New fire truck for the Brac to replace crashed vehicle
CIFS fire truck being loaded onto the barge at Little Cayman, bound for Cayman Brac
(CNS): Officials have found a fire truck in the US to replace the one that crashed on the runway at the Brac airport earlier this month and the replacement vehicle is currently being configured to meet the specific requirements of the Cayman Islands Fire Service. “The exact cost of the new vehicle has not been established at this time,” officials said in a GIS release, noting that a team from the Ministry of Home Affairs and the CIFS visited the manufacturer in the US last week to ensure the truck met the requirements and to agree on specific details.
The truck was damaged when it overturned on the runway on Thursday, 5 January, during a mandatory speed test.
“The vehicle manufacturer fully appreciates our need to obtain a vehicle as soon as possible and they are working with us to ensure it can be configured and delivered in the shortest possible timeline,” Chief Fire Officer David Hails said.
Both the driver of the fire truck, Acting Lead Fire Officer Jason McCoy, and the passenger, Acting Divisional Officer Garfield Ritch, were flown to Grand Cayman in the police chopper after the accident to receive treatment at the George Town hospital. However, the release stated that they have both now returned home to Cayman Brac but are not yet back to work as they are still recovering from their injuries.
As reported by CNS on Tuesday, the Charles Kirkconnell International Airport on the Brac re-opened for all aircraft last weekend, after CIFS shipped a fire truck to the Brac from Little Cayman to cover the loss of the truck from the Aerodrome Unit that crashed, and sent a smaller truck from the Brac to Little Cayman to cover services on that island, where the only commercial planes that land are Cayman Airways Twin Otter aircraft.
“After working diligently to move both fire trucks between Little Cayman and Cayman Brac fire stations, the Brac airport is now in a position to receive category 6 jet aircraft,” Hails said. “We shipped a larger fire truck from Little Cayman to Cayman Brac, as the jet carries significantly more passengers, and then shipped a smaller fire truck, that will provide adequate fire cover, back to Little Cayman.”
He added, “It’s unfortunate this was delayed for over a week due to rough seas, but I am extremely pleased the vehicles were moved safely and successfully by Thompson Shipping between Thursday and Saturday (19-21 January), enabling category 6 status to be restored on Saturday night.”
The fire chief also paid tribute to all personnel and departments involved in carrying out contingency plans to provide adequate cover under difficult circumstances.
“The teamwork and co-operation between the Ministry of Home Affairs, the Cayman Islands Fire Service (CIFS), Cayman Islands Airport Authority (CIAA) and the Civil Aviation Authority of the Cayman Islands (CAACI) ensured the transition was carried out as smoothly as circumstances would allow, and I thank all who participated,” he explained.
The investigation into what caused the crash is ongoing and reports from the RCIPS, the independent accident analyst and the manufacturer are still pending at this time, officials said.
Category: Local News
For less than US$50,000.00 you can buy a good used functional fire truck in the US:
https://firelineequipment.com/product/1996-e-one-cyclone-pumper/
In the Brac, it’s going to do what: 20 miles per year?…
Here’s an idea. If we are going to spend more that 500k on a firetruck, perhaps we should spend a few grand on teaching the boys how to drive them without rolling them. Not the first time.
“A team travelled to the U.S.”, we have had numerous people flying in every direction in connection with this incident. I hope the total cost of everything, the new truck, the loss on the old truck, the experts brought in, the fire trucks shipped to and from Little Cayman, all the aborted flights, replacements for the injured actors etc, etc are made public when the enquiry is finished (if ever).
Made public? Surely you jest!
They were probably attempting to beat speed trials of GC DMV inspector.
Ha ha ha!
Acting acting acting how many more pretend people in jobs?
We do have a lot of ‘Actors’ under the Home Affairs Ministry. We have:
Acting Chief Officer
Acting Chief Imm Officer
Acting Lead Fire Officer
Acting Divisional Officer
(I’m sure there are more)
Perhaps instead of Home Affairs it should be called Hollywood.
Mr. Manderson, how long are these people going to act? Just confirm them to the post! What is taking so long???
