The Dashwood Volunteer Fire Department has a new fire engine that will enhance firefighting capabilities.
The Spartan Metrostar fire engine, a single-drive axle frontline fire truck, was purchased by the Regional District of Nanaimo (RDN) to replace the current 2001 Freightliner FL80 fire engine, which is at the end of its life cycle.
The approximately $905,000 fire engine, recently delivered to the fire department, represents an investment in community safety and is funded primarily by reserves and supplemented by short-term borrowing.
“Our new fire engine has been designed to better suit the needs of our community and to help our firefighters deploy equipment quicker," said fire chief Nick Acciavatti. "The rear-mount pump and forward attack line deployment, which will ultimately speed up getting water on a fire, is a first for our department. Our fire department has been planning this truck for the past three years, and we are looking forward to getting it into service this summer for our community.”
The fire truck is specially designed to meet the unique challenges of rural firefighting in the community. The truck provides the firefighters with a purpose-designed layout that enables them to better respond to a wide variety of emergency and non-emergency incidents in the community.
The new fire engine will serve the Dashwood and Meadowood communities and the neighbouring mutual-aid communities for the next 20 to 25 years. With input from the DVFD and RDN Fire Services, Fort Garry Fire Trucks designed and built the fire engine with these unique specifications:
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The rear-mount pump allows for setup on narrow roads and requires only one lane while pumping, allowing other vehicles to pass the scene when necessary.
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For areas that are not serviced by hydrants, the rear-mount design allows the porta-tank to be placed behind the truck, reducing the length of suction hose and improving access to alternate water supplies.
In addition, the new fire engine will be able to seat five firefighters, carries 800 gallons of water, has a 1,500-gallon-per-minute pump, and has storage for 10-, 14-, 24-, and 35-foot ladders.
