The Britannia Beach Volunteer Fire Department has been attending motor vehicle accident responses along much of the eastern coast of Howe Sound.
To respond to the scene of accidents, firefighters had been relying on a converted van, but the vehicle is limited in what it could do for emergency crews and approaching the end of its useful life.
鈥淲e had a large, one-ton van, but it didn鈥檛 hold enough equipment,鈥� said Fire Chief Steve Virgint.聽
They removed the seats to create space for all their equipment in the vehicle, but others 鈥� like Area D Director Tony Rainbow 鈥� agreed it was time for the department something better.
鈥淚t really wasn鈥檛 adequate for the task,鈥� Rainbow said. 鈥淚t just wasn鈥檛 right.鈥�
The department has combined with the Squamish-Lillooet Regional District to purchase a new purpose-built rescue truck to help with rescues in Britannia as well the area from south of 麻豆社国产to Porteau Cove. The new truck is being built by Intercontinental. The SLRD worked with the department and received bids from five qualified companies for the vehicle, which is expected to cost $108,803.52.
鈥淚t鈥檚 going to be custom-made. In fact, it鈥檚 being assembled right now,鈥� Rainbow said.
The bodywork is being done according to the specifications they have drawn up. There will be customized storage on either side of the vehicle and easy access for all equipment, as well as other emergency features such as a winch.
鈥淚t鈥檒l be quite the vehicle,鈥� he said. 鈥淚t鈥檒l be a really first-class vehicle.鈥�
In unincorporated areas of the regional district, communities are responsible for their own fire protection, though the SLRD can provide some support. For the new truck, most of the budget was covered by the department itself from money in a capital reserve fund.聽
鈥淭here鈥檚 not too much taxpayers鈥� money that鈥檚 gone into it. It鈥檚 mostly money that they鈥檝e raised themselves,鈥� Rainbow said.
The Britannia department raises funds through means such as charging for standby on film shoots, as well as donations and pooling call-out and training honorariums.聽
鈥淭here鈥檚 a lot of movies being shot in Britannia Beach,鈥� Virgint said.
On a recent film shoot, the production team burned a house and had the department on standby, for which they were paid a fee.
鈥淚t goes into the capital reserve fund,鈥� he said. 鈥淲e do make a lot of money doing it for them.鈥�
The department has also helped with first aid and standby for events like the 麻豆社国产Valley Music Festival.
鈥淭hey had guys from the fire department the whole weekend,鈥� Virgint said.
At present, the volunteer department has 30 members and it has a long history of providing service. As area director, Rainbow constantly meets other officials at conferences who have heard about the Britannia department and want to know more.
鈥淭hey鈥檝e heard of Britannia fire department and want to know how do we do it,鈥� Rainbow said. 鈥淭hey鈥檙e known throughout the province.鈥�
