The Jasper Fire Department received a shiny new fire truck, March 29.
Known as a pumper-tanker, the new truck can hold 1,500 gallons of water鈥攖riple the capacity of the old truck.
It鈥檚 the first time the department has received a new truck since 2003鈥攖he year the municipality built the Emergency Services Building and purchased three fire trucks.
The new truck cost $575,000 and is fully loaded with a rear dump valve to rapidly offload thousands of gallons of water into a temporary reservoir to help firefighters douse flames when a fire hydrant is not available. There are also two water turrets on the front and the top of the truck.
According to Fire Chief Greg Van Tighem, the new truck can accommodate six firefighters and can 鈥減ump and roll鈥� allowing the truck to continue to move as it fights a fire. In the past, firefighters had to disengage the truck鈥檚 transmission in order to pump water.
With the new feature, the fire department will be able to quickly spray foam on a row of houses that may be threatened by an approaching wildfire.聽
Van Tighem also said the cab of the new truck is designed to protect firefighters in the event of a rollover.
The new truck was a joint purchase between the municipality and Improvement District 12, an area that is the responsibility of the province.
It replaces the department鈥檚 old pumper truck that was built in 1991. That truck will be sold to the Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge, to bolster the hotel鈥檚 volunteer fire department. According to Van Tighem, industry standards suggest fire trucks should be replaced after 20 years of service.
Paul Clarke [email protected]
