Staff Report: Fire Engine Request from Malahat Fire Rescue

Staff Report: Fire Engine Request from Malahat Fire Rescue

t 250.478.7882
e administration@langford.ca
2nd Floor, 877 Goldstream Avenue
Langford, BC V9B 2X8

DATE: Monday, November 20, 2023
DEPARTMENT: Fire Rescue
SUBJECT: Fire Engine Request from Malahat Fire Rescue

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

Malahat Fire Rescue is interested in purchasing the 2004 Freightliner Fire Apparatus from the City of Langford. The apparatus is currently in service; however, the recent purchase of the new aerial truck, and its ability to also function as an engine, provides an opportunity to consider the request. The Freightliner is 20 years old and was extended past its usual replacement date. It is now scheduled to retire from service in approximately two to three years. Langford has a history of donating used fire apparatus to other fire departments internationally; therefore, Council could consider donating this truck locally to a mutual aid partner. If approved, the need for Malahat to call for mutual aid from Langford for additional apparatus could be reduced and their capacity to respond to incidents in Langford would be increased.

BACKGROUND

Fire Chief Tanya Patterson from Malahat Fire Rescue has contacted Langford Fire to ask if there is a fire engine available for purchase. Throughout the last year, Malahat Fire Rescue (Malahat) has at times been without a fire engine due to mechanical issues with their engines and have resorted to borrowing one from Mill Bay Fire Rescue to maintain operations. Malahat currently has their front-line engine back in service, but their second engine is at end of life and is not feasible to repair.

COMMENTARY

Malahat was inquiring specifically to the availability of the 2004 Freightliner Engine currently at Station 3. This is the oldest vehicle in the Langford Fire Rescue fleet but is still in good condition. The typical lifespan for a fire engine in Langford is 20 years; however, due to the Freightliner’s good condition, the decision was made to replace the 2007 Pierce early (because it was experiencing mechanical issues) and extend the life of the Freightliner to 2026.

The new aerial truck added to the fleet in 2023 is a much more versatile apparatus than the previous one and provides an opportunity to consider Malahat’s request. It has the functionality to operate like an engine, and as a result, it has been used as the front-line apparatus at Station 2 instead of using Engine 2. This allows more flexibility with the fleet and operationally it would not reduce the capacity to respond in Langford should the Freightliner go to Malahat. To replace the Freightliner at Station 3, Engine 2 would be moved to Station 3 and the aerial would continue to be the front-line apparatus at Station 2.

The City of Langford has, in the past, donated retired fire apparatus internationally for humanitarian missions, as they have little trade-in or resale value, domestically, after 20 years. Previous trucks have been donated to Belize and Mexico; the most recent donation was in 2016 to Cabo San Lucas.

While Malahat Fire Rescue is a smaller department with a limited budget, they are an important and valued mutual aid partner to the City of Langford; therefore, Council could consider donating the Freightliner rather than selling the apparatus to Malahat. This would continue the practice of supporting other fire departments by donating used fire apparatus while keeping this donation local instead of sending it to an international fire department.

Providing the apparatus to Malahat would benefit Langford in two ways. First, it would allow Malahat to have an increased capacity to respond to incidents in their area which could reduce the need to call for assistance from Langford under our mutual aid agreement. Second, should Langford need assistance, the apparatus could be recalled under the same agreement to fight a fire in our area.

FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS

• The value of the apparatus in 2026 when it is due to be replaced is estimated at $40,000 to $50,000.
• Given that the truck currently has equipment on it that would not be part of the transaction to Malahat, this equipment could be transferred to other apparatus within the Langford Fire Rescue fleet, reducing the amount of replacement equipment needed in 2024 by approximately $20,000 (such as fire hose and positive pressure fans).
• There would also be the reduction of insurance, testing requirements, and any repairs over the remaining time the Freightliner would be in the Langford fleet which would reduce the financial impact of the donation further.

LEGAL IMPLICATIONS

None.

OPTIONS

Option 1

THAT Council:

1. Donate the 2004 Freightliner to Malahat Fire Rescue, as is, without any of the equipment (unless agreed upon by the Fire Chiefs);

AND
2. Continue to fund a replacement apparatus in 2026 in our Five-Year Financial Plan following an assessment to determine fleet requirements for Langford Fire at that time.

Option 2

THAT Council:

1. Sell the 2004 Freightliner to Malahat Fire Rescue,
   AND
2. Continue to fund a replacement apparatus in 2026 in our Five-Year Financial Plan following an assessment to determine fleet requirements for Langford Fire at that time.

Option 3

THAT Council:
Do nothing at this time with respect to disposing of the 2004 Freightliner.

SUBMITTED BY

Chris Aubrey, Fire Chief

Concurrence: Donna Petrie, Senior Manager of Communications & Economic Development
Concurrence: Yari Nielsen, Director of Parks, Recreation and Facilities
Concurrence: Matthew Baldwin, MCIP, RPP, Director of Planning and Subdivision
Concurrence: Katelyn Balzer, P.Eng., Director of Engineering and Public Works
Concurrence: Michael Dillabaugh, CPA, CA, Director of Finance
Concurrence: Marie Watmough, Deputy Director of Corporate Services
Concurrence: Braden Hutchins, Director of Corporate Services
Concurrence: Darren Kiedyk, Chief Administrative Officer