A new custom-made rescue van arrived at the township municipal office July 8. The vehicle was built by Battleshield Industries Ltd. of Vars at a cost of about $350,000, including taxes, which Fire Chief Bryce Luker affirmed is well within the budget allowed for the van.

The new rescue van was built using a Freightliner truck chassis and is three times the size of the department’s old van. Chief Luker noted that the new unit has “significant capacity” for carrying the Jaws of Life and all the other equipment that firefighters will need available when responding to emergency rescue calls.

The new van will become the department’s primary unit for responding to rescue calls. But Chief Luker noted that the old van will still be part of the department fleet for the duration as a secondary rescue unit.

“We are a spread-out community, with three (fire) stations,” Chief Luker said. “We like the idea of having the second (rescue) truck.”