Brac to get $600k yellow fire truck
New fire truck for Cayman Brac
(CNS): Government is splashing out almost $600,000 on a new bright yellow fire truck for Cayman Brac to replace the one that crashed during a test run on the airport runway last month, injuring two officers. Government officials said that Chief Fire Officer David Hails has signed a deal with Rosenbauer Minnesota, the US manufacturer, to buy the state-of-the-art Panther 6×6 truck for the fire station at the Charles Kirkconnell International Airport on the Brac.
Government officials said the CI$599,328 for the new truck came from existing funds in the home affairs ministry budgeted for a new fire truck this fiscal year, and this is the first new machine the fire serviced has purchased since 2008 and the first on the Brac since 2006. The engine that flipped on the runway had cost $425,387 when it was bought around 10 years ago.
According to a release from GIS, the truck will be fully equipped with all the essentials for fighting aviation fires, plus several advanced features never seen in the Cayman Islands.
“One new feature that the Panther has is a twin-agent fire extinguishing system, which will spray foam and a dry chemical at the same time,” Chief Hails stated in the release. “Essentially, the powder in the dual nozzle knocks down the fire rapidly, while the foam secures the hazard by laying a vapor-suppressing blanket on the fuel and helping to cool it. It’s also a fantastic tool for dealing with pressurised fuel fires, where we can use a water cone to contain the fire then use the dry chemical to extinguish it. This means firefighters can get closer to the fire and extinguish it under controlled and safe conditions.”
The CIFS will also receive free training on both the operation and maintenance on the fire truck, which was negotiated into the contract for the new brightly green truck.
“The Panther also has a driver’s cab with a panoramic view, full LED lighting and several other innovative features that will allow for maximum power, safety and functionality when responding to a fire emergency,” Hails said. “It is also fitted with a forward-looking infrared FLIR camera, which is a first on-board thermal imaging camera of its kind for the Cayman Islands. This camera allows the driver to see objects and casualties in restricted vision conditions such as darkness, smoke or fog.”
Chief Hails said he and his colleagues will fly to the US in the next few weeks to do all the final checks before the new engine makes its way to Cayman Brac in March. Once the final inspection is completed, it will take around two weeks for the fire truck to be shipped.
Meanwhile, the investigation into how the fire truck flipped over in January during the speed test is ongoing and the two fire officers injured in the smash remain on sick leave.
CNS note: The story posted this morning stated that the truck was green, which was the colour the truck was said to be in the GIS release and what it looks like from the pictures. However, it has since been confirmed that the truck is, in fact, yellow.
Category: Local News
You all who cry down on brackas have you put a price on human life? If a airplane crashed and your love ones or friends were on board and they died because of lack fire saving equipment you all will be singing a different tune then! Bracka
Simply appalling how many people think that Cayman Brac and its people are second hand worthy. Are the lives of the people who live in Grand Cayman more valuable? I also find it ironic and rather amuzing that people forget so easy. For a very similar incident took place in Grand Cayman at the airport when a fire truck there was destroyed due to an accident during a speed test. The classification of an airport has to do with the operational status of the emergency services attached to it, being an International airport requires more than the average Joe can comprehend. Cayman Brac requires this equipment just as Grand Cayman does, and neither deserves secon hand life saving equipment.
I wonder what an FOI request would show, as to exactly how many persons travelled to specify the new truck, which Caymanians went, and if not, why no Caymanians were involved in the process?
Dont worry about the note at the bottom of the article CNS. In a few weeks they will paint it red at a cost of $100,000 more.
Vote buying.
For the amount of fires that happen in north and east I would say for the moment we are fine as far as fir service is considered. Let’s talk about the lack of coverage by our ambulance service. Calls in the north and east are increasing weekly and with the amount of time the unit is transporting and having to return to the district leaves it uncovered and open to disaster. There needs to be a fourth station put in place for an ambulance. Boddentown would be the perfect place between town and the existing north station. And while we are at it there are enough people already going to health city on their own. And constantly we are taking people from government hospital there. Let them open an emergency room already. That would solve some of the problems.
Except emergency rooms loose money and HCCI is not a public service, they are a company looking to make money.
They are treating more “emergency” patients than you can shake a stick at already . What’s the difference.
Lots of bells & whistles here, but I don’t see a rollbar listed as an accessory.
However, it does sound like there’s hidden collapsible wings that expand for flying.
Pretty cool-
Oh Dear… Please dont let the firemen sit behind the wheel… Just keep it parked and bring the fires to it…
Probably cost half that.
Wasting the peoples money as wasteful as possible is the shortcut to losing their sovereignty, as planned.
I thought the waste of public funds was an essential campaign strategy in the over-represented Lesser Caymans.
How is it wasteful to replace a heavily damage piece of equipment?
And how much would a used one have cost?
Come on send the older models to the Brac and start refitting Grand Cayman with the newer models, use some of that 600k and build another fire station, and buy some used fire engines, we still have inadequate coverage in the eastern districts in the Bodden Town and Colliers area, does anyone realize where our biggest timeshare buildings are and the material they are made from, we are seriously playing with fire in the eastern districts concerning our coverage out there, but I guess with all the wise and wonderful minds in government that thinks of these brilliant ideas, like hiding the top of the line model with all the bells and whistles in Little Cayman,
Please Cayman wake-up to the wastefulness that is going on, I’m tired of the wasting of this countries tax money, do these bureaucrats understand where those monies they are spending are coming from, they are coming from the pockets of everyone stepping foot on this island, they are using your money and mines, which we could have used for investing, for planning for our retirements, for educating our kids.
