With an increase in wildfires in recent years, the Bienfait Fire Department has gotten a sense of just how much they need a new vehicle for calls that take them off the beaten track. They're hoping a new addition to their fleet could help with that. 

The goal for the Bienfait Fire Department is to purchase a new wildland firefighting vehicle which they hope to get into service as soon as the start of the coming wildfire season, though it will depend on the availability of parts. The new vehicle would cost somewhere around $120,000. 

"Our major use would be for grassland fighting units," said Bienfait Fire Chief Adrian Bachorcik. "We've attended quite a few last year. Our callout rate has gone up on that as well. We've also used it as an IC (Instant Command) unit in the wintertime or throughout the entire year."

The price for the vehicle may be steep, but Bachorcik expects between the town and the firefighters themselves (who he expects will have to do some fundraising for it) they'll get it done. The vehicle would also be well worth it if the department gets called out as often as they did last summer and fall. 

"We're looking (for one) like any other departments around the area have," he said. "Estevan's, Oxbow's, Cimri's, we're looking at fielding one similar to what they have as well... what we're currently looking at is an F550 unit and then we'll build an apparatus to go with it." 

The Bienfait Fire Department isn't totally without wildland firefighting equipment at the moment. The problem is, the vehicle they're using at the moment is getting to be past its best-before date. 

"We have two engines, and we also have an older Dodge that we've kind of used for wildland fighting," Bachorcik said. "That's strictly what it's for. It was built in the late 60s or early 70s, so it's done its time."

Bachorcik added part of the benefit of a vehicle that can handle off-road terrain better is the ability to get to a scene quicker and scout ahead for other engines coming behind them, telling them where they need to set up.