We cover 350 square miles , so we have a lot of areas to serve .
WHAT ’ S THE SIZE OF YOUR DEPARTMENT AS FAR AS NUMBER OF MEMBERS , FULL- TIME AND VOLUNTEER ?
We run three full-time out of our main station here in town . We ’ ve got myself , a Deputy Chief / Training Officer , and a Fire Prevention Officer . We usually have between 45 and 50 volunteers . That number fluctuates much like any other department , but that ’ s what we shoot for .
HOW MANY STATIONS DO YOU RESPOND FROM ?
We have two stations . The second station is about 35 kilometers away from the main station . We keep a complement of around a dozen at that station with a tanker and a pumper .
WHAT IS THE GREATEST CHALLENGE YOU ’ RE CURRENTLY FACING IN YOUR DEPARTMENT ?
I think the challenge we ’ re facing is the same as any other volunteer department : recruitment and retention . We definitely don ’ t have a problem attracting people [ if you ] look at the [ number of our ] volunteer positions , but now with the amount of training and work that volunteers have to get through to become a truck-ready firefighter , a lot of people look at that and decide it ’ s a little more than they ’ re ready to sign up for with a family and a job . The time commitment is a challenge for everybody now .
DOES YOUR DEPARTMENT NEED TO DO ANY OF ITS OWN FUNDRAISING ?
No , we ’ re fortunate to have had a very accommodating council and mayors . Any of the fundraising we do is mostly to contribute to other fundraisers . However , I recall one truck that we got from you , the old rescue that we had , was built with money we had fundraised ourselves .
HOW MANY TRUCKS DO YOU HAVE IN YOUR FLEET ?
Right now , we have seven heavy trucks ( pumpers , rescues , and the like ) and three light-duty , 4x4 utility trucks . Over the years , we have ordered seven units from Metalfab .
WHAT ’ S THE MAIN CHALLENGE THAT YOU FACE IN REGARD TO YOUR TRUCKS AT THIS POINT ?
It ’ s always been trying to balance our needs with what we can put into a truck . We ’ ve had issues over the years where we ’ ve tried to put all of our wishes into one truck and found out the hard way that you can ’ t do that . There is a line you have to draw in the sand there .
FROM BACK WHEN YOU FIRST STARTED , WHAT ’ S THE BIGGEST CHANGE IN FIRE TRUCKS THAT YOU ’ VE SEEN ?
Of course , the size . The first truck we purchased from Metalfab was a mini pumper back in 1989 for our substation . Now we ’ ve reverted back to the full-size engine for that station . The trucks now are much more luxurious . The cabs keep everybody nice and warm in the winter and cool in the summer . The safety aspect is big . That would have never been thought of when I first started out .
THAT MINI PUMPER WAS ACTUALLY THE FIRST TRUCK METALFAB SOLD IN ONTARIO . HOW DID YOU DECIDE ON METALFAB TO MAKE THAT FOR YOU ?
Peter , the previous Chief , had gone from supplier to supplier looking for someone who could build a truck just the way he wanted . He came across Metalfab at a convention and that was where you guys clicked . He explained what we were looking for and I remember him saying how accommodating you were .
THAT ’ S GREAT TO HEAR . IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE YOU CAN SHARE ABOUT YOUR EXPERIENCE WITH METALFAB ?
It ’ s all been good . Like I said , it started out with my predecessor and I was fortunate that he let me get involved with the trucks , so every truck we ’ ve built with Metalfab I ’ ve had a part in . The one-onone treatment that we get from you guys is always nice . We can pick up the phone and talk directly with someone . Any technical problems we ’ ve had , you ’ ve walked us through . You ’ ve always been our go-to and I always look forward to the next truck .
METALFAB FOR YOUR TRUCK
A special thanks to Murray Medley of Bracebridge Fire Department for taking time to speak with Metalfab ’ s Business Development Manager , Ryan Stacey . If you ’ d like to learn more about the Bracebridge department , you can visit their website bracebridge . ca / en / townservices / Fire . aspx .
If you ’ re in the market for a new fire truck yourself , our Metalfab team would love to hear from you .
Give us a call at 1-800-561-0012 or contact Ryan directly at rastacey @ metalfabfiretrucks . com .
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