Hope Fire Department has acquired a new truck for its fleet.
The rapid intervention vehicle with compressed air foam system (CAFS) is built on a 2012 Ford F550 chassis by Hub Fire Engines in Abbotsford. The unit comes with air packs, a thermal imaging camera and scene lighting.
CAFS is relatively new technology that expands the effectiveness of water alone on a fire.
“This truck adds another layer of capacity to our department,” said fire Chief Tom DeSorcy. “We’ve equipped it such that it will act in a multitude of roles including structural and wildland firefighting, firefighter safety at fire scenes and improving access in our rural situations.”
The new addition replaces an aging water tanker as part of the department’s apparatus replacement plan at a cost of $280,000 and will be stationed in the firehall downtown.
The new truck, or “squad” as it will be called, will officially be placed into service once training on the new system is complete.