The Huntsville/Lake of Bays Fire Department will be sending its members to Alabama to pick up a fire pumper truck for its Baysville station.
War in Ukraine, difficulty receiving shipping containers from overseas, additional US tariffs, and increased fuel delivery costs, as well as problems sourcing materials, have caused lengthy delays and a significant increase in the cost of manufacturing new fire pumper trucks.
For example, in May 2021 a tender was awarded for $393,287 plus HST to replace a fire pumper truck at the Port Cunnington Fire Station in Dwight. The delivery date was approximately six months, noted Huntsville/Lake of Bays fire chief Gary Monahan in a report to Lake of Bays council on June 7.
This year, the Baysville Fire Station needs its 1999 pumper replaced. Lake of Bays council approved $420,000 for the replacement but according to Monahan’s report, “Very recent research has confirmed that a new tanker apparatus will cost at least $500,000 and requires a minimum of two years to build.”
He said the increase in cost and delivery time has forced the fire department to explore other options. Further research and discussions with other municipalities led them to Brindlee Mountain Fire Apparatus in Union Grove, Alabama.
“A majority of US fire departments receive grants and funding through the US Fire Administration and replace their apparatus with substantial years and mileage left on them,” stated Monahan in his report to council.
He said staff identified equipment at Brindlee Mountain that would fill their needs for the next seven to eight years and assist the Township with much-needed time to develop and implement a long-term truck replacement strategy.
Councillors congratulated the department for thinking “outside the box” but wanted to know how they would get the truck back to Lake of Bays from Alabama.
“If we get approval to negotiate with Brindlee Mountain, they will actually fly our members down to Alabama and send them back up. They’ll pay for all that expense to get them to the border and we’ve already researched at the border crossing to get the apparatus across…” he said, adding that they’d use a broker to get the truck across the border.
In the end, council approved single-sourcing the truck from the Alabama company at a cost not to exceed $400,000.
“I’ve heard from a couple of our men that serve who thought that this was a great idea as well. Sounds very innovative, a great way to get around our situation, and apparently, it’s a wonderful truck that is in great shape,” added Lake of Bays Mayor Terry Glover.
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