Brampton to be first in Ontario to use electric-powered fire truck
Posted in: News Item
Date Posted: 2021-06-17
Organization Name: City of Brampton
On June 16, Brampton city council approved Brampton Fire and Emergency Service’s plans to replace a front-line pumper with a Rosenbauer RT, a fully electric-powered fire truck.
Brampton is a Green City, and is dedicated to improving sustainability and being a leader in environmental innovation. The Rosenbauer RT is the first fully electric-powered fire truck available on the market that is able to meet current firefighting standards. Brampton will be the first municipality in Ontario to use an electric-powered front-line emergency response vehicle, joining other world class cities such as Berlin, Amsterdam, Dubai, Los Angeles and Vancouver.
“At the City of Brampton, we are working to build an increasingly sustainable community in everything that we do as a Green City,” said Mayor Patrick Brown. “I congratulate Brampton Fire and Emergency Services on their effort to secure Ontario’s first fully electric fire truck. Brampton is a world class city, and we are proud to join others who are working to increase resilience to climate change and lower emissions while keeping our communities safe.”
The truck’s technology will allow Brampton fire crews to generate zero emissions while responding to emergencies, not only during travel, but also while on site. The elimination of emissions onsite protects both the environment and the health and safety of the firefighters on scene by reducing the intake of carcinogens.
“Brampton is an innovative city, and we are always looking for new ways to improve upon our sustainability and protect our residents and staff,” said Rowena Santos, Regional Councillor, Wards 1 & 5; Chair, Community Services, City of Brampton. “The new fully electric fire truck will reduce risk and improve the health and safety of our dedicated Fire and Emergency Services team, and reduce emissions in our community. We are proud of Brampton Fire being a trail blazer on green technology.”
Additional features of the fully electric vehicle include the ability to raise and lower ride heights, similar to a passenger bus, allowing for ease of entry into the vehicle. This feature also reduces the reach height for firefighters to access equipment while on site. The ride height can be lowered to 6.8 inches and raised to a height of 18.5 inches, allowing for flood response with no chance of water entering the engine. The new fire truck will help crews to maneuver more efficiently in tight locations and on narrower roads in new subdivisions, and will deploy the latest in ergonomic technologies, improving the health and safety of firefighters.
“On behalf of the Brampton Fire and Emergency Services team, I want to express our excitement over the Rosenbauer RT, a fully electric fire truck,” said Brampton Fire and Emergency Services Chief Bill Boyes. “The truck has many exciting features, from reducing carcinogens on scene, to the latest in ergonomic technologies, and will help enable us to become a leader in environmental sustainability. We look forward to using it to protect our community.”
The new electric fire truck is planned to be stationed at the new, state-of-the-art Brampton Fire Campus, which is currently under construction. The city will receive the truck in late 2022.
“Staff at the City of Brampton are dedicated to improving sustainability across our operations and advancing the Term of Council Priority: Brampton is a Green City,” said Brampton CAO David Barrick. “By deploying a new fully electric fire truck, Brampton Fire and Emergency Services will reduce emissions and join other world-class cities as a leader in environmental innovation.”
For more on Brampton Fire and Emergency Services, visit www.bramptonfire.com. For more on the City’s Term of Council Priority: Brampton is a Green City, visit www.brampton.ca.