Brock Township plans for fire department fleet future amid challenges

DARRYL KNIGHT The Standard

BROCK: The Township of Brock is gearing up for significant changes to its fire department fleet, facing both financial constraints and increased costs. Council recently approved recommendations from Fire Chief Rick Harrison, after his report, on November 4th, highlighted the challenges and a new plan to address them.

Chief Harrison’s report underscores the impact of rising costs and longer manufacturing times, both of which strain small, rural fire departments. "The cost to purchase fire trucks has increased, approximately 40 percent, over the past few years, and there seems to be no end to the rising cost," he explained. Where a fire truck previously took 12 to 18 months to build, delays, caused by a lack of producers, heightened demand, and supply chain challenges, can now stretch production to three to four years.

Current standards, set by the Fire Underwriters Survey and the National Fire Protection Association, recommend replacing first-line fire trucks every 15 to 20 years. However, municipalities often extend this to 25 years, due to financial limitations.

Under the approved plan, Brock Township will continue to replace pumper trucks every 20 years but extend the replacement cycle for rescue and tanker trucks to 25 years, provided they meet reliability and maintenance standards. Currently, the township’s fleet includes 10 fire trucks across three stations, with the next scheduled replacement, a pumper truck at Cannington Station, set for 2025.

The financial implications of these replacements are significant. The pumper truck, expected in 2025, could cost between $600,000 and $1.1 million, while future heavy rescue trucks could range from $800,000 to $1.1 million. To secure funding, the council is exploring sales of older vehicles, with proceeds supporting the capital reserve. Chief Harrison recommended purchasing an in-stock pumper, from Dependable Emergency Vehicles, which could be available within a month and meet budget needs.

Reducing the fleet from 10 to nine trucks, as part of the strategy, could also aid Brock’s sustainability goals. Chief Harrison noted, the environmental benefit of retiring older diesel trucks, with newer models which release fewer emissions, thanks to advanced technology. "It is important to re-evaluate how and when the fire department will replace fire trucks," he concluded, emphasizing the need for readiness, financial stewardship, and adaptation to future challenges.