Morden Fire and Rescue recently received a belated Christmas present with the arrival of its new ladder truck.
It replaces an older ladder truck that was not past its best-by date, but this newer 2012 refurbished vehicle offers some improved features for the fire department.
“We found that we needed something more with longer reach and more capabilities,” said Chief Tim Reimer.
“So we went from what was a 75-foot ladder truck to a hundred-foot platform truck,” he explained. “There’s a bucket on top that the guys can work safely in, and we’re able to perform rescues a lot safer and at a higher height as well.”
He sees improved resources like this as being very necessary.
“With a growing community and everything like that, buildings are only going to be getting taller, and we felt this was something that would definitely benefit our community much better.”
Reimer noted that these trucks come at a at a fairly significant cost.
“I know a new truck like this is worth anywhere from $2.6 to $2.8 million,” he said, estimating this one came in closer to $1.2 million.
Reimer said the firefighters are now anxious to get to work with the new truck.
“The guys are very excited. We can hardly wait to start training on it and put it into use. We’re hoping to start our training on it probably in the next couple of weeks,” he said.
“It’s not our front line pumper, but it definitely is another tool in the toolbox for us,” he noted. “Everyone’s very excited about it. I know when it arrived that Saturday evening, the guys could hardly wait to get it out there and get it into service.”
