City of Steinbach approves purchase of custom-made ladder truck for $2 million

The City of Steinbach has approved the purchase of a custom-made ladder truck for the Steinbach Fire Department. 

City Council gave third reading on Tuesday to authorize the borrowing of up to $2 million at a maximum interest rate of 8 percent to be repaid over a five year period for the eventual purchase of a fire department ladder truck. 

Councillor Jake Hiebert says this is a good project for the city to undertake. 

“The old ladder truck is getting old, it's getting expensive to repair. And we want our fire department to have good equipment, not only for their own safety, but also for the residents of our community,” he says. “I think we saw the value of the ladder truck this summer when the Janzen’s Paint building burned.” 

After they place the order for the ladder truck, it will take a year and a half to two years in order for it to get here. 

The reason for the longer wait is because the ladder truck will be custom-made for Steinbach Fire Department. 

Mayor Earl Funk reflects back on when council bought Steinbach’s current and first ever ladder truck. 

“It's been used in many fires and it gave the advantage to put our firefighters above the fire, and that was the biggest advantage we had. They saved many buildings from total loss because of that ladder truck.” 

He says the ladder truck has such an important role in fighting fires, that the price is worth it. 

"When you look at the up to $2 million cost, I think it's a fair trade off because of the buildings that it will save, the lives it will save, and how much more effective we will be at fighting fires with a truck customized for our fire department.”