THUNDER BAY — Thunder Bay Fire Rescue hopes to add another vehicle to its fleet next year, but it's not looking for one that's factory-fresh.
To save money, the fire department wants to acquire a second-hand rescue truck.
It's willing to buy one that's up to 15 years old, provided there's less than 24,000 kilometres on the odometer.
Fire Chief Greg Hankkio says the unit would not be used for fire suppression, but would contain the department's urban search and rescue gear.
Right now, that specialized equipment has to be hauled on a trailer behind a fire vehicle.
"To try and save the taxpayers some money, we're going to try to procure a used one as opposed to going to tender for a brand new one," Hankkio said.
A used vehicle in good shape may be suitable, he said, because "Typically, with urban search and rescue deployments, they're not as frequent obviously as running a front-line pumper to all the calls that we go to."
In 2018, the provincial government said it was designating Thunder Bay's fire department as one of the services requiring enhanced capability for light Urban Search and Rescue (USAR).
It followed recommendations from the commission of inquiry into the 2012 mall collapse at Elliot Lake, where there were 21 casualties including two deaths.
The designation meant that Thunder Bay Fire Rescue was to receive advanced training and additional equipment.
Hankkio says the rescue truck will allow the department to keep the equipment organized in one place, and facilitate getting the unit out the door more quickly.
Among other things, urban search and rescue teams need to be able to shore up portions of buildings to make them safe, and move concrete sections and other building components to perform rescue or recovery.
Similar to the fire department's Hazmat (hazardous materials) team, the Thunder Bay USAR unit can be deployed if necessary to other communities in the region.
Money for the vehicle will come out of a fund provided by the province.
