Whereas the Fire Underwriters has deemed that all fire apparatus from all municipal and regional district Fire Departments in British Columbia be in service for 20 years, providing annual testing and inspections are performed; And whereas there are local governments that utilize their fire apparatus much less frequently than those of other local governments, and small geographically sized communities do not put nearly as much distance on their fire apparatus as do larger geographically sized communities, and all fire apparatus are annually tested and maintained to the highest standard of operation: Therefore be it resolved that UBCM ask the Provincial Government to urge the Fire Underwriters to allow small municipalities with small geographic areas to operate their well maintained and low mileage fire apparatus beyond 20 years as their first response apparatus.
Ministry of Public Safety and Solicitor General While the Office of the Fire Commissioner OFC and the Province of BC do not have a role in the Fire Underwriters Survey FUS process of setting rates and gradings for fire apparatus, the OFC has committed to attempting to facilitate a discussion with the UBCM and the FUS to ensure local governments can access clear information on the rationale used in determining the FUS fire equipment rating system. The Province recognizes the challenges that small and rural communities face in delivering suppression services as well as replacing and maintaining fire service equipment such as fire trucks. Through the OFC, the Province has been conveying these concerns and the desire to extend insurance beyond 20 years for well maintained and low mileage fire apparatuses. For reference, the FUS has published a technical bulletin called INSURANCE GRADING RECOGNITION OF USED OR REBUILT FIRE APPARATUS and can be located on their public webpages at: https:fireunderwriters.caDownloads. The bulletin it speaks to the standards that are referenced and used in the grading process as well as recognition that small and rural communities that are utilizing used fire apparatus may have challenges meeting the strict standards. The bulletin also outlines additional options and steps that a community can take to extend the certified life span of a fire apparatus up to 30 years. The FUS has agreed to meet with UBCM to discuss these issues. The OFC spoke to UBCM about scheduling a meeting of all three parties.