A new $709.685 fire truck for Powell River Fire Rescue was unanimously approved by City of Powell River council at its regular meeting on Thursday, January 17.
Before giving the go ahead for the purchase, council had asked city staff for an explanation regarding the financial implications of deferring the purchase of a new pumper truck for five years.
The truck being replaced is 21 years old.
Fire Underwriters Survey, which insures the fire department’s vehicles, stipulates the maximum age of a fire truck may not exceed 25 years. At over 20 years of age, the truck must have additional inspections and be tested annually to ensure it can perform as intended and remain certified for use.
The city’s equipment replacement plan recommends a 20-year lifespan for fire apparatus.
City chief financial officer Adam Langenmaier recommended the purchase be done now rather than in five years.
“The cash is leaving the city's bank account either this year or in five years from now,” said Langenmaier. “That's where the analysis comes, the cold hard cash.”
Langenmaier said he calculated a 4.36 per cent cost increase per year based on the city’s most recent fire truck purchase made in 2013 for $550,000, and a comparison to Campbell River, which purchased a similar apparatus for $890,000 last year.
Langenmaier estimated the projected cost would be $841,7444 in 2023. Additional expenses with increased inspection when the vehicle exceeds 20 years of age are estimated to cost $2,500 annually, he added.
According to city mechanics supervisor Pat Kinahan, maintenance of the pumper truck to be replaced is getting more difficult and finding replacement parts is a major concern.
“We had to put a computer in it last year about this time and it has a Caterpillar engine in it,” said Kinahan. “It was probably the last computer that we could find to fit that engine. It was quite a challenge to get it fixed.”
Langemier’s report looked at the salvage value of the truck at 20 years and 25 years. He said a 25-year-old fire truck has no salvage value.
“Often these trucks will go to rural fire halls that are not required to meet the same standards as larger centres,” he added. “If the truck has some salvage value it can range from $0 to $50,000.”
Powell River Fire Rescue chief Terry Peters said he made contact with a firm in the United States that buys fire trucks, which could bring the city $50,000. According to Peters, the new pumper truck is expected to take approximately 11 months to be built.
