The new rescue until includes many new features not available on the former truck. (Derek Cornet/larongeNOW Staff)

By Derek Cornet

replacement

‘Toolbox on wheels’: Fire department receives new rescue unit

Nov 1, 2023 | 5:00 PM

The La Ronge Regional Fire Department is the home of a new $523,000 rescue unit.

The new vehicle, which is a 2023 Freightliner model, was manufactured in South Dakota and delivered to the fire department last week. It replaces a much smaller 2000 Ford model rescue unit that will soon be converted into an ice water rescue unit.

“This is basically a toolbox on wheels,” said Fire Chief Keaton Cloud.

“It carries all of our extraction tools, our rope rescue gear. Eventually we will have some airport specific rescue tools. It has a cascade system on the truck, so we can actually fill our self-contained breathing apparatus air bottles on fire scenes. Currently, how we do that is if we have a house fire, we have to shuttle our air bottles back to the fire hall, fill them up here and go back to the scene, which takes quite a bit of time. With this truck, we can do everything on the scene.”

The new truck is expected to serve the fire department for the next 25 years. It is large enough to not only meet the department’s current needs, but also meet future needs as well. The truck also includes a lighting system, as well as a canopy and fans to assist firefighters in rehabilitating themselves while on the scene of an incident.

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“It will be more of use to us than our old rescue,” Cloud said.

The new truck has been described as a toolbox on wheels. (Derek Cornet/larongeNOW Staff)

“Our old rescue basically did motor vehicle accidents, so the only time that was every being used was during accidents and extractions. This one will be motor vehicle accidents, technical rescue, structure fires and all that sort of stuff.”

Cloud mentioned the new truck also includes Cree syllabics, as well as the department’s recently launched house logo. The truck is fully customized and built to specifications determined by the department’s truck selection committee comprised of firefighters.

On Nov. 5, tri-community residents are welcome to a pancake breakfast at the fire hall between 9 a.m. and 11 a.m. The public will have the chance to tour the new truck, as well observe firefighters push the fire truck into its bay using human power, a tradition done by fire departments across North America when a new truck is put into service.

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derek.cornet@pattisonmedia.com

by Derek Cornet

‘Toolbox on wheels’: Fire department receives new rescue unit

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