Bill Friedrich came across this update on newslocker.com. Good things are happening at Portage la Prairie Emergency Services these days. After securing $1 million for a new building addition, selling an old fire truck for a good cause, and going through more than a year of searching, the Portage la Prairie Fire Department has finally made the purchase of a new aerial ladder. "It's really exciting," said Fire Chief Phil Carpenter. "We haven't had an aerial ladder for 18 months, and there were a few times when we could have used it. We had backup plans, like borrowing one from Brandon or Winkler if needed, 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 ultimately purchased for $410,000 from Carriere Fire and Safety Co. 1988 Ltd. The new unit is expected to arrive in Portage by April or May. "The Illinois department we're getting it from hasn’t received their new aerial yet—it’s not due until March—and they’ll need some training with it first," Carpenter explained. Carpenter and Ben Vanderzwaag from Carriere Fire visited Bedford Park, Illinois, to inspect and test the unit before finalizing the deal. According to Carpenter, Carriere Fire will "Canadianize" the ladder by adding a heater to the pump compartment, replacing the tires, repainting the truck, and rebuilding the motor before it arrives in Portage. Training for the firefighters on the new equipment is included in the purchase price, ensuring that the team is fully prepared to use the new ladder effectively once it's operational. The 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 he’s unsure about the value of the aerial ladder, which failed certification. He believes it may end up as scrap, potentially bringing in around $2,000, though he hopes to sell it for more, either through a private buyer or at a metal yard. Bedford Park Truck 709 has been sold and will be transferred after the new tower ladder is delivered. Bill Friedrich photo Particle Cleaning Agent,Efficient Particle Cleaning Agent,Strong Particle Cleaning Agent,High-Performance Particle Cleaning Agent Hudeng Metal Materials Co., Ltd , https://www.hudengmetal.com
Fire Department to Receive New Aerial Ladder