A four-vehicle collision in January has cost the city a fire truck.

Council is now considering the purchase of a new fire truck after insurance has written off the tanker involved in the Jan. 22 collision.

The accident seriously injured Lisa Gallant-McRobb, the 2018 Yukon Sourdough Rendezvous queen.

She had been driving her car when it became involved in the collision at the intersection of the Alaska Highway and Robert Service Way.

Gallant-McRobb told the Star in late January she was glad to have emerged from the collision alive. The fire truck had been proceeding to a call in the Whitehorse Copper subdivision.

At Monday evening’s council meeting, Richard Graham, the city’s manager of operations, brought forward a recommendation that council sole-source the $365,000 contract for a new fire truck.

The one involved in the collision – which had been purchased new in 2002 – has been written off by the city’s insurance company, Graham advised council.

“A capital budget amendment is required to fund the replacement Fire Department Tanker as insurance will likely only cover the current value of the written-off unit. Monies received from insurance will be returned to the Equipment Replacement Reserve,” he stated in his report to council.

“As time is of the essence in replacing this tanker, research into replacement options and timelines began immediately.

“A typical fire department emergency response unit is produced specifically for a client and delivered in 12 months or more after order and final approval of shop drawings,” the report said.

“A public process would likely take between 18 and 24 months from budget approval to delivery of this particular unit.”

There are two fire tankers currently available in the country.

Staff from the Fire and Operations Departments have reviewed both, which are similar in specifications but would require some modifications prior to purchase.

The 2017 Westvac M4 Fire Tanker would cost $298,000, while the 2018 Fort Garry Crusader Fire Tanker would cost $311,000.

Modifications are estimated to cost $32,000 while other costs such as the inspection, training, decals and shipping would total about $35,000.

While work continues to purchase a new truck, the city has secured a rental tanker for nine months, with a condition that the rental can be cancelled with five days’ notice.

Graham addressed Coun. Steve Roddick’s concerns about the cost of renting a fire truck.

He pointed out it is costing the city just $1, thanks to the territory’s fire marshal’s office. It is still getting ready for the road, but should be in service in a couple of weeks.

In his report, Graham noted the city could also rely on mutual aid partners for tanker services.

It’s recommended the purchase be sole-sourced to avoid the minimum 18-month process if it went to tender.

With that, Graham recommended the budget be amended for a new tanker and the contract be sole-sourced to Westvac Industrial Ltd. for the least expensive of the two options.

Council will vote on the recommendation next week.

Coun. Jocelyn Curteanu attended the meeting by conference call.

While Coun. Samson Hartland had also planned to attend by conference call, there were technical difficulties.

Mayor Dan Curtis noted the councillor was following the proceedings online.