Relief after moving the fully-loaded 32-tonne tanker | Mik Horvath/MBC
On Jan. 17, Whitewater Fire Department members officially welcomed the newest piece of equipment into their fleet.
Hailing all the way from Minnesota this new Freightliner Tanker has replaced the aging unit, which served the area for 35 years.
Whitewater Fire Department Chief Jonathan McLaren said the new model includes some much appreciated safety features, such as a backup camera.
This isn’t just a new toy to gawk at, the modern design and additional features will be long appreciated inside Beachburg’s Station 4.
The truck also brings an upgrade in water capacity.
The old unit had a capacity of 1,500 gallons, the new Freightliner doubles that figure with a 3,000 gallon water capacity.
Firefighers and residents alike were very curious about the new tanker’s features | Mik Horvath/MBC
Westmeath Station 5 firefighter Chris Martin, said this is a vital upgrade because Whitewater Region only has fire hydrants in Beachburg and Cobden, which means the roughly 500 square-kilometre rural area of Whitewater heavily relies on these tankers for fire response.
Martin was one of the many firefighters part of the “push-in” ceremony, a fire department ritual dating back to the days of horse and buggy.
Hoses could not back up with the fire cart, meaning the crew would have to push the cart into the hall.
Fire departments of the modern age have kept the tradition to christen new fire trucks.
Cobden Station 2 firefighter Nick Norton said the moments before the push were daunting.
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- Mik Horvath/MBC
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- Mik Horvath/MBC
However, with a grade-A team effort, firefighters from across the region inched the 32-tonne tanker into its new home.
Relief after moving the fully-loaded 32-tonne tanker | Mik Horvath/MBC
Whitewater Mayor, Neil Nicholson, said recognizing community milestones such as this important investment is a direct show of local impact.
The old tanker | Mik Horvath/MBC
The old tanker will be put up for auction on https://www.govdeals.ca/.
(Written by Mik Horvath)