DIDSBURY – The Didsbury Fire Department’s new heavy rescue unit will be showcased at the upcoming Alberta Fire Chiefs Association conference and trade show in Calgary.
Council approved the move during the recent, regularly-scheduled meeting.
Fire chief Curtis Mousseau attended the meeting as a delegation. He explained that the unit is state-of-the-art when it comes to emergency response.
“We have been approached by Rocky Mountain Phoenix, which is who we have purchased the new heavy rescue unit through,” he said. “They approached us because of the vision that we had for the truck and the truck that we designed, with the generous support of the council and the town and the county.
“There are some unique aspects to that truck, like our command area, that seemed to really impress them and their shop when they were building it.”
The new $700,000 Rosenbauer custom chassis heavy rescue unit was jointly funded by the Town of Didsbury and Mountain View County, with each contributing $350,000.
The unit was unveiled in Didsbury on March 1. It is used to transport all types of rescue equipment, including vehicle extrication equipment, medical supplies and hazardous materials (hazmat) equipment.
Showcasing the unit at the conference will highlight the good work being done by area firefighters and the support being provided by local municipalities, he said.
The level of service in town and area will not be impacted by the unit going to Calgary for the two-day conference, he said.
“I have no reservations that would affect our ability to service our citizens and citizens in Mountain View County,” he said, adding, “I’m extremely proud of the team we have.”
In a letter to the Town of Didsbury, Rocky Mountain Phoenix officials said, “We believe that the display of the heavy rescue unit will provide conference attendees with valuable insights into the capabilities and innovations in modern firefighting equipment.”
Mayor Rhonda Hunter called the new unit a valuable addition to the local department and its ability to serve the community.
Council carried a motion approving the showcasing of the unit May 26-27.
