Grand Forks will have to wait a little longer to receive its new fire truck, but city councillors say they would rather wait than have the vehicle rushed to completion.
Fire chief Rich Piché reported to council this week that he recently visited the truck’s manufacturer in New Brunswick, but “they weren’t quite ready for us. I think we got there a little bit ahead of the builder.”
The new truck will replace the city’s existing engine 354. Piché said he noted a few deficiencies that need correcting before the city takes ownership in early 2026. Once those fixes are made, he’ll do another virtual inspection of the truck, and then it will be driven from Fredericton to Airdrie, Alta., where it will receive a final safety inspection before making its final trek to Grand Forks on a flatbed.
Councillor David Mark said he preferred the manufacturer not be rushed, telling Piché: “Do emphasize that we prefer quality and a month late rather than, ‘oh, we got it before January and there’s still issues.'”
In an interview with Vista Radio after the meeting, Mayor Everett Baker agreed: “They need to take the time to make sure things are correct on this truck. It’s a huge investment of taxpayer dollars and we want it done right. I always like the terminology DIRTFT: do it right the first time.”
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