Equipped to fight fires in bush areas, a brush rapid attack truck will be added to the Stettler Regional Fire Department next spring.
At its monthly meeting in August, County of Stettler council approved recommendation by Fire Chief Mark Dennis to purchase the 2014 Rapid Attack constructed on an F550 regular cab 4X4 for a total of about $172,000, with the chassis from Aspen Ford in Stettler.
“This is a county purchase,” Dennis said.
While the bid from Aspen Ford was not the lowest, council preferred to shop at home.
“We need to support our local community and businesses because they support us,” Councillor James Nibourg said.
Geared to battle fires in bush area, the purchase of the BRAT was about $20,000 over budget, with administration directed to take extra funds out of general operating funds or reserves.
Manufactured in the United States, the new durable equipment is scheduled to arrive in 180 days of order.
“We could probably see this serve the region for about 20 years,’ Dennis said.
While this vehicle will be based in the Town of Stettler fire hall, he said he plans to add a rapid attack truck for Donalda.
County clears snow at airport
Council passed a staff recommendation that the county provide snow-plowing services for the Town of Stettler at Stettler Airport, with the service reviewed annually.
This was discussed during the regular joint town council meeting in late July with the excerpt from minutes. Stettler Flying Club has opted out of providing daily checks as required, and passed on to the Town of Stettler.
The flying club is committed to mow the grass for another five years.
The town requests that the county assume snow-clearing as a compromise to share costs of operations at the airport.
The current $4,500 annual support the town receives from the county will remain the same.