New Rescue Truck approved for production

Cold Lake, AB – Cold Lake Fire-Rescue will be seeing a new truck in their future.

Located at the Downtown District Fire Station, the Rescue Truck was identified for replacement in 2019 during the Behr Feasibility Study. A 1998 CMS C-Series Top Kick Diesel, it has become increasingly difficult to maintain due to a lack of available replacement parts, despite its fairly low kilometres.

“This is the type of truck that typically responds to vehicle collisions or crashes,” said Mayor Craig Copeland. “It’s a bit more compact than something like a ladder or pumper truck, which also helps it get into smaller spaces, like you might experience at the scene of an accident.”

A rescue truck is a versatile and functional vehicle, capable of responding to a variety of emergency situations, including vehicle extrications or technical rescues, with its primary function to deliver rescue equipment and personnel. Unlike other fire trucks, it does not transport water or hoses, instead focusing on support, rescue, and often serving as a command post.

When first presented to council during budget deliberations in late 2023, $650,000 was set aside for a replacement. Since then, another $100,000 was added in late 2024, bringing the total to $750,000. However, with inflation continuing to push prices up, the total price of the replacement truck came in at just over $925,000.

“The last time we replaced a Ladder Truck, it cost around $1 million,” said Copeland. “At the time, we thought that was a big price tag, and for a much larger firetruck. We were a bit shocked to see how much prices have increased, but this equipment needs replacing. Keeping our fire-rescue equipment up-to-date helps to keep our community safe.”

Council voted to increase the budget by an additional $175,920 to fully fund the new Rescue Truck, which will be built by Fort Garry Fire Trucks. The extra funding comes from the unrestricted surplus and will be moved into the 2025 Capital Budget.

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