Port Moody donates retired 1995 Spartan fire engine to Seton Valley Volunteer Firefighters Society

Photo: Port Moody Mayor Rob Vagramov and Seton Valley Volunteer Firefighters Society Director Ross Downey exchange papers to finalize Port Moody Fire Rescue’s donation of a retired 1995 Spartan fire engine. The engine is not pictured as it is currently being prepared for delivery.
On September 10, 2020, Fire Chief Ron Coulson, on behalf of Port Moody Fire Rescue (PMFR) and the City of Port Moody, presented a retired 1995 Spartan fire engine to Seton Valley Volunteer Firefighters Society Director Ross Downey. The engine will replace a 1948 vehicle used for more than 20 years by the Seton Valley Volunteer Fire Department (SVVFD), which serves the communities of Seton Portage, Tsal’alh, and Ohin.
The 1995 Spartan fire engine was a front-line pumper in PMFR’s fleet for 15 years and a back-up pumper for 10 years. After 25 years of service, the engine was retired as it no longer met insurance standards for public fire service apparatus. Fire engines or pumpers supply water to firefighters’ hose lines from a water source. They also carry a variety of equipment such as portable ladders, forcible-entry tools, ventilation fans, and medical devices and supplies.
“This engine has a lot of life left in it, and we’re very pleased to be able to donate it to a B.C. community in need,” said Chief Coulson. “We hope the 1995 Spartan will help Seton Valley’s volunteer firefighters protect their communities for many years to come.”
“Structures on St’at’imc lands are some of the largest buildings in our communities – these include a hotel, school, and healthcare facility,” said Downey. “These large structures have been built in the last few years and far exceed our present fire truck capacities. The Port Moody truck, with its large pump and three-inch water cannon, will greatly increase our ability to fight fires in these large structures. We thank Port Moody for this generous donation.”
In addition to increased capacity for fighting larger fires, the 1995 pumper will mean faster response times for the SVVFD, more protection for crew members with its enclosed cab, and less vehicle congestion at the scene of a fire, as multiple firefighters will be able to ride in the larger truck instead of travelling in separate vehicles.
The SVVFD encompasses the Seton Lake Volunteer Fire Department (St'at'imc lands) as the two departments joined together to create one fire service in August 2020. The amalgamation creates efficiencies by combining assets and equipment to enhance fire protection on Electoral Area B lands (Squamish-Lillooet Regional District) and St’at’imc lands, which are intermingled and cover a large, 15-kilometre area.