With the cost of seemingly everything on the rise these days, Halton Hills Council has approved an additional $250,000 for the purchase of a new aerial ladder fire truck for the local department.
The decision, made during this week's council meeting, takes the budget for the new vehicle from $1.8 million to $2.05 million. The additional funds to compensate for an increase in the cost of parts, labour and more will come out of the Town's equipment replacement reserve.
Once purchased, the new aerial ladder truck will replace the Halton Hills Fire Department’s (HHFD) sole ladder truck, which staff says is at the end of its service life. It's a 2003 model that was bought in 2004.
This type of truck is perhaps one of the most enduring images of the firefighting profession. Aerial ladder trucks, as the name suggests, are vehicles with long, extendible ladders for rescue from tall buildings and spraying water from a great height.
The current truck has a 65-foot-long ladder and can dispense 5,000 litres of water per minute. However, staff says that height is not considered sufficient for the needs of the municipality and a better-suited one is required.
Citing logistical and economic issues, the Town will be opting to buy a stock or demo model aerial ladder truck instead of a custom one this time around.
Labour shortages and production slowdowns are delaying procurement by as much as 36 months, says a report to council from Deputy Chief Bruce Morrison, who notes inflation-induced price fluctuations mean that manufacturers cannot guarantee prices beyond 30 days.
"Typically the fire department would purchase a custom truck, but given the three-year estimated wait time in the current environment, this would not be reasonable," said Morrison.
The Town will issue a request for proposals from companies, which will provide their apparatus designs and availability for evaluation by staff, he explained.
The Town will buy from the lowest bidder that complies with what the municipality is looking for.
