A new fire truck is in Prince George Fire Rescue's hands.
Along with the other capabilities a typical fire truck provides, it features a 75-foot mid-mount ladder.
It should be in service in the next few weeks once completely outfitted and will be stationed at Hall No. 3 at Vanway, across from the Westgate neighbourhood, replacing another fire truck with ladder that has reached its 20-year past-due date.
It will also act as a complement to PGFR's ladder truck at Fire Hall No. 2 at Fifth and Ospika in case one should have to be take out of service for maintenance.
"It provides ladder coverage for the city at all times now," PGFR fire chief John Iverson said.
The new truck is also a little bit smaller, making it better suited for winter when the roads get narrowed with snow.
It will be well used. Iverson said any structure fire in the city has a three-hall response and No. 3 responds to about 85 per cent of the residential fires in the city.
"It's a big improvement on many levels on the type of service we can provide," Iverson said. "And when you look at the newer homes, they're closer together and certainly bigger and taller and having that ladder capacity better suited for residential fires helps with our fire fighting tactics as well."
All in, the total price tag for the truck will be $1 million. The bill will be financed through the Municipal Finance Authority over 15 years.
