Bill Friedrich came across this report at newslocker.com. Positive developments are continuing for the Portage la Prairie Emergency Services team. Following a $1 million investment for a new building addition, the successful sale of an old fire truck for a community cause, and more than a year of careful searching, the local fire department has finally acquired a new aerial ladder. "It's really exciting—it’s been a long time coming," said Fire Chief Phil Carpenter. "We’ve been without an aerial ladder for 18 months, and there have been a few times we could have used it. We had backup plans in place, like getting one from Brandon or Winkler if needed, but buying a used unit turned out to be more challenging than expected." The city council allocated $400,000 for the purchase of a 2000 Pierce Dash 100-foot Aerial Platform truck, which ended up costing $410,000. The unit was bought from Carriere Fire and Safety Co. 1988 Ltd. Carpenter expects the new truck to arrive in Portage by April or May. "The Illinois fire department we're getting it from is receiving a new aerial ladder, but they haven’t gotten it yet—they won't until March, and they’ll need some training first," he explained. Carpenter and Carriere Fire representative Ben Vanderzwaag traveled to Bedford Park, Illinois, to inspect and test the unit before finalizing the deal. According to Carpenter, Carriere Fire will "Canadianize" the ladder by installing a heater in the pump compartment, replacing the tires, repainting, and rebuilding the motor before the truck arrives in Portage. Carpenter also mentioned that firefighters will need training on the new equipment, which was included in the purchase price. Proceeds from the sale of the 1976 aerial truck and 1984 pumper truck will go into the fire truck reserve fund. Carpenter hopes to get $30,000 for the pumper, though he’s unsure about the value of the aerial ladder, which failed certification. He believes it might end up as scrap, bringing in around $2,000, but he’s still hoping to sell it or get more money at the metal yard. Bedford Park Truck 709 has been sold and will be transferred after the new tower ladder is delivered. Bill Friedrich photo Precision Stainless Steel Plastic Mold Base Precision Stainless Steel Plastic Mold Base,Stainless Steel Molds,Stainless Steel Glass Molds,Stainless Steel Moulds Kun Shan Qi Dian Precision Mold Co., LTD , https://www.qidian-mold.com
Fire Department to Receive New Aerial Ladder