A new firetruck will soon be shining in Ucluelet’s Firehall.
The Ucluelet Volunteer Fire Brigade must replace its fire engines every 25 years, according to the Fire Underwriter Survey, which means the brigade’s current 1992 Volvo known as Engine 2 will be retired.
The new lifesaving vehicle will cost roughly $475,000 and the district will take out a $475,000 loan to pay for it.
The truck will be purchased from Abbotsford-based Hub Fire Engines after the company’s bid scored the highest in a scoring matrix process put together by the district, which put out a request for proposals for a new engine last December and received six offers, according to a report submitted to council by Ucluelet’s district’s chief financial officer Jeanette O’Connor.
O’Connor explained that, before approving a $475,000 loan, the district needed to gain approval from the local electorate by way of either a referendum or Alternate Approval Process.
The district opted for the latter option and, in accordance with the Community Charter, advertised the loan through local and online media for the minimum period of 30 days, ending on Aug. 22, according to O’Connor who wrote that no opposition was received so the loan was deemed approved by the electorate.
Council approved the loan during their Oct. 11 regular meeting.
O’Connor’s report adds that the maximum term for which debentures may be issued to secure the debt created by the firetruck is 15 years.