By Melanie Jacob
Editor
mjacob@humboldtjournal.ca
The Humboldt Fire Department, Emergency Medical Services (EMS), and Humboldt RCMP have finally settled the details of the their new side by side all terrain vehicle.
"It gives us more accessibility," said Humboldt Fire Chief, Mike Kwasnica. "With all our trucks getting larger and EMS vehicles getting larger, everything getting wetter, we were limited to where we could go and how we could get there."
The ATV is an off road vehicle that allows the emergency services access to various types of terrain such as mud, snow, and grassland. It includes various features such as a heated interior, tracks, and a seat in the back for a medical person next to a space that is outfitted for a patient. All together, the vehicle can safely fit four individuals.
"When the idea came up, the fire department brought the idea to us and right away it was kind of a no-brainer because we have instances every year, both in winter, spring, and fall where we have trouble accessing patients," said Derek Dagenais, a local EMT paramedic and supervisor. "We have ATV incidents, horse incidents, and snowmobile incidents usually about three or four times a year where we need to access people in those situations."
The EMS and fire department services pitched in approximately $3,000 each while the RCMP gave about $1,500. Since the RCMP won't have as much need for it, the other portion of their funding will go to other community causes such as the local schools' patrol program.
"We probably won't get as much use out of it as the other agencies will other than maybe on a search and rescue circumstance, but it does serve the community and it would help us in certain circumstances," said Phil Wilson, staff sergeant for the Humboldt RCMP. "(It'll help us) a little bit less than the other agencies, but in most cases we're up to our eyebrows with what they're working on anyways."
The funding from all three departments came from the emergency services' annual charity ball that happened earlier in the year.
The fire department also finalized the details for their new Kenworth fire truck. All together, including the ATV and its necessary accessories, the cost totaled approximately $25,000.
