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Toronto Fire Services: The first emergency service in North America to use Hybrid vehicles.

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Kevin ''Crash'' Corrigan
The Toronto Fire Service has proudly announced that it is the first emergency service in North America to put Hybrid vehicles into service as emergency response units.

(Photo: Kevin ''Crash'' Corrigan)
This is not surprising when you realize that Toronto not only has the largest fire service in Canada, but is, in fact, the fifth largest of its kind in the whole of North America.

To mark this momentous occasion, a number of automotive journalists and other interested parties were invited to join members of the TFS, as they demonstrated the current technology which is now available to them.

The event took place at Downsview Park in Toronto, and on hand and available for interviews were:

The Honorable Monte Kwinter, Ontario Minister of Community Safety & Correctional Services.

The Honorable Laurel Broten, Ontario Minister of the Environment.

William A. Stewart, Toronto Fire Chief.

Stephen Beatty, Managing Director of Toyota Canada Inc.

(Photo: Kevin ''Crash'' Corrigan)
During the course of the day, we were treated to demonstrations of various types of fire fighting equipment, and were even allowed to drive a number of their emergency vehicles. This included some of their new environmentally-friendly Toyota Highlander Hybrid SUV's which are equipped as emergency response units.

The Toronto Fire Service has embraced the Hybrid vision and is firmly behind the idea of greater fuel savings and environmentally cleaner vehicles.

Toyota's Highlander Hybrid is a remarkable vehicle. It is powered by a 3.3 litre V6 engine that works seamlessly with a high-torque electric drive motor-generator to develop a peak system output equivalent to 268 hp. The Hybrid Synergy Drive (HSD) power train features an Electronically Controlled Continuously Variable Transmission (ECVT) and Toyota's first-ever application of on-demand electronic 4-wheel-drive with intelligence (4WD-i).
Nine of these Hybrid SUV's will now be put into service and will be used predominately by Toronto District Fire Chiefs.

(Photo: Kevin ''Crash'' Corrigan)
Although emergency lighting, radio equipment etc. is of course necessary, the actual vehicles are supplied in basic stock form. Toyota can be rightly proud of the fact that the Toronto Fire Service deemed the handling characteristics of the Highlander more than capable of meeting their requirements. This was superbly demonstrated throughout the day by Toronto Fire Chief Sean Pearce, who delighted the audience with his impressive high speed slalom runs through a series of tightly spaced traffic cones.

Joining the Toronto Fire Services staff were representatives of Toyota Canada, who were on hand to answer any questions relating directly to their Hybrid vehicles. Also present were representatives of Spartan, the company which produces many of the fire tenders for the TFS.
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