I agree, it’s ridiculous!!
It seems Mr. Manderson may also be simply “acting.” It is not like he has actually done anything for years. It is just more of the same.
where is LOL button? Good comment.
Aha, if they were actually given their positions they they might be held accountable, can’t have that now can we. When your acting, you’re really not doing the job.
Configured to meet specific requirements for Cayman fire service….. What’s that ? Fitted with drink holders ? Extra seats for your imaginary ‘ friend ‘ ? Seven layers of bubble wrap for the ‘ mandatory speed test ‘ of the 100 yards from the station to the runway ?
Do not forget training wheels.
And a speed limiter…5mph?
classic
They will need to install roll bars now … just incase LOL . That is a special requirement
We need to cut the Brac off from the rest of Cayman. It is just a massive financial liability, bringing no revenue in and sucking up funds in social employment where highly paid people have nothing to do. Can anyone tell us what the District Commissioner could possibly do on an inactive sleepy island to earn $120,000 plus a year?The Brac only prospers (ridiculously) because of its all important two political seats.
Wow… really? How can you say that? Cayman Brac is a part of the Cayman Islands, not just Grand Cayman. Whether you believe the Brac doesn’t bring in enough revenue or not.. how can you say such a thing about your own people? Yes, Cayman Brac may not have all of the antiquities of the latter.. but it thrives in other areas.
Some of the greatest minds have actually come from the brac. For example, the man who owned Cayman Brac Beach Resort, the Resort in lcm, and started the international company, Cox. He was a “bracka”. Cutting off the brac would be turning your backs on all of the contributions they as people have made to our islands.
Grand Cayman, Cayman Brac, and Little Cayman are all ONE. We are ALL the Cayman Islands. We need to stop separating ourselves from each other and work together.
Wow… really? How can you say that? Cayman Brac is a part of the Cayman Islands, not just Grand Cayman. Whether you believe the Brac doesn’t bring in enough revenue or not.. how can you say such a thing about your own people? Yes, Cayman Brac may not have all of the antiquities of the latter.. but it thrives in other areas.
Some of the greatest minds have actually come from the brac. For example, the man who owned Cayman Brac Beach Resort, the Resort in lcm, and started the international company, Cox. He was a “bracka”. Cutting off the brac would be turning your backs on all of the contributions they as people have made to our islands.
Grand Cayman, Cayman Brac, and Little Cayman are all ONE. We are ALL the Cayman Islands. We need to stop separating ourselves from each other and work together.
Talk about Cayman Kind! Its remarks like this that hi-lights the degradation of Caymanian society. Just so sad.
Agree, the Govt. need to do away with the District Commissioner post, he does nothing besides baby sitting
If the Brac is already operating again, and Little doesn’t need a large firetruck to operate, why are we buying another one? And who orders a vehicle to be configured without having an understanding what the price is going to be? More likely that whilst they don’t know the exact cost, they have a pretty good idea of what the bill is and they absolutely know the public would be furious if they found out. Not convinced that the tax payers monies are being spent wisely here.
Last Oshkosh replacement was over $500k when the fire truck was consumed by flames while parked in the fire station.
What happen to the 5 spare trucks at the Georgetown Fire station? The ones parked in the back!
The trucks in Grand Cayman cannot be released to the Brac as per International Airport regulations for Airport Firefighter Rescue, the Airdrone fleet requires a minimum amount of vehicles in the event of an emergency.
This one will cost $750,000.00 when a second hand one can be had for $50,000!
Its probably for 1 flight per week! Just how crazy is this? Is anybody thinking?
The answer to your question, Anonymous 5:57 , is “No”. No one is listening. We won’t be told the price anyway.
How much damage was there to the wrecked fire truck? Some pictures showing the actual damage would be nice, CNS.
Totaled – it rolled – cab crushed
stupid comment the roof can be replaced ever been to a truck body shop where they fix things like that ??Third world brain is what you have AKA small minded
Yeah, How could there be much damage if it just fell over on its side?
Western Auto can fix it!
U ditwit if u had seen the truck u would’nt say such crap