Sidney, BC.;

On Thursday (June 30), Sidney Volunteer Fire Department’s new ladder truck officially joined its front-line vehicles. The truck was purchased lightly used from the United States in February 2022 at a cost of approximately $1.2 million, saving more than $1 million when compared to the purchase of a new truck.

The new vehicle is a tower ladder truck, expanding the fire department’s rescue capability. It has a bucket attached to the ladder, making it safer and easier to remove people of all abilities from multi-storey buildings. The truck’s ladder also extends nearly 50% further than the former ladder truck, at a length of 110 feet, rather than 75 feet.

After the truck was shipped to Canada in May, seventeen Sidney firefighters undertook specialized training to operate the truck safely and position the ladder effectively during rescues.

“I commend Sidney’s Volunteer Fire Department for finding an economical way to replace our community’s ladder truck, while also increasing the fire department’s response capability,” said Mayor McNeil-Smith. “I am also thankful to the volunteer firefighters who devoted several weekends this spring to training so we could count on certified drivers being available during an emergency to operate the tower ladder truck.”

The new truck made its public debut during Sidney’s Canada Day Parade on July 1.

The department’s former ladder truck was nearing its replacement date and is now for sale. Front-line fire trucks must be replaced within a specified timeframe to maintain insurance ratings.

Media Contact:

Mayor Cliff McNeil-Smith
250-656-1139
mayor@sidney.ca