Whitecourt Fire Department tests demo aerial truck around town

On Wednesday, July 25, the Whitecourt Fire Department performed demonstrations with a Fort Garry Bronto Skylift Aerial Fire Engine. They brought it to several locations in the community including Millar Western, the Holiday Inn Express, Strike Oilfied at the County Airport Industrial Area, Riverboat Park, and St. Joseph École School. An aerial truck is a regular fire engine that has the added benefit of an aerial platform which allows firefighters to access high places safely and reach out over low places such as a pond or river and utilize the platform as a safer way to perform rescues.

“We are going to be purchasing an aerial truck for our next fire engine,” said Whitecourt Fire Chief Brian Wynn. “It was pointed out in 2001 from a master study that a town our size needs one. If you add to that the new buildings, schools, housing complexes, hotels, and major shops being built not only in the town but also in the county, it shows even more of a need for one of these apparatuses.”

Demonstrations throughout the day included showcasing the stretch capabilities of how far up and out the ladder and attached platform could reach over tall buildings such as the Holiday Inn but also how direct they could be with the flow of water since the hose is build into the lift making it safer for firefighters as they don’t have to maneuver a hose while they are several stories up in the air.

“You can easily see the capabilities this type of truck can do that no other truck can do. It adds many tools to our toolbox. If there was a fire up there in the roof (pointing to the roof at St. Joseph École School), how do I get up there? How do I see it? With this truck, I just pull up to the hydrant, hook up a hose, go up, and I can see where the fire is and effectively attack it and I have nobody in jeopardy because no-one is climbing up a ladder with a hose. The trouble with firefighters going up a ladder with a hose is that the reaction force of the nozzle wants to blow you off the ladder,” explained Chief Wynn.

With many large buildings popping up in the industrial areas in both Whitecourt and Woodlands County, he said the aerial truck is a must. “The footprint of the buildings is so large that we can’t reach around the building from the ground. How many times have you seen a photo of a crew battling a structure fire and they are just spraying over the building and not doing anything effectively? This allows us to go up and see exactly where we need to put the water.”

With their current trucks, the Whitecourt Fire Department is doing everything from the ground which can be very ineffective especially for a roof fire or a fire in a large building. “We have no way of seeing or spraying a roof fire so once it’s in a second story structure we have no way to safely get up there. So, what this does is it throws 100 per cent safety for the firefighters because they don’t have to even enter the building as they can do everything from the exterior. This would offer huge safety for the firefighters and better coverage for the community,” said Wynn.

 

The plan is to order the truck this summer so that it is available next summer as it takes minimum of a year before delivery can take place after placing an order. Chief Wynn said that the town is on board with the purchase and that they are looking for the County to partner with them as part of the fire service agreement between the communities. “Once our big senior complex is built, if there was an emergency, how would we get them out safely? Our area needs this truck for many reasons. We can rescue people from an elevated area such as a third or fourth storey window or a water course such as a pond because we are able to lower it right down to the water level.” The platform makes it safer for everyone including those with disabilities and the elderly who may be unable to climb down a ladder.