A new communications tower has been erected atop the Hay River Fire Hall.

The work was completed on the morning of April 25 to replace a tower that tumbled in October, apparently because of high wind.

Fire Chief Ross Potter welcomes the new tower and the return to normal communications for the fire department, including its ambulance service.

SA国际影视传媒淚SA国际影视传媒檓 extremely happy to have it repaired,SA国际影视传媒� he said. SA国际影视传媒淭he range is back to normal. Our communications were touch and go for the whole time we didnSA国际影视传媒檛 have the tower.SA国际影视传媒�

Potter said he can now communicate by radio with the fire hall from the other side of Alexandra Falls, whereas the range had been limited to about Paradise Valley.

The fire chief said that the improved communication will help during highway rescues.

Once the tower was erected on April 25, the communication improved that day, he said. SA国际影视传媒淎s soon as we got the antenna on it, we were live on it again. ItSA国际影视传媒檚 working great.SA国际影视传媒�

The tower was replaced by the Town of Hay RiverSA国际影视传媒檚 insurance for just under $100,000.

The project was undertaken by WesTower Communications of Vancouver.

The previous tower tumbled on Oct. 14.

Afterwards, some communications continued to be provided by the emergency services radio antenna which was on the fallen tower, after it was secured to the side of the fire hall as a safety precaution.

In November, a temporary fix was made to the antenna. A tripod base was installed on top of the fire hall and the antenna was placed on a pipe extending skyward about 20 feet above the roof of the building.

Because of the diminished range without the full height of the tower, emergency vehicles used backup cellphones and satellite phones.

SA国际影视传媒淲e had workarounds,SA国际影视传媒� said Potter. SA国际影视传媒淲e used cellphones rather than radio to get to the hospital and give patient stats. We were able to work without it, but itSA国际影视传媒檚 certainly nice to have the VHF radio back.SA国际影视传媒�

The fire chief noted that radio communication is quicker and easier.

A cellphone is person-to-person, while many people hear at the same time whatSA国际影视传媒檚 going on by radio, he said. SA国际影视传媒淚f we ran into a difficult situation, for example when weSA国际影视传媒檙e doing possibly a highway accident or something like that and we needed more help, if we got the radio itSA国际影视传媒檚 really easy to turn around and say, SA国际影视传媒楬ey guys, we need more people out here.SA国际影视传媒橲A国际影视传媒�

The new tower is 65 feet high, the same as the one that fell.

However, it is not an aluminum tower, like the one that failed. The previous tower was rated for 80 km/h winds, and it fell in winds that gusted up to 68 km/h.

The new tower is made of steel.