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Members of the Falkland Fire Department with Wildland 3 (Image Credit: Columbia Shuswap Regional District)
By Vernon Matters staff
Great timing

Successful baptism of fire for new Falkland Fire Truck

Aug 7, 2026 | 4:00 PM

It was a literal baptism of fire for a brand new emergency vehicle in the Columbia Shuswap.

It only took an hour for the Falkland Fire Department’s new wildland firefighting truck to be put into action.

Last Saturday, during the high winds that fanned the Bradley Creek wildfire, the truck responded to a downed hydro line that sparked a grass fire near Highway 97.

The Falkland Fire Department activated a full department response and contained the fire before any structures or property were damaged.

The vehicle, known as Wildland 3, hadn’t even been in its new parking spot for an hour before the call came in.

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Falkland Fire Chief Troy Ricard had just driven it from the manufacturer in the Lower Mainland.

“Sometimes timing is everything,” said Derek Sutherland, the CSRD’s General Manager of Community and Protective Services. “We are proud of the Falkland Fire Department’s quick response and professionalism. And we are so glad this new tool is helping them to do their job even more effectively than before.”

Purchased this spring, the specialized truck was selected to meet the needs of the Falkland Fire Protection Area. Modifications were also made so the vehicle can be used year-round, including during the winter months.

by Vernon Matters staff
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