DIDSBURY - A new $700,000 Rosenbauer custom chassis heavy rescue unit being added to the Didsbury Fire Department’s fleet will enhance emergency responses and help meet increasing demand for service, says chief Curtis Mousseau.
Jointly funded by the Town of Didsbury and Mountain View County, with each contributing $350,000, the new unit was unveiled in Didsbury on March 1.
The unit has been custom built to meet Didsbury’s requirements and is expected to be equipped for operations within the next couple weeks.
The unit will replace an older, small rescue unit, which has been sold.
Chief Mousseau told the Albertan the unit is expected to be in service for at least 20 years. It has been custom built to meet Didsbury needs, including having enhanced protection for firefighters travelling in the vehicle on emergency calls, he said.
The unit is used to transport all types of rescue equipment, include vehicle extrication equipment, medical supplies, and hazardous materials (hazmat) equipment, he said.
“It responses to most of the types of calls we respond to,” he said. “It will help the Didsbury Fire Department meet current requirements we have been experiencing as the calls for service have increased, while also allowing us to meet the expected future growth needs of the department.”
Town of Didsbury Mayor Rhonda Hunter, Didsbury councillors Bill Windsor and Dorothy Moore, Mountain View County councillors Greg Harris and Alan Miller, fire chief Mousseau and deputy chief Kyle Leeson attended the unveiling of the new vehicle.
Mayor Hunter said the unit will be a great benefit to the Didsbury Fire Department and will “allow our firefighters to do their job even more efficiently (and) will make such a difference to anyone involved in an accident or any other incident where this truck will be used.”
Coun. Miller said the unit will enhance the department’s response capabilities.
Chief Mousseau commended the two municipalities for working together to finance the purchase of the unit.
