The Malahat Volunteer Fire Department has received a donation of a much-needed fire truck from the City of Langford.

The freightliner fire truck, which was relocated to the Malahat Fire Hall earlier this month, has been in use by the Langford Fire Department since 2004 at their Station 3 fire hall.

When a new dual-purpose fire engine was recently purchased by the City of Langford for that fire hall, the truck was slated to go into B次元官网网址渞eserveB次元官网网址� status for the next several years but, rather than see it sit idle, the city recognized another fire department could make better use of it for the duration of its life.

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B次元官网网址淭his is a lightly used vehicle and in great shape to meet the needs of the Malahat Fire Department over the next few years,B次元官网网址� said Chris Aubey, LangfordB次元官网网址檚 fire chief.

B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檙e happy to have it stay in use locally, and it will also provide reciprocal support for Langford as Malahat is one of our mutual-aid fire departments.B次元官网网址�

Malahat fire chief Tanya Patterson said members of the Malahat fire hall know the history and condition of the truck, and jumped at the opportunity to bring it up the mountain.

In addition to adding another vehicle to its fleet, Engine 2 adds considerable capacity for Malahat to respond to motor-vehicle incidents on the Trans-Canada Highway, which accounts for a bulk of the calls the fire hall responds to.

B次元官网网址淲e were already looking for a replacement truck so the timing of this donation couldnB次元官网网址檛 be better,B次元官网网址� said Patterson.

B次元官网网址淭his truck allows us to have five members aboard, as well as our important tools like water and jaws of life, so weB次元官网网址檙e better equipped when we arrive on site. ItB次元官网网址檚 also laid out the same as our existing truck, so it will be much easier for training our members.B次元官网网址�

Firefighting assets often reach their expiration while still in fine condition, and are donated to smaller and less-resourced departments in the province, or to Central and South American countries where they still have value for emergency response.

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B次元官网网址淭he City of Langford is delighted to partner with the incredible volunteers at Malahat Fire Rescue,B次元官网网址� said Scott Goodmanson, LangfordB次元官网网址檚 mayor.

B次元官网网址淭his collaboration will better equip their team for emergencies and increase capacity to keep the community safe.B次元官网网址�

The Cowichan region also recently received $375,000 from the provinceB次元官网网址檚 Community Emergency Preparedness Fund, with $210,000 earmarked for new equipment and training for fire departments in North Oyster, Malahat, Mesachie Lake, Sahtlam, Honeymoon Bay, Youbou, and Caycuse.

B次元官网网址淥n behalf of our volunteer members and the whole community, I want to express our gratitude for this donation that will improve their ability to protect property and save lives,B次元官网网址� said Kate Segall, the Cowichan Valley Regional DistrictB次元官网网址檚 vice chair and director for Mill Bay/Malahat.

B次元官网网址淭his is a wonderful example of how local governments can collaborate and share resources to save costs and improve services for residents of Vancouver Island.B次元官网网址