Island firefighters struck gold at a closed-bid auction last week, officials said, and Salt Spring’s fire district will put its first-ever ladder truck into service this spring.
And in a surprising turn of events, a good deal just got even better. Salt Spring Island Fire Rescue (SSIFR) Chief Jamie Holmes told district trustees Monday night, March 16, that not only had the district’s bid on a used 2009 Spartan-Smeal “Gladiator” ladder fire truck had been accepted — and the aerial apparatus, formerly in service for the Saanich Fire Department, would soon be joining the island’s fleet — but also that the $326,350 cost was now being fully covered by an anonymous donation.
“Today, I received a letter from a private foundation,” said Holmes, “[saying] ‘we are proud to support your valuable fire department and the Salt Spring Island community; we do not require any naming or public recognition.’”
The purchase of an elevating device has been part of the fire district’s strategic plan for a few years, Holmes said, although ladder trucks cost upwards of $2.5 to $3 million new and have multi-year wait times for delivery. The used Saanich “quint” fire truck has been professionally maintained, he said, and even apart from the donation had represented an “excellent value” for the district at a cost of $305,000 — plus tax.
“Actually, a member [of the anonymous foundation] approached one of our members, asking after some news articles about the need for an elevated device, and the pieces just fit together at the right time,” said Holmes. “Now we are in the elevating [apparatus] game at no capital cost to the community; we can protect current structures on Salt Spring, and evaluate if in the future we need something bigger — or even smaller.”
“Quint” apparatus simply means the truck has five major functions, Holmes said. In addition to the 75-foot ladder, the new truck has a pump, hydraulic generator, extrication equipment and ground ladders. The fire district’s board authorized the purchase through reserve funds already allocated for apparatus replacement, and passed a resolution accepting the generous donation offer.
In the meantime, Holmes said, the Saanich Fire Department has agreed to temporarily store the vehicle and coordinate training for Salt Spring firefighters on it at their facility, until the new fire hall on Lower Ganges Road is complete and ready for SSIFR operations to shift there — still expected to take place May 1, with a community celebration now planned for May 24.
The truck will meet firefighters’ needs to respond to emergencies at several multi-storey care facilities on Salt Spring, Holmes added, including the four-storey supportive housing complex built on Drake Road, and will help “future-proof” the department for any future densification planned in Ganges.
“An apparatus like this, with care and maintenance, we can get it to 30 years, and if we find after a number of years it’s not right for us we will get very close to what was paid for it.” he said. “We’ve never had an elevating device as part of our operations before, so we don’t know what we don’t know. We want to make sure we don’t make a $3-million mistake.”
