— Regal Ridge developer donates customized $400,000-plus pumper —
(OSOYOOS TIMES — July 18, 2007) —
By Lawrence McMahenrnOsoyoos Times
The Anarchist Mountain Volunteer Fire Department is now better equipped to fight fires in its unique mountain residential terrain, thanks to a huge donation from Regal Ridge property developer Adrian Erickson.
Dignitaries and dozens of Anarchist Mountain residents gathered at the area's fire hall Sunday afternoon for a barbecue and the official arrival of a new pumper truck custom built for the needs of the mountain community.
Fire Chief Joe Simoes says he's very excited by Erickson's unsolicited donation of the truck “ valued at more than $400,000 “ to his department.
Simoes explains that the new fire truck is state-of-the-art, with a number of special features designed to his department's specifications.
The 2007 Rosenbauer fire engine was built in the U.S.
It includes fully digital controls, four-wheel drive, an automatic continuous chain system for traction on snowy and icy mountain roads in the winter, and a specially shortened wheelbase to allow for the sharp turns required on the region's roads.
Simoes says in addition to that, the truck has a 1,000-gallon water tank “ and with a special compressed foam feature, the water's extinguishing capacity is 100 times greater, equalling that of 100,000 gallons of water.
This truck will fight both structural and wildland fires, Simoes says.
With this new unit, our volunteer firefighters will be safer and we will get to a fire faster, especially in snowy and icy conditions.
We won't need to look at the need for another primary unit for a very long time, he adds.
Simoes says he has been working with Erickson on the Anarchist Mountain Fire Department's long-term needs, and he credits Erickson with supporting the department with donations of land and equipment in the past.
This new fire engine further establishes his commitment to our mountain community, Simoes says.
I want to express our deepest appreciation to Adrian Erickson, on behalf of our members, for making this time's donation.rnThe fire chief says the truck requires a couple of final equipment adjustments and should be in full service in about two weeks.
His firefighters will begin to get training on the truck's features immediately.
Erickson complimented what he called the huge efforts and commitment of the volunteer firefighters on Anarchist, who helped make the fire department a reality and who are there every day to protect the community.rnDignitaries at the donation event included Penticton-Okanagan Valley MLA Bill Barisoff and Osoyoos Mayor John Slater.
Erickson was disappointed that no one from the Regional District of Okanagan-Similkameen (RDOS) attended, since Anarchist Mountain lies within RDOS.