Please understand CIG you all are wasting tons of hard earned dollars that the people of these islands earned from breaking their backs working, from their sweat, and god only knows what some had to do to get theirs, you all are leaving us nothing, your taxes us to death, we are paying taxes on taxes these day.
Please hear our cries and spend our monies wiser on this island.
Can I say this in closing whoever thought of this idea, for good measure lets just fire them and get this over with, this has got to be one of the dumbest ideas I’ve heard come out of the CIG in awhile.
But does it come equipped with anti-soldier crab countermeasures?
And is it nerf armored for the occasional speed safety check?
Good color. Oncoming traffic and pedestrians will have plenty of time to get out of danger.
Pedestrians on an airfield?
No, wonderboy, on the road.
It’s an airfield truck and most likely will not be driven on public roads
I guess that means the public is most likely out of danger.
James the sarcasm is clearly lost on you…..le sigh
Oh boy… unna bet the first speed test run down the runway is going to leave some sweaty palms & brows …. yeeehaaaa
Maybe they should organize fundraisers for the vehicle that needs replacing or that they destroyed! EMS/The Cayman Islands Heart Fund had to fund raise for a new Ambulance. Hey CI Gov. why don’t you provide the same funding for our EMS and Police Services??
And DOE, where are the boats to stop conch, turtle and lobster thieves destroying our heritage?
No time for that. Busy with a work
Funny, those were my thoughts. EMS always has to beg for new trucks. As much as these trucks are driving around they are constantly needed to be replaced.
RCIPS takes millions every year for vehicles that don’t last one year on the road as they are often crashed.
Glad to hear the new machine can deal with all that fog on the Brac, but can it reach 70mph in 6 seconds and do a high speed U turn at the end of the runway?.
My Mustang can!
If the new truck is more advanced wouldn’t it server better to have it based in Grand Cayman where the bigger jets come and then send one of GC’s ones to the Brac?
Got to do something to get a certain Brac MLA reelected!!
Bobo, the MLA you are referring to does not need this to get reelected. Unlike the other Brac MLA (who is constantly changing political parties) – the MLA you are talking about has consistently over the years invested in the Brac community and is a part of multiple businesses.
The risk taker’s deserve their rewards. And I do not see any evidence of the other Brac MLA trying to start up any sort of business or investing in the community – unless government is paying for it. And this same MLA is very disrespectful by coming to church 45 minutes to an hour late – like their position in our government means anything.
All I can say is go Moses Trump, you the man! And to the other Brac MLA, may you cherish the few months that you have left in your current position.
How much stupider can you get? The MLA that you are trying to bash and push under the carpet has DONE MORE FOR THE BRAC THAN YOUR MOSES TRUMP HAS DONE. If it was not for this specific MLA the Cayman Islands would be without a government today and would of had to call for an early election long ago. Going to church 45 minutes to an hour late makes you a bad politician now? Well guess what this MLA gets to their job on time allowing the legislative assembly to have house. You have alot to say but really know little about this MLA you seem to know. If this MLA didn’t switch parties THERE WOULD BE NO PPM PARTY TODAY. Maybe you should go run for elections and pick up the licks, hurtful words, stress etc that this MLA and many others pick up. But guess what this MLA coming back stronger than ever this election hope you know that and i hope that whoever you are may be one of those to have to run to her for help if you already didn’t.
Far too sensible, and less of a wote guarantee.
I preferred the earlier “green fire truck version” . Can you bring it back?
I hope she comes with training wheels!
Maybe your brain came with training wheels..
This one might roll better
Will it come with training wheels?
That fire truck is a good one . And you mean that Cayman Brac can negotiate a better deal than Cayman. I like how all the necessary training is included in the purchase .
Was the old truck not insured…?
I think most governments insure themselves.
they were….. but incompetence is not covered…..
Would it. It make more sense to send the new truck to Grand Cayman and for an existing one in Grand Cayman to be sent to the Brac? What kind of logic is it to spend so much on a fancy truck that will hardly be used?
Far too logical for CIG to figure out. I predict a second $600,000 purchase in the near future.
None of the airport trucks are hardly ever used. And that’s a good thing mind you. All the airport trucks are pretty fancy despite the age.
Come on CNS, make up your mind, is it Yellow or Green?! – Inquiring minds want to know!
CNS: See note at the bottom.
Looks pistachio.
Right – aren’t pistachios nuts?
Believe me, its a great big green one. This yellow story is just, as I like to call it, fake news. This is the biggest, bestest greatest green fire truck ever. The security agencies are leaking fake stories even if they may be true.
Wasting money again I see…
Can fire trucks be insured? Also wouldn’t it make more sense to send a truck from Grand Cayman to the Brac, with the new one being kept in Grand Cayman
Nice! hopefully they don’t go head and flip this one now.
How many fires on the Brac in a year?
The equally important reason for the truck is compliance with international airline standards.
Why not ship an old one over from GC and give the new one to the part of the nation that contributes to the economy?
Too logical and way too close to election time.
I just hope CIG bears in mind that although the old truck got pretty badly banged up it still has considerable value as a donor vehicle and shouldn’t just be dumped or sold off as scrap.