Plans are underway to replace Sarnia's mobile command unit that has served the city for 30 years.
Mayor Mike Bradley said it's very recognizable in the city.
"The public would be very familiar with the command mobile bus that's been out in the community now for over two decades," said Bradley. "It's integral to dealing with emergencies in the community and also for different events in the community. It has reached the end of its life span. The budget was approved in 2020 by council and part of that provision to go ahead was that the industry, CAER [Community Awareness Emergency Response], would bring forward $200,000, which would be paid out over two years, so the bus could be purchased."
The current command unit, set to be retired in 2022, has been deployed in the past six months to 21 incidents including fires, homicides, sudden deaths and training exercises.
Mayor Bradley said the new unit will be state-of-the-art.
"The total cost is $800,000 and that would then give us the type of vehicle we need during major emergencies, whether they be natural or industry-related, to deal with those significant issues over the next 20 years or so."
Details of what would be included in the vehicle to contribute to the high cost have yet to be shared publicly.
Mayor Bradley said the project has yet to go to tender.
"We've made some huge advances here in Sarnia-Lambton with technology in communicating with the public and that's part of this vehicle's infrastructure. We can do things now that we could never do before, to communicate instantly to the public, which is the information they need when there's a natural or industrial emergency."
It's recommended Sarnia council accept the donation from CAER when it meets Monday.