ADMINISTRATIVE REPORT

Date:November 24, 1999
Author/Local: Brian Inglis 654-0616
RTS NO. 00989

CC File No. 3651

Council: November 30, 1999

TO:	City Council
FROM:	General Manager of Vancouver Fire and Rescue Services
SUBJECT:	Purchase of Rescue Vehicle

RECOMMENDATION

THAT City Council approve the purchase of the rescue vehicle described in this report and that the necessary funding of $46,000 be provided from City of Vancouver Plant Account.

COUNCIL POLICY
Council approves all increases in service levels, including the addition of trucks to the fleet.

PURPOSE
This report identifies the requirement for an additional rescue vehicle to the Vancouver Fire and Rescue Services fleet and a funding source.

DISCUSSION
The Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) team formed under the direction of City Council and the Emergency Management Committee in 1995 is currently staffed at 72 active members from various City departments. The team is considered deployable on a 24 hour- seven day basis.

The equipment used by the USAR team is stored and transported in three trailers. One of the trailers is part of a tractor-trailer combination. The remaining two require a smaller 3/4 ton four wheel drive truck to transport them.

There are currently only four vehicles in the entire City fleet which can legally tow either of these smaller trailers. The existing four vehicles are used on a daily basis by their regular departments and are seldom available by advance notification, let alone emergency use.

To date, team members have been using their personal vehicles to move the trailers during training or for small exercises. This situation is unacceptable because team member’s private vehicles are not properly insured, the vehicles have been stuck and/or slightly damaged and team members are not compensated for the use of these vehicles. Also, private vehicles cannot be used as emergency vehicles.

In order to legally and efficiently meet the requirements of deploying the equipment trailers, transport personnel and equipment for training and emergency purposes, a dedicated USAR vehicle is required. An analysis of the requirements indicates a 3/4 ton four-wheel drive medium duty truck would fill the immediate and long term needs of USAR. Four wheel drive is essential as the team will attend disasters including earthquakes, and floods where reliable transportation is necessary. The Urban Search and Rescue Team is the City of Vancouver’s first line response to major disasters and transportation which will get them to the scene regardless of the state of the roads is essential.

FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS

The estimated cost to purchase and equip this vehicle is $46,000. The vehicle would be managed in the City’s Plant Account with maintenance undertaken by Fire and Rescue Service’s fleet management. Funding of $6,100 annually would be paid to the City’s Plant Account from the base budget of the Urban Search and Rescue Group which is part of the Fire and Rescue budget.

CONCLUSION

The purchase of a medium duty truck dedicated to Urban Search and Rescue would ensure response for equipment deployment would be available as required and that the movement of this equipment would meet the legal requirements of the City of Vancouver and the Provincial Motor Vehicle Act.

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(c) 1998 City of Vancouver