City of Port Moody donates fire apparatus to Loon Lake and Lytton fire rescue services

(From left to right: Port Moody Deputy Fire Chief Kirk Heaven, Lytton Mayor Denise O'Connor, Lytton Councillor Nonie McCann, Lytton Fire & Rescue Captain Kyle Parker, Port Moody Fire Rescue Platoon Captain Patterson, Port Moody City Manager Anna Mathewson, Lytton Fire & Rescue Firefighter Dion Moody, Loon Lake Fire Department Firefighter Dom Bolognese, Port Moody Acting Mayor Amy Lubik, Port Moody Deputy Fire Chief Jason Harper, Lytton Councillor Jennifer Thoss, Port Moody Fire Chief Darcey O'Riordan, Loon Lake Fire Department Captain Franko Borri, and Loon Lake Deputy Fire Chief Bill Salisbury.)

On April 24, 2024, Port Moody Acting Mayor Amy Lubik and Fire Chief Darcey O'Riordan presented a surplus 1999 American LaFrance fire engine to the Loon Lake Fire Department and a surplus 1997 Freightliner rescue truck to Lytton Fire & Rescue.

"The City of Port Moody is pleased to be able to donate fire trucks to these two volunteer-driven fire departments so they can better protect their communities," said Acting Mayor Lubik. "As B.C.'s climate keeps changing, we're seeing longer, hotter summers, more droughts, and a longer wildfire season. It's important for communities around the province to work together as we adapt to climate change, and that includes making sure smaller communities have the right fire rescue equipment so they can save lives and protect property and infrastructure. We're happy to be able to assist the Loon Lake and Lytton fire rescue services and the communities they serve."

"The Loon Lake Fire Protection Area properties are unique as they're situated along a single, 32-kilometer road with a small two-street subdivision at the east end of Loon Lake Road," said Loon Lake Fire Department Captain Franko Borri. "The linear distribution creates unique challenges with fire and emergency response, particularly with only one engine responding.

"Receiving the American LaFrance fire engine will have an enormous, positive impact and achieve financial savings for our small community," continued Borri, "and it will significantly improve the safety and efficiencies of our firefighters and community. It will allow us to support our neighboring communities with mutual aid and respond to multiple incidents, critical during extreme fire hazard season. We appreciate this generous donation."

"The addition of this new-to-us rescue truck will make a huge impact on the Village of Lytton and surrounding First Nations communities served by Lytton Fire & Rescue," said Lytton Mayor Denise O'Connor. "We would like to thank the City of Port Moody, Mayor and Council, and Port Moody Fire Rescue for their generous donation of this apparatus to our community."

Lytton Fire & Rescue Captain Kyle Parker added, "We'll now be able to carry our specialty tools and medical aid supplies, along with a contingent of fire suppression equipment. This will allow us to keep both our frontline and reserve pumpers in the municipality ready for fire response. This will provide more resiliency, particularly as we have seen an increase in wildfires in the Fraser Canyon and across the province."

The 1999 American LaFrance fire engine was in service as a front-line engine for Port Moody Fire Rescue for 15 years and then served as a back-up apparatus until late 2023. The 1997 Freightliner rescue truck was in service for more than 25 years. Both vehicles no longer meet municipal insurance requirements; however, volunteer fire departments are not affected by insurance underwriters' criteria. Given the reduced demand and low market price for older apparatus, City Council decided to donate these vehicles to communities in need.