The municipality of North Cowichan has announced that they are donating an end-of-life fire engine to the Penelakut First Nation, with the intention of improving its firefighting abilities in the future.
The Crofton Fire Department has been using a Superior E-One Fire Engine for more than 23 years, but for insurance reasons, it’s lost its value despite being well-maintained.
Ron French, North Cowichan’s Fire Chief discussed: “With the underwriters, your first out apparatus in your station shouldn’t be over 12 years old some are 15.
“It depends on the size of the community so a bigger city the front line engine shouldn’t be over 10 years old to build that credibility and lack of failure when they’re trying to respond.”
French says if North Cowichan tried to sell it at an auction or for scrap metal it would get roughly $5,000. Instead, the municipality decided to give it away.
He added: “We do some work with our neighbours on Penelakut. Emergency planning and that sort of thing. We had a conversation about this truck coming up and they showed some interest in taking it over there.”
Recently, North Cowichan’s council voted unanimously in favour of giving it to the Penelakut First Nation.
North Cowichan Councillor Chris Istace said during the meeting: “And the relationship with Penelakut.
“This is going to go a long way and I know definitely Chief Jack and council there are going to be extremely appreciative and I think it’s just a huge commitment of our ongoing work.”
On Jan. 16, a fire broke out on Penelakut Island and destroyed a five-plex.
The First Nation’s fire department was able to prevent the fire’s spread to nearby buildings but if it had this engine it would’ve been better equipped.
Fire Chief French further explained: “This truck could push out a thousand gallons a minute compared to the little wildland truck they have there is probably 200 gallons a minute.”
“The more water you can get on a fire quicker the better off you’re going to be. Definitely, if people were there that could run it and get on a fire sooner it would’ve made a difference.”
Penelakut First Nation’s Chief Pamela Jack says she’s grateful to be getting North Cowichan’s fire engine.
Chief Pamela Jack added: “They’ve really stepped up here. This is going to go a long way in building the relationship but also a long way in being able to build the capacity of the nation.”
North Cowichan will work with the First Nation on training with the fire engine and expects to move it to Penelakut in the next few months.
The Penelakut First Nation will be receiving a donation of an end-of-life fire engine by North Cowichan.
North Cowichan Councillor Chris Istace said that the donation is going to go a long way and that it is a symbol of a commitment to North Cowichan’s ongoing work.
