Fire department to `sell' used equipment

Halton Hills Fire Department will sell used equipment to a Northern Ontario department-- for $5. The local department is buying a new SCBA (Self Contained Breathing Apparatus) compressor and fill station for $55,000, which means part of the old unit is now surplus. Halton Hills will retain the air storage cylinders as part of the new system. Trade-in value of the old unit is worth only $1,000. Northern Ontario fire stations are small with limited resources and when it became known that Halton Hills had surplus unit-- albeit an incomplete one-- interest was high. Firefighters at northern stations have to travel for several hours to replenish supplies or refill an air cylinder. The Upsala Fire Department contacted Halton Hills' Fire Department requesting the compressor as a donation or for minimal cost. While Upsala does not have the money to buy a complete system, it can afford to buy the air cylinders as it had a donated compressor and fill station. Council agreed to a deal to "sell" the unit to Upsala for a cost of $5 on the condition that that fire department removes the unit from the Maple Ave. fire station within two weeks of it being available. All costs to load and transport the 18-20 sq. ft unit, weighing several hundred pounds, is the responsibility of Upsala Fire Department.