Firefighting in Ontario just got greener with the arrival of its first electric fire truck

Brampton is set to become the first city in Ontario to add an electric-powered front-line fire truck to its fleet, a step towards a cleaner and safer future for emergency response services in the city.

Brampton Mayor Patrick Brown took to social media to share the news and play up the city's role as a leader in the electrification of municipal vehicles. Brampton is the second city in Canada to buy an electric fire truck; the first was Vancouver, which purchased a similar vehicle from the same company in 2023.

Brampton’s truck was manufactured and delivered to the city by the Austria-based company Rosenbauer Group.

"Our new Rosenbauer Group electric fire truck just arrived, and you will see it responding to calls very soon," said Brown. “As Bramptonians, we know who we are — a city that cares about being green and setting a great example for the next generation on environment.”

According to the Rosenbauer Group, the new electric fire truck has a run time of nearly two hours of driving on battery power, enabling it to respond to multiple emergencies on a single charge. It reduces firefighter exposure to carcinogens, cuts greenhouse gas emissions and can adjust ride heights, enhancing adaptability during flood responses.

“This cutting-edge fire truck is not only revolutionizing emergency response but is also aligned with our dedication to a greener, cleaner future,” reads a statement from the city shared online. “The Rosenbauer RTX’s advanced technology allows our fire crews to respond to emergencies with ZERO emissions, both on the road and on-site.”

Brampton, 44 kilometres west of Toronto, asserts the urgent need to reduce carbon emissions and prepare for the consequences of a warming planet.

Transportation accounts for 59 per cent of the city's greenhouse gas emissions. In its 2041 climate targets, the City of Brampton’s goals include increasing the electric share of light-duty vehicles to 22 per cent and heavy-duty vehicles to seven per cent.

Vancouver has committed to reducing fleet emissions by 60 per cent below 2007 levels by 2030. Currently, 10 per cent of the city's fleet vehicles are electric, with this percentage expected to grow as aging diesel and gas-powered vehicles are replaced.

This story was produced in partnership with Journalists for Human Rights for the Afghan Journalists-in-Residence program funded by the Meta Journalism Project.