Columbia Shuswap Regional District approves purchase of wild land type 3 fire engines

The Columbia Shuswap Regional District Board of Directors approved the purchase of two wild land type 3 fire engines at its regular meeting on June 20. 

Wild land type 3 engines have 4×4 capabilities, a fire pump and a water capacity of more than 500 gallons, making them ideal for fighting wildfire. One of the engines will go to the Malakwa Fire Department to be used as a fully regional asset. The other will go to the Tappen Sunnybrae Fire Department.

In a report to the board, Regional Fire Chief Sean Coubrough said the only compliant bid came from Safetek at a cost of $550,000 per unit.

In July 2023, two separate wild fires started in the regional district — the Lower East Adams Lake wildfire and the Bush Creek East wildfire. In August 2023, the two fires converged and became known as the Bush Creek East wildfire. The fire caused significant property damage and forced the evacuation of thousands of people from eight communities in the Shuswap Region.