Original costs for a new fire truck have gone up in smoke.
Vernon council agreed Tuesday to purchase a water tender truck for $360,000 — $90,000 more than was budgeted.
“Both quotes came back significantly more than our research indicated,” said Keith Green, fire chief.
Reviewing department needs began in 2009 and since then, manufacturers’ prices have climbed. A transition in fire chiefs may have also delayed the process.
As a result, Coun. Jack Gilroy wants to see some new policies in place.
“Every six months the prices go crazy. If we’re going to buy something, it should be done within six months,” he said.
A tender truck allows water to be tanked into areas where fire hydrants don’t exist.
“The more you build into the woods, the less water supply there is,” said Gilroy of the need for a tender.
It’s anticipated that it will take about a year for the truck to arrive and it will be stationed at the Okanagan Landing hall.
The city’s existing tender will then be stationed at the proposed fire hall at Predator Ridge.
The lack of two tender trucks was part of the reason the city denied a request to provide fire protection service to parts of the Commonage in the North Okanagan Regional District.
“This (new tender) would put us in a way better position because it will allow us to do more,” said Green.
The city insists there’s limitations as to how much water a tender can provide and it would take considerable time for the tanker to leave a fire scene and be filled with water.
