Grand Bay-Westfield new fire truck welcomed with traditional “push-in”

Published: October 31, 2023 @ 10:00 a.m.

The Grand Bay-Westfield Volunteer Fire-Rescue Department welcomed its new Engine with a traditional “Push-In”

On June 13, 2022, Town Council approved the purchase of a new fire truck (Engine) from Metalfab Fire Trucks. The Engine carries 1,200 gallons of water and has a 1,050 gallon per minute pump which features a Compressed Air Foam System (CAFS). This system significantly decreases the amount of water needed to extinguish a fire.

This new Engine, at a cost of $817,742.50 plus HST, will replace a 2012 Engine which will be repurposed into a Rescue apparatus. The existing Rescue apparatus will be retired.

Mayor Merrifield and Members of Town Council joined the Fire-Rescue Department for a traditional “Push-In” for the new Engine on Monday, October 30, 2023.

The Grand Bay-Westfield Fire-Rescue Department fleet now consists of nine (9) vehicles including:

3 Engines;
1 Tanker;
1 Rescue;
3 Command / Utility Units; and
1 Rescue Trailer with Off-road Rescue vehicle.

Quotes

“Town of Grand Bay-Westfield Council recognizes the service and dedication of the Fire-Rescue Department. This new fire truck supports Council’s commitment to organizational capacity by providing firefighters the necessary tools and equipment, to help ensure the safety of the community.” – Mayor Brittany Merrifield, Town of Grand Bay-Westfield

“The Fire-Rescue Department is proud to be equipped with this new Engine which will help us protect the community for many years. The Engine will also provide added safety for our firefighters, and enhance the Department’s ability to extinguish fires efficiently. Thank you, to the Department’s Apparatus Committee, for their hard work on this project.” – Troy Gautreau, Fire Chief, Grand Bay-Westfield Volunteer Fire-Rescue Department

The community is welcome to view this new piece of apparatus:

Location: Fire Station 1 – 615 River Valley Drive, Grand Bay-Westfield, NB
Days: Monday to Friday (excluding holidays)
Time: 8:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m.

To learn more about the Grand Bay-Westfield Volunteer Fire-Rescue Department, visit HERE.

About the traditional “Push-In”

The tradition’s history can be traced back to the 17th century, when early hand-drawn fire engines and other equipment needed to be hand pushed into stations after every call. In the 18th century, the horse-drawn steam engines used by Fire Departments still could not be backed into stations, requiring firefighters to disconnect the animals and again push in the engine.

While more modern motorized fire trucks didn’t need to be pushed-in, the tradition has persisted as a way to celebrate a new addition to the fleet.

Town Contact Information

Phone: (506) 738-6400 (Option 3 for after-hours urgent matters)
Email: administration@towngbw.ca
In-person: 
609 River Valley Drive, Monday to Friday (excluding holidays), 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Register for Grand Bay-Westfield Emergency Alerts

The Town of Grand Bay-Westfield encourages residents to register for the emergency alert system (CodeRED by OnSolve). This is to ensure that the Town can notify residents in the event of emergency situations or critical community alerts. To register, visit HERE.

Stay Informed

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