Hall receives new engines
(Above) Revelstoke Fire Rescue’s new ‘Bush 1’ truck will both help the department respond more effectively to wildfires as well as speed response times. (Below) Firefighter Dan Hutchison demonstrates Bush 1’s CAFS foam system.
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Updated: July 15, 2009 10:13 AM
Revelstoke’s Fire Rescue Service has two new fire trucks, one of which will provide the department another tool for fighting bush fires.
Revelstoke Fire Chief Rob Girard gave the Times Review a rundown of the two trucks, starting with ‘Bush 1’.
“Bush 1,” explained Chief Girard, “is designed for if we have any sort of bush fires in and around Revelstoke.”
“The advantage of this truck is that it has a CAFS [Compressed Air Foam System] system on it,” explained Girard. “One droplet of foam is equivalent [in fire suppressing ability] to eight droplets of water. What that means is if we’re out fighting any sort of bush fire ... this lets us stretch our water [supply] way further.”
“With the ... truck we can set down a line of foam and produce a firebreak,” said Girard. “When you live near [fire] interfaces, with homes near trees, a truck like this is really helpful.”
Chief Girard also noted that the CAFS system makes Bush 1 a potent weapon in fighting car and liquid fuel fires.
Along with its advanced CAFS system, the truck is equipped with four wheel drive, which Chief Girard said will allow the department better access to areas such the grasslands along Upper Arrow Lake.
“The other advantage with this trucks,” explained Girard, “is that out in the protect area where we have ... winding driveways up to some people’s homes, in addition to the engines going, we would also send this truck to do an initial exterior attack. The advantage of the truck is it is very nimble.”
Along with Bush 1, the hall is also utilizing a new American Lefrance pumper on loan from Vancouver-based First Truck.
The loaner truck will act as the department’s first line engine until Revelstoke Fire Rescue takes delivery of its custom built American Lefrance engine.
Despite delays in its construction, Girard expects the new engine to arrive within the year.
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