New fire engine arrives at Kootenay Boundary Fire Rescue
By RDKB
The Regional District of Kootenay Boundary has a new fire engine, again.
“When we lost our last new engine in the summer of 2018 to an acid spill on Highway 22, we received a fair payout from ICBC. We knew the only upside to that unfortunate event was that we had an opportunity to tweak some aspects of this new engine,” said Dan Derby, Regional Fire Chief for Kootenay Boundary Regional Fire Rescue (KBRFR).
“We respond to fires and other emergencies across the service area from the Trail station and this truck is the workhorse of our fleet. The new engine meets the needs of the service and increases safety for our fire fighters, which is a major improvement.”
The HUB fire engine holds 800 imperial gallons of water and is rated to pump 1500 gallons per minute. A new safety feature is a recessed hose bed on top of the truck that includes a walkway and safe handholds for fire fighters when they are loading hose or moving equipment. The previous engine required fire fighters to climb directly on top of the hose area and anchor themselves for safety.
The truck also includes mobile Computer-aided Dispatch (CAD). This is a direct communications link from the truck to 911 dispatchers in Kelowna. When the engine is in operation, dispatch can send updates to a screen in the truck so crews can communicate with dispatch through the CAD system and by voice through radio channels. The CAD also allows fire fighters to access numerous maps showing hazards and other important information related to the emergency site or access routes.
“I am pleased to see the new engine here and already in use by Kootenay Boundary Regional Fire Rescue because this important piece of equipment allows our highly trained fire fighters to do their job to the best of their abilities. The new truck supports the level of professional, timely emergency services our communities need and expect,” said Ali Grieve, Chair of the East End Services Committee.
KBRFR Facts
- Kootenay Boundary Regional Fire Rescue Service (KBRFR) is a regional fire service with six fire halls: Station 371 Rossland, Station 372 Warfield, Station 373 Genelle, Station 374 Trail, Station 375 Montrose & Station 376 Fruitvale.
- The six stations provide overlapping coverage for a large fire protection area, protecting about 20,000 residents.
- In 2018, KBRFR responded to 1548 calls averaging a call for service once every five hours within the communities they protect.
