The Blackpool and Little Fort fire departments have taken delivery of two new 30 horsepower Tohatsu fire pumps to be used in conjunction with the three dry hydrants recently installed along the river in the North Thompson.
The dry hydrants will be used during wildfire season for fire mitigation and were installed in partnership with Simpcw First Nation, Chu Chua Fire Department, the Jim Brothers Land and Cattle Company, Little Fort and Blackpool Fire.
Fire chief, Mike Savage said the pumps will remain at the hall until required for use.
“We will be training with them on Wednesday night. These pumps will draw water from the dry hydrants and pump it to waiting tenders and engines in the event of a major fire.”
Savage added that at a recent pumping test at South Green Lake, the pumps moved water over 500 feet uphill at an “impressive rate” of 400 gallons a minute.
The dry hydrant is a non-pressurized pipe system permanently installed in a water source such as a lake, river or stream that permits the withdrawal of water by drafting from a fire truck to provide a reliable water source for fire suppression.
There are dry hydrants now installed in Little Fort, Blackpool and the third just off Highway 5 south of Clearwater.
