It’s what good neighbours do.
The City of Langford has donated a surplus fire truck to the Cowichan Valley Regional District for the Malahat Volunteer Fire Rescue Service.
The Freightliner fire truck was relocated to the Malahat Fire Hall this week. It had been in use by the Langford Fire Department since 2004 at Station 3 fire hall, but went into reserve after Langford’s acquisition of a new dual-purpose fire engine last year.
Rather than see it sit idle, Langford decided to hand it over to another fire department that could make better use of it for the duration of its life.
“This is a lightly used vehicle and in great shape to meet the needs of the Malahat Fire Department over the next few years,” said Langford Fire Rescue Chief Chris Aubrey. “We’re happy to have it stay in use locally, and it will also provide reciprocal support for Langford, as Malahat is one of our mutual aid fire departments.”
Members of Malahat Fire Rescue knew the history and condition of the truck and jumped at the opportunity to bring it up the mountain.
The additional truck will add to the department’s ability to respond to motor-vehicle incidents on the Trans-Canada Highway, which account for the bulk of its calls.
“We were already looking for a replacement truck, so the timing of this donation couldn’t be better,” said Tanya Patterson, fire chief of Malahat Volunteer Fire & Rescue.
Patterson noted the truck can carry five members as well as water and the jaws of life, “so we’re better equipped when we arrive on site. It’s also laid out the same as our existing truck, so it will be much easier for training our members.”
The donation of fire trucks and equipment is common practice for fire departments in British Columbia.
Equipment that’s in good condition is often donated to smaller and less-resourced departments in the province, or to Central and South American countries, where it still has value for emergency response.
The Cowichan region also recently received $375,000 from the province’s Community Emergency Preparedness Fund, with $210,000 earmarked for new equipment and training for fire departments in North Oyster, Malahat, Mesachie Lake, Sahtlam, Honeymoon Bay, Youbou and Caycuse.
Kate Segall, director of Electoral Area A Mill Bay/Malahat and vice-chair of the Cowichan Valley Regional District, expressed the district’s gratitude.
“This is a wonderful example of how local governments can collaborate and share resources to save costs and improve services for residents of Vancouver Island,” she said.
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