Hub Fire Engines and Kelowna Fire Department Continue Decade-Long Partnership with Order of Five Custom Engines

December 22, 2025

Hub Fire Engines is proud to announce that Kelowna Fire Department has placed an order for five custom engines, marking a significant continuation of a partnership that has grown steadily over the past decade. The new units will support both fleet expansion and the replacement of aging apparatus, ensuring Kelowna remains prepared to meet the demands of one of British Columbia’s fastest-growing regions.

Since 2016, Kelowna Fire Department has relied on Hub’s apparatus for frontline, wildland, and specialized response. Over that time, Hub has delivered engines, tankers, pumpers, a walkaround rescue, a bush truck, and a squad truck—each built with an emphasis on operational continuity, reliability, and a level of craftsmanship that has defined Hub’s reputation for more than 60 years. As Canada’s oldest continuous manufacturer of custom fire apparatus, Hub has earned long-standing trust through meticulous design processes, skilled tradespeople, and an unwavering commitment to quality over quantity. This latest order builds on that foundation.

Working collaboratively, Kelowna and Hub focused on preserving the functional layout and predictability that firefighters depend on while incorporating modern features that elevate ergonomics, serviceability, and operational efficiency. The new engines will include a two-stage pump system to support Kelowna’s increasing number of mid-rise and high-rise developments, along with an enclosed pump operator panel for environmental protection and enhanced operator comfort. Purpose-built compartment configurations, low hose bed heights, enclosed ladder storage, and powered hose bed doors reflect a shared commitment to thoughtful design and safer, more efficient deployment.

As a British Columbian manufacturer, Hub Fire Engines is honoured to continue supporting a BC department with apparatus built close to home—designed, engineered, and manufactured by skilled tradespeople whose craftsmanship is recognized across Canada. “For nearly a decade, our relationship with Kelowna Fire Department has been built on collaboration, trust, and a shared commitment to quality,” says Wayne Stevens, President of Hub Fire Engines. “Their decision to place this next series of engines with Hub is a tremendous point of pride for us. These trucks represent the best of our team’s craftsmanship here in Canada, and we’re honoured to support Kelowna’s firefighters with apparatus built for the realities they face every day.”

Hub’s Design & Quotation Specialist Trevor Edwards emphasized the importance of long-term collaboration in the development of these units, noting that Kelowna’s apparatus strategy has always centered on purposeful layout, continuity across the fleet, and high standards of fit and finish. He emphasized that Hub’s bespoke design process—where every detail, from compartment dimensions, through workflow preferences, to operational nuance, is tailored to the department—has helped strengthen the partnership between the organizations.

“We are happy to announce that HUB Fire Engines has been awarded the contract to provide five Custom Spartan Gladiator Engines for the Kelowna Fire Department,” says Larry Watkinson, Deputy Fire Chief. “HUB Fire Engines has a proven track record of delivering exceptional fire apparatus tailored to the needs of KFD. Their thorough understanding of our operational requirements, combined with their accessibility and adaptability, positions them perfectly to meet our expectations. We deeply value our ongoing partnership with HUB and eagerly anticipate collaborating with them as these new engines are constructed to serve our community.”

This order is a reflection of mutual trust, shared values, and a decade of collaboration between Kelowna Fire Department and Hub Fire Engines. It reinforces the commitment of both teams to equipping firefighters with custom-built, exceptionally crafted apparatus designed for the complexity and pace of modern emergency response—apparatus that embody precision, reliability, and the high-end manufacturing legacy that sets Hub apart in the Canadian fire-service landscape.

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