Two new fire engines will hit Nanaimo streets in the coming days, replacing two aging vehicles with the latest in technology and storage efficiencies. (Alex Rawnsley/NanaimoNewsNOW)

By Alex Rawnsley

LIGHTS AND SIRENS

VIDEO: New Fire Rescue trucks to provide response and safety upgrades amid increasing call-outs

Mar 11, 2022 | 1:11 PM

NANAIMO — Local fire crews are readying the debut of two new fire engines billed to help response more effectively to emergencies across the city.

The vehicles, dubbed the new engines one and two, will see service beginning the week of March 14 and replace two vehicles operating in Nanaimo since the mid-90’s.

Nanaimo Fire Rescue chief Tim Doyle told NanaimoNewsNOW the new equipment comes with a smaller, more efficient footprint, allowing for eased navigation of streets and to respond faster.

“We used to have a hydraulic ladder system that deployed off the side of the truck which took a considerable amount of space, now we store the ladders internally and they deploy off the back of the truck. We take a smaller footprint to deploy our equipment.”

The trucks can fit a crew compliment of five, however typically run with four firefighters on board.

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An intermediate-sized cabin helps with the maneuverability, while a brand new automatic engine shutoff feature will help avoid unnecessary idling of the engine, Doyle said.

“When we arrive at an incident after the engine’s been running for a while, they shut themselves off,” Doyle said. “They’ll still run the lights, the radio, the charging equipment but it allows for lower emissions, lower fuel usage, lower engine wear and less noise.”

Each vehicle, inclusive of all the equipment on board down to the hose nozzles, cost $996,000 and were built by the Wisconsin-based Pierce Manufacturing, who are North America’s largest fire engine manufacturer.

Doyle said another new feature of the trucks is additional storage space, allowing for more gear to be stored, leading to increased safety for firefighters.

“Now we have that much more room to put contaminated gear from structure fires or motor vehicle accidents somewhere else as opposed to putting it in the cab with the firefighters where they’re exposed to it.”

The engine design is rounded out by use of the ‘Black Diamond Engine Company’ branding, a call back of Nanaimo history from the 1870’s and a distinct red and black colour scheme which is mirrored by other new trucks and Fire Hall No. 1 currently under construction.

It’s hoped the engines will last around 25 years, even with the large amount of miles the trucks log.

One of the vehicles the new engines are replacing has around 260,000 kilometres on the odometer.

Doyle said newer engines, closer to 10 years old, are already up around the same number of kilometres due to an increasing number of calls Nanaimo Fire Rescue are attending.

Crews were called out 7,392 times last year and are on pace to eclipse the total in 2022.

The call volume through 2021 and 2022 represents a 45 per cent increase over 2020 call-outs and a nine per cent increase from 2019.

Both outgoing engines will be put up for purchase by the City in the near future, with similar situations in the past seeing vehicles go to smaller, volunteer fire departments in B.C.

With two new trucks hitting city streets, attention turns to additional purchases in the years to come to upgrading aging equipment.

Nanaimo Fire Rescue is looking to replace a light rescue vehicle in the short term, with a heavier rescue truck of similar size to a fire engine next in line.

A new ladder truck in 2025 is set to replace a 2010 vehicle, while additional engines in 2027 and 2028 are in the long-term plans.

All purchases are subject to City budgets and Council approval.

Two new engines will join the Nanaimo Fire Rescue fleet beginning mid-March, replacing two agiing vehicles with over 260,000 kilometres on them. (Alex Rawnsley/NanaimoNewsNOW)

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alex@nanaimonewsnow.com

On Twitter: @alexrawnsley