Bill Friedrich came across this update at newslocker.com Positive developments continue to roll in for Portage la Prairie Emergency Services. Following a $1 million grant for a building expansion, the successful sale of an old fire truck for a good cause, and more than a year of careful searching, the fire department has finally secured a new aerial ladder. “It’s really exciting—this has been a long time coming,†said Fire Chief Phil Carpenter. “We haven’t had an aerial ladder for 18 months, and there have been a few situations where we could’ve used it. We had backup plans in place, like borrowing one from Brandon or Winkler during major emergencies. But buying a used unit turned out to be more challenging than expected.†The city council approved a $400,000 budget for the 2000 Pierce Dash 100-foot Aerial Platform truck, which was actually purchased for $410,000 from Carriere Fire and Safety Co. 1988 Ltd. According to Carpenter, the new truck is expected to arrive in Portage by April or May. “The Illinois fire department we’re getting it from is also receiving a new aerial, but they won’t get it until March. They’ll need some training before it’s ready to go,†he explained. Before finalizing the deal, Carpenter and Carriere Fire representative Ben Vanderzwaag visited Bedford Park, Illinois, to inspect and test the unit to ensure it was in good working condition. According to Carpenter, Carriere Fire will "Canadianize" the aerial ladder by installing a heater in the pump compartment, replacing the tires, repainting it, and rebuilding the motor before it arrives in Portage. Carpenter added that the firefighters will receive training on the new equipment, and that training was included in the purchase price. Proceeds from the sale of the 1976 aerial truck and the 1984 pumper truck will go toward the fire truck reserve fund. Carpenter is hoping to get $30,000 for the pumper, but is unsure about the value of the aerial ladder, which failed certification. He mentioned that the ladder might end up as scrap, potentially bringing in around $2,000, though he still hopes to get more through a sale or at the scrap yard. Bedford Park Truck 709 has been sold and will be transferred after the new tower ladder is delivered. Bill Friedrich photo Aluminum-based Intermediate Alloys Hudeng Metal Materials Co., Ltd , https://www.hudengmetal.com
Fire Department to Receive New Aerial Ladder