The Dawson City Fire Department has bolstered its emergency response capabilities with the arrival of a brand-new fire truck, acquired at a significant discount of $480,000. The new vehicle, known as Engine 3, was purchased for $890,000, well below its original $1.37 million valuation, after a deal for the truck fell through with another municipality.
Fire Chief Mike Masserey had been searching for a replacement vehicle for eight years, a process complicated by rising equipment costs following the COVID-19 pandemic. The truck was manufactured by Fort Garry Fire Trucks in Manitoba and driven all the way to the Yukon. Despite encountering some road damage during the trip, including a broken driver’s side window and windshield chips from a passing vehicle near Carmacks, the truck is now officially part of the local fleet.
The new unit replaces a 29-year-old truck that was decommissioned last year. It offers several upgrades for the Dawson City Fire Department, which serves as the oldest fire department in the territory with over 125 years of history. The truck is 1.5 metres longer than its predecessor, features a 7,500-litre water capacity, a turret nozzle on the roof, and includes charging ports in every cabinet to support modern firefighting equipment.
Mayor Stephen Johnson recently held a ceremony at the local fire hall to christen the vehicle with champagne, describing the acquisition as representative of the best of the community. Aside from the Fire Chief, the department is staffed by unpaid volunteers who provide round-the-clock protection for the region.
The fire truck purchase is part of a broader $12.3 million capital spending plan in the 2026 municipal budget. While the town is investing in this emergency equipment and $8.8 million in water and wastewater upgrades, the budget also includes a 2.5 per cent decrease in residential property tax rates.
