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Municipal Affairs
April 8, 2011

Additional Funds Provided to Replace Regional Firefighting Vehicles

Firefighting vehicles used regionally by fire departments in Gander, Grand Falls-Windsor, and Corner Brook, will be modernized, the result of a $1.56 million one-time allocation of funding from the Provincial Government.

The Honourable Kevin O’Brien, Minister of Municipal Affairs and Minister Responsible for Fire and Emergency Services, made the announcement today at the Gander firehall. He was joined by the Honourable Susan Sullivan, Minister of Innovation, Trade and Rural Development and MHA for Grand Falls-Windsor-Buchans, to make the announcement at the firehall in Grand Falls-Windsor. On behalf of Minister O’Brien, the Honourable Tom Marshall, Minister of Finance and President of Treasury Board and MHA for Humber East, made a similar announcement at the Corner Brook firehall.

“Our government is pleased to provide funding to acquire a new ladder truck each for Gander and Grand Falls-Windsor, and a pumper truck for the City of Corner Brook,” said Minister O’Brien. “We recognize the many benefits these vehicles can bring in fighting structural fires and providing an improved method to attack a blaze from above. Combined with the delivery of the aerial unit this past January to Carbonear, today’s announcement effectively modernizes all ladder trucks currently in use in the province.”

The aerial ladder trucks will cost approximately $1 million each, with the municipalities of Grand Falls-Windsor and Gander taking advantage of the current cost-shared ratio of 70/30. The Gander Volunteer Fire Department will see its existing aerial unit, which has been in service since 1982, replaced to provide regional ladder capacity for large-scale fires. The new unit for Grand Falls-Windsor will replace an older ladder truck in use in the region since 1981.

“I am very pleased to be sharing in this important announcement of a new and modern aerial ladder truck for the Grand Falls-Windsor Fire Department,” said Minister Sullivan. “Having up-to-date equipment and infrastructure is essential to providing first rate protection to our citizens. Our volunteer fire department offers invaluable service to our residents. Equipping our firefighters with necessary tools such as this ladder truck strengthens that contribution.”

The City of Corner Brook has seen its area of service expand in the last number of years to accommodate a growing population in the area of Pinch Gut Lake. The fire department will see a 1988 pumper replaced to assist their service area, as well as surrounding municipalities. Corner Brook will also take advantage of the current cost-shared ratio of 70/30 with the Provincial Government.

“The new pumper truck will be an invaluable tool for firefighting in the Corner Brook region,” said Minister Marshall. “The cooperation on display in this instance between the Provincial Government and the City of Corner Brook will result in a stronger fire department which in turn means safer and more secure communities for residents of Corner Brook and the surrounding area.”

“As Minister Responsible for Fire and Emergency Services, I know the challenges many departments face in ensuring their municipal firefighting fleet and associated equipment are kept up to standard and available to assist our courageous firefighters when needed,” said Minister O’Brien. “By funding these new vehicles today, we are continuing to make great progress on the current number of requests before us. It will also allow a focus on more regional and rural fire department requests in the coming months. Our government is committed to the continued safety and security of our communities and we are confident we can build on the recent advancements already underway as part of the provincial fire service.”

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Photo #1: Minister Kevin O'Brien announces a new aerial truck for Grand Falls-Windsor, joined by Fire and Emergency Services Officer Linus Tremblett, Grand Falls Windsor Fire Chief and President of the province's Fire Service Association Vince MacKenzie, Minister and Grand Falls-Windsor-Buchans MHA Susan Sullivan, Deputy Mayor Ali Blackmore, Grand Falls- Windsor-Green Bay South MHA Ray Hunter.

Media contacts:

Cheryl Gullage
Public Relations Specialist
Fire and Emergency Services – Newfoundland and Labrador
709-729-0857, 631-9962
cherylgullage@gov.nl.ca
Nancy Dawe
Constituency Assistant to the Honourable Susan Sullivan
MHA for Grand Falls-Windsor-Buchans
709-489-3409
nancydawe@gov.nl.ca 
Lary Wells
Executive Assistant to
Honourable Tom Marshall
MHA for Humber East
709-729-3811
larrywells@gov.nl.ca 
 

2011 04 08                                                                           11:50 a.m.


 
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