The Town of Lincoln’s new fire truck didn’t come with the nearly $300,000 in tariff charges that fire department and town officials feared earlier this year.
Greg Hudson, chief of Niagara West Fire and Emergency Services, noted possible Canadian retaliatory tariffs on the American-made pumper truck might drive up the cost by as much as 25 per cent, an amount which was not budgeted.
But when the truck crossed the border earlier this month, there was no duty on top of the $1.1 million the town paid for the pumper.
“Fortunately, emergency vehicles such as fire trucks and ambulances are exempt (from Canadian tariffs) and that continues to remain the case,” Hudson said.
The rig was built by Spartan Emergency Response in Brandon, South Dakota and was ordered by the town about a year ago.
Hudson said money for the new truck was approved in the town’s 2023 capital budget.
“As fire chief, I find this one of the most personally satisfying (accomplishments),” Hudson said. “We identify the need for a fire truck, you spec it out, you go through the procurement process and when you see the nice, shiny red truck delivered to your door at the end of the process, there’s a sense of satisfaction.”
But to get to the $1.1-million cost, Hudson said they had to cut some of the specifications for the pumper such as opting for a smaller pump capacity, no electricity generator, no foam system and no heavy-duty flooring in truck cab.
Hudson said the new pumper should be on the road by the end of the month.
The fire department is currently adding equipment brackets to the new rig and will be transferring equipment from the nearly 24-year-old pumper truck it is replacing.
About 20 volunteer firefighter drivers are also slated to be trained on the new apparatus.
Hudson said the new truck will primarily serve the growing south Beamsville area, adding the Beamsville fire station is approaching 500 calls a year.
“It would do about half of those roughly,” Hudson said. “It will be in service for the next 20 years.”
The Office of the Ontario Fire Marshal and Fire Underwriters Survey (FUS) recommend pumper trucks be replaced every 20 years.
“Having access to modern, reliable equipment ensures that our firefighters can continue to protect our community safely and effectively,” said Lincoln’s chief administration officer Mike Kirkopoulos. “We are also relieved that the vehicle was not subject to the additional costs that were a concern when tariffs were being discussed.”
With the addition of the new pumper truck, Niagara West Fire and Emergency Services has 24 apparatus, 15 in Lincoln and nine in Grimsby.