Westlock County approved additional funding for a new water tender for the northern region at its meeting June 24.
In March 2025, a request for proposal was issued, with the lowest quote coming in at $249,999, excluding some fire apparatus. The estimated cost of the entire project would be just under $295,000 before GST.
An additional funding of $44,799 is being requested to equip the unit for usage and deployment. A total of $45,000 would come from the Local Government Fiscal Framework (LGFF) capital grant to cover the additional costs.
Water tenders are an instrumental apparatus in combating fires. They hold massive amounts of water capable of drafting water from a stream, lake or hydrants. These tankards are specifically used when there are no working fire hydrants in the vicinity such as in the countryside.
With the recent fires running by the Pembina River, investing in firefighting equipment and tankards is key to holding fires back and ensuring public safety.
Some members of the council were skeptical when it was first presented at the June 10, 2025, regular meeting. Coun. Sherri Provencal stated that it would be in the county's best interest for the councillors to see it beforehand: “Is what we found adequate for the job or is it just because it is the least expensive?”
One problem that was pointed out by Reeve Christine Wiese was the lack of information about the water tender that impacted their decision, [It] doesn’t say what kind of truck this is, how much water is going to be [available] … it’s just saying we want more money…”
County administration brought the issue back for approval where they provided a list of requirements the truck needs to meet before it can be purchased including holding over 7,000 litres of water, over 150 litres of fuel and a heating system in the pump compartment.
