The RM of Ste. Anne has invested in a new air compressor for the Richer Fire Department.

Reeve Paul Saindon says the newly installed unit will increase both safety and efficiency.

(Photo credit: Richer Fire Department).The acquisition means that the crew will no longer have to make trips to La Broquerie to fill their breathing tanks. “This will eliminate all the unnecessary traveling and downtime,” Saindon says. “It’s more efficient and practical supplying the fire department with the proper breathing apparatuses here.”

The Reeve estimates the cost of the mechanism at somewhere between $40,000 and $60,000. “It’s not cheap, but it is a necessary piece of equipment,” says Saindon “and it should last a good number of years to supply what is needed.”

When asked what his crew thinks about the new compressor Saindon mentions, “They’re pretty pumped about it, because it enables them to train with full air systems going.” He also suggests that having a compressor is a safety feature, mitigating the risk of running low on air.

With the days of filling up in Steinbach and La Broquerie now in the past, Saindon’s hope is that they can assist the fire departments in their area. “There’s never enough of these compressors around,” opines Reeve Saindon.

“I think it will be available to neighbouring departments if the need arises.”