The Hay River Fire Department has a brand new pumper truck at its disposal.
The new vehicle, which was built by Fort Garry Fire Trucks in Winnipeg, features the latest technology and safety equipment according to Fire Chief Ross Potter.
The truck arrived in Hay River on Dec. 12 and is fully functional, though Potter says it hasn’t seen any real action yet.
When it does start responding to fires, the fire chief says it should make life easier for the town’s firefighters.
“It’s a slightly better truck than the first-line pumper we’re using right now,” said Potter. “We are going to be able to have a first and second attack team on the first arriving pump.”
Potter says the new truck, which came at a cost of $438,000, comes equipped with a compressed air foam system to put out fires faster than regular foam systems.
The system also makes hoses lighter for crews to carry around. Additional safety features include seatbelt interlocks, rollover protection and door alarms.
Potter says the new truck replaces a pumper truck that was built in 1982 and while it may have been well-maintained, it no longer met National Fire Prevention Association standards.
