support vehicle, located in Steady Brook
A 1989 pumper and support vehicle, located in Little Rapids