The Blind River Fire Department has received a new fire truck. Chief Ken Raymond said the 2,500-gallon truck was taken in by the department on Sept. 24.
“The cost of the truck was $412,128 with $250,000 coming from the town’s Fire Truck reserve," he said.
Raymond, who has served as the fire chief for 21 years, recently got council approval to begin the tendering process for a new ladder truck with an estimated cost of $1.3 million.
The department’s old ladder truck was taken out of service in late June when it broke down during a fire call request from Elliot Lake. The ladder truck broke down in Algoma Mills and after an inspection of the truck by a town mechanic was discovered as being unable to fix due to a lack of getting parts for the 32-year-old vehicle.
The tendering process could take several months with council having to approve the purchase of the new ladder truck.
“(There is) no final decisions yet on the funding for the ladder truck,” Raymond added.