The Lloydminster Fire Department will be recertifying their T-Rex Aerial (Tower 18) unit.
This piece of equipment was purchased in 2015 and is up for recertification as its reached its halfway point in its useable life.
Tower 18 is a specialty fire apparatus which provides Lloydminster’s Fire Department with benefits especially when it comes to extinguishing a fire and providing a safe, secure platform when firefighters are tasked with victim rescue.
“It’s definitely something that is a piece of structure that’s used in emergencies it has the ability to, it’s up in the air there’s firefighter safety in mind,” said Coun. Jason Whiting.
Bill Heesing, Lloydminster Fire Department Fire Chief, provided some background on what will be done to Tower 18 when it goes for recertification.
“The estimate includes a full repair. With the uniqueness of the apparatus when it goes to Red Deer, everything gets pulled apart and everything that gets pulled out whether it’s seals or gaskets will be replaced with new,” he said.
The aerial unit will also go through a test checking all the parts and pieces.
“Part of this inspection is what they call an NDT, so a non-destructive test, so they would be X-raying all of the platform and all of the aerial parts and pieces,” said Heesing.
Coun. Jim Taylor asked how long Lloydminster would be without the piece of firefighting equipment.
“Anywhere from four to six months we could be without our apparatus,” Heesing said. “We’re using it until then, once it goes to Red Deer, it was purchased in 2015, so we’re right at that 10-year mark, so we’re right at the borderline of making it.”
He says the four to six months is the best estimate from the vendor.
Don Stang, executive manager of operations at the City of Lloydminster says there’s a plan in place while they’re without Tower 18.
“We also have a replacement unit that will be in operation while that one is out of service,” he said.
The question came up regarding the details of the interim unit.
“Is it a unit that we own or are we renting it?” asked Taylor.
Stang clarified, “We’re borrowing it.”
Bill added there’s no cost to borrowing it while Stang said it’s a partnership but provided no further details.
Coun. Michele Charles Gustafson asked if this company was the only one that made this particular piece of equipment.
“This is the only one with our other apparatus a few years ago, we’ve gone to tender for our annual certification and pump test. Because of the specialty nature of this apparatus it needs to go to the vendor that built it,” said Heesing.
Stang further clarified that there are other options for replacements in the future.
“In 10 years when this piece of equipment is lifed out there will be a procurement for a new piece of equipment that does this type of function and it may or may not be Rocky Mountain (Phoenix) there are multiple options for the replacement,” he said.
Stang explained that since Rocky Mountain were the supplier of this unit they are also the ones that do the recertification tying the city to a sole source in this case.
Council voted in favour of giving the sole source award on the T-Rex Aerial recertification to Rocky Mountain Phoenix with a maximum upset limit of $450,000 excluding GST.
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