Banff’s fire department is getting a new $1.3 million ladder truck – one that will give firefighters more options for battling blazes and rescuing people trapped in a burning building.
Banff’s capital budget set aside $1 million for a new aerial truck, but, due to inflationary increases and the value of the Canadian dollar to the U.S dollar, another $300,000 is needed to replace the existing stick ladder truck with a platform ladder.
Last week, Banff town council was told the new ladder truck will last 25 years and have a greater water flow capacity – a minimum of 2,000 gallons per minute versus the existing ladder truck’s limit of about 1,200 gallons per minute.
Russ Geyer, Banff’s deputy fire chief, also said the tip of the existing ladder can only accommodate a single firefighter, whereas the new platform ladder truck could hold three to four firefighters.
“One with a platform at the top would afford the firefighters greater safety,” said Geyer.
“It’s also more versatile for rescues and it’s typically got more modernized features and greater capacities for water flow.”
Banff’s firefighting capabilities were put to the test when the Mount Royal Hotel went up in flames in late December 2016, causing extensive damage to what was one of the biggest fires in Banff’s recent history.
Almost 300 people escaped unharmed as fire ripped through the upper levels of the 135-room hotel. Brewster Travel Canada, owners of the Mount Royal, are currently rebuilding.
With flames reaching 15 to 20 feet above the roof, Banff firefighters were joined by other departments from throughout the Bow Valley for what turned out to be a gruelling 10-hour battle to get the blaze under control.
An investigation deemed the fire an accident, and it was determined a propane torch used by workers as part of construction work being done on the hotel’s roof ignited combustible material that smoldered for some time before growing into a raging fire.
At the recent council meeting, Mayor Karen Sorensen questioned how a platform truck would be more beneficial than the existing one and if it would be better for rescuing people.
“Using our recent example of a fire in the community…” she said.
Geyer said the new truck would have slightly more reach than the existing ladder truck, which is always beneficial, and makes it easier for more firefighters to work at the top in a standing working position, as opposed to a single firefighter lying on their chest.
“Rescues are one of the priorities of that truck,” he said, noting the existing truck could only take one person at a time with a firefighter guiding them down the ladder.
“With the new one they could step into the bucket and we can lower them down – and at greater capacity.”
