As Brighton continues to grow with more multi-storey buildings in the works, Brighton Fire and Rescue is looking to mitigate risk with the addition of an aerial platform truck.
Fire Chief Gene Thompson put forward a proposal to council Monday for approval of $100,000 to help with the purchase of a pre-owned 2007 aerial platform truck that was most recently in service in British Columbia.
The need for such equipment was previously identified in 2003 and 2023 fire master-plan recommendations around consideration of a ladder truck/elevated stream to help mitigate the risk of new multi-storey and large buildings, reads Thompson’s report to council.
More recently, additional developments are either being proposed and/or occurring that make the purchase more imminent, said Thompson.
Council has approved the allocation of $100,000, including $77,000 from online burn permit revenue, and funds from the sale of a GMC mini pumper, as well as any balance from reserves, to advance the purchase and enable the chief to negotiate the sale.
Thompson said the truck would serve the municipality for the next seven-to-10 years.
“The cost to purchase the same (truck) in 2025 would be $3 million and likely (take) two years to receive,” he explained. “This particular truck was in service in Kamloops until March of 2025 when a new truck was put in service as a scheduled replacement.”
If the municipality successfully acquires the truck, the fire department has proposed selling its 2006 mini pumper with an estimated value of $25,000 to help recover costs.
The aerial truck will have to be stored at Station #2 until the new Elizabeth Street station project is complete.
Meanwhile, council also approved the addition of a new 2025 GMC Sierra fire truck on Monday. This roughly $89,000 purchase was identified in the capital budget.
(Written by: Sarah Hyatt)
