Paradise writes off three vehicles damaged in depot fire

By Mark Squibb

Paradise council last week voted to write off three vehicles damaged in the February 9 depot fire. The decision follows an assessment by the Town’s insurance broker, Aviva.
The first was a 2024 tandem snowplough identified as the source of the fire. Aviva assessed the market value as $279,149 and replacement cost as $420,000, based on tender estimates.
The next was a 2014 garbage truck. Carew said the truck’s age and pre-existing issues, including a recently installed rebuilt transmission and electrical and hydrological problems contributed to the decision to write off the unit. The market value was estimated at $34,855,the salvage value at $5,228, and repair cost at $23,031. The truck was scheduled for replacement this year.
The third was a 2024 Aquatech vacuum truck. Market value was assessed at $88,507, while the replacement value was assessed at, in Carew’s words, a “whopping” $700,000. The salvage value was estimated to be $13,276 and the repair cost was estimated to be $63,468.
“This one hurts the most,” said Carew. “As we read out earlier, replacement of this particular unit is $700,000-ish, plus HST. This one is the most substantial, and that unit was used quite extensively by staff.”
Carew said the truck, which is used to clean out sewers, catch basins and treatment plans, is vital and will need to be replaced, and concluded the loss of all three units have resulted in substantial losses to the Town.
Council voted unanimously to write off all three vehicles and accept the market value estimates.
“It’s unfortunate that there was a fire, and unfortunate to see such a financial loss to the Town, especially the brand new 2024 tandem and the vac truck,” said Deputy Mayor Kimberley Street. “But, in times like this, it’s important to remember that there was no loss of life or injury.”