$1.9M aerial fire truck to extend rescue capabilities in Cape Breton region

Cape Breton Regional Municipalityis getting a $1.9 million platform aerial truck that will allow it to rescue fire victims from buildings as high as 10 storeys.

"It's a big truck, it's a very expensive truck but it's one that will suit our needs very well here in CBRM," Deputy Fire Chief Chris March said Monday.

The new emergency fire vehicle wasn't in the budget for this year but was given priority after one of three aerial trucks needed for the municipality was badly damaged in the Thanksgiving storm, he said.

It's expected to be delivered by mid-March.

More than just a ladder truck

"We saw this as a very important addition to our fleet, one that needed to be purchased sooner rather than later,"MichaelMerritt, CAO for the municipality,said.

The new vehicle, which is coming from Phoenix, Ariz., is much more versatile than the one it is replacing, March said.

"It''s a 100-foot platform device so it's an aerial unlike the one that we have now, which is just a ladder truck."

Equipped with a bucket-likeplatform at the end of the aerial section, firefighters can reach people and safely place them on the platformto bring them to safety,March said.

Can reach up to 10 storeys

"For rescue, it's everything. No matter what a person's physical limitations or age, if they require rescue anywhere above two or three stories, we're going to be able to do that, up to about 10 storeys."

It is the first platform fire truck for the municipality, March said.

"Halifax has had them for years [as well as] some of the larger cities throughout Canada."

The truck will be used in Sydney but can be deployed toGlaceBay as well as theNorthside.