New $1M firetrucks arrive in 7 Nunavik communities
Aupaluk fire chief welcomes bigger, better vehicle
Aupaluk’s old fire truck, left, sits parked next to the community’s new $1 million fire truck. (Photo by Jeff Pelletier)
Aupaluk fire Chief Billy Augiak likes his new fire truck.
Aupaluk fire Chief Billy Augiak drives his new fire truck around the community. (Photo by Jeff Pelletier)
The new vehicle, made by Quebec-based MaxiMetal, dwarfs its predecessor — a Ford F-550 — in size, and includes a fully-automatic ladder capable of reaching the top floors of local buildings, two rows of seating, a back-up camera and a 1,000-gallon water tank.
“It’s a lot better than the old one,” Augiak said in an interview.
Aupaluk is one of seven Nunavik communities to receive a new fire truck this year. The others are Kuujjuaq, Tasiujaq, Kangirsuk, Quaqtaq, Kangiqsujuaq and Akulivik.
The new trucks are part of a five-year plan by Kativik Regional Government’s civil security department to renovate fire halls and upgrade fire trucks in all 14 Nunavik communities.
KRG is in the fifth year of its plan, but has extended it another two years to complete some final work in all the communities, said civil security director Craig Lingard.
“We will have adequate fire halls for every community, and every community will have a full-size, appropriate fire truck,” Lingard said, adding Umiujaq and Ivujivik will be the final two communities to have their trucks and halls upgraded.
The cost of this year’s fire truck acquisitions, including shipping, was just over $1 million for each community. All communities received the same model of truck.
“It’s a great truck. It’s not overly fancy or with extras that aren’t necessary,” Lingard said.
“But it’s well appointed and it should serve them very well for a long time.”
Nunavik sees an average of about 60 fires per year, Lingard said, with every community generally experiencing at least two or three each year. Most of those Lingard described as being small, such as cooking fires that don’t require a “full-fledged” firefighting response.
Augiak, who leads a team of six firefighters in Aupaluk, described a similar volume of incidents in his community, saying it’s mostly small fires he has to respond to or false alarms.
Aupaluk has had major fires before, though, including one in March 2014 that destroyed Tarsakallak School.
Lingard said KRG is also working to support volunteer firefighter recruitment and training to ensure communities have what they need to respond to emergencies as they happen.
“The key to any successful volunteer fire department is to have passionate people,” he said.
“I can build a fire hall and I can buy a fire truck, but that doesn’t make a fire department; that comes from the community itself.”
He added, “Our goal essentially is to have the municipalities be better prepared and empower them to take care of themselves.”
Augiak said that in Aupaluk, he hasn’t yet had to respond to a fire using his new truck. But he has taken part in training, along with other Nunavik firefighters, to be ready for that situation.
“It’s going to be useful [for] all of Nunavik,” he said, adding he plans to “maintain it well.”
Krg and authorities must stress the importance of taking care of that equipment. Its not cheap, and appreciate please. There are small rural communities fighting fires across canada that would love to have that kind of tools. I saw too much disrespect over the years of not realizing how fortunate Nunavik is. Now to learn how to not neglect with fires in first place
I wonder , how much money is spent on the people of nunavik , per capita ?
Approximately $275,000.00 per child, teen man and woman. This includes free medical airfare to montreal, ullivik or hotel accommodations, appointments. When the major tax payers realize just how much of their taxes are going towards the Inuit in Nunavik, then all He!! will break loose. They will begin to tell the quebec government to stop paying for all the services for the Nunavik Inuit. One day in the near future the free handouts will come to a screeching halt…..
No more free handout , is like going cold turkey . Having to learn , to be self sufficient.
New fire trucks have many new features. There should be a training
agreement. With the manufactures to provide the appropriate training.
To the firemen. On how to operate the equipment properly.
Other wise a new truck is useless.
I was informed that there are 6 or 7 Nunavik communities who received these new expensive fire trucks has a few defects on them. These communities are waiting for the expert fire engine mechanics to travel to the Nunavik communities where these fire trucks are located.
The first thing that will done with the new trucks. Is to remove the ladders.