LAURIE WEIR
The Smiths Falls Fire Department is seeking a new fire truck to replace its aging 31-year-old vehicle, which is no longer up to standard.
Fire Chief Rick Chesebrough told council on Dec. 16, 2024, that the department’s pumper truck is on borrowed time, noting that fire underwriters have flagged it as a liability.
Chesebrough proposed adding $200,000 to the 2025 budget and $600,000 in 2026 to fund the new emergency services vehicle.
“With our automatic aid agreement with Rideau Lakes presumably ending in 2025, I appreciate we have a few areas in town that don’t have direct or quick access to a hydrant where a tanker may be required,” Mayor Shawn Pankow said. “There are times when a tanker would also be important for mutual aid. But it’s an $800,000 investment. We have a tanker now that I understand is at the end of its life but hasn’t had extensive use.”
Pankow also raised concerns about whether a new fire truck would fit in the current fire hall, which already houses an aerial truck and a rescue vehicle.
Truck replacement needs
Chesebrough emphasized the importance of replacing the tanker, which has been on the books for several years.
“It’s an emergency piece of equipment, and it’s now 31 years old. Fire underwriters will only certify a tanker up to 20 years old. We’ve been operating a vehicle for 11 years that’s deemed an increased liability,” he said.
He added that the current tanker was originally a used lumber truck purchased in a cost-sharing agreement with Rideau Lakes, with each municipality contributing $38,000.
“There’s been very little investment in this emergency equipment over the last 31 years,” Chesebrough said.
The new vehicle, expected to last up to 25 years, would serve as a backup for the department’s pumper truck during annual inspections or repairs. It would also provide much-needed support in areas of town with low water pressure or no hydrants at all.
Automatic aid agreements
The automatic aid agreement with Rideau Lakes will end in 2025. Under the agreement, Rideau Lakes pays Smiths Falls $82,000 annually for fire response services. A mutual aid agreement, which does not include payment, will remain in place.
Rideau Lakes needed the coverage for South Elmsley Ward, which will now be covered by a new fire station that opened on Otter Lake Road – closer to Smiths Falls.
In 2018, the Smiths Falls Fire Department responded to 73 calls in Rideau Lakes. That number dropped to 67 in 2019 and has averaged 50 calls annually over the past four years, the chief said.
“This year, we’re at 58 calls in Rideau Lakes,” Chesebrough said.
When the tanker is dispatched to Rideau Lakes, the department relies on its multi-million-dollar pumper truck to respond to calls in Smiths Falls, Chesebrough explained.
Over the years, the funds received from Rideau Lakes have offset the department’s costs. For example, in 2018, the town billed $67,000, and the most recent invoice was $81,588.
“The cost of our operation there doesn’t even come close to $81,000 for the year,” Chesebrough said, adding that the township has “compensated very well” for wear and tear on equipment and staffing costs.
Renovation costs
If the town approves the new truck, the fire hall will need renovations to accommodate the vehicle. Chesebrough suggested extending the bay to make space.
Mayor Pankow requested a cost estimate for these renovations before making a decision on the truck.
Future considerations
Chesebrough argued that investing in the new truck would enhance service reliability and reduce potential losses.
“If it’s used once—whether to reduce a loss to fire or save a life—it will be worth the investment,” he said.
More details about the fire department’s budget will come forward in the new year.
