Fire department gets new support unit

Less than 24 hours after it arrived in Port aux Basques, members of the volunteer fire department had to put their new truck to use.

Even before the lettering on the side of the vehicle could be completed, the department's new support unit was called to a fire at a local take out on April 27.

The ceremonial hand over of the keys from Mayor Brian Button to Fire Chief Jerry Musseau took place on Wednesday.

The mayor and Councillor Jerome Battiste, council's liaison with the fire department, were given a tour of the vehicle and shown its capabilities.

The support vehicle is equipped with benches and eight seatbelts in the back, making it safe for transporting people. Three people can ride in the cab.

The back also has individual lockers where firefighters' gear can be stored, as well as places for air tanks and other equipment.

It has lighting, a drop down table and heater that can all be used at the scene.

Any firefighter with a drivers' license can operate the vehicle and whoever gets to the station first during an emergency call will take the support unit to the scene of the fire so that the gear for the firefighters, such as their bunker suits, is on scene when they arrive.

The unit replaces an old green cube truck that was used by the department for the last 18 months as an interim measure after the donated 30-year-old bus that was previously used was taken off the road for safety reasons.

Through various fundraisers, firefighters raised nearly $20,000 toward the total cost of the support unit, which came in at approximately $100,000.

The Town of Port aux Basques provided the rest of the funding.