Dallas Fire-Rescue recently informed city council members it was in a predicament: its ladder truck fleet is shorthanded, and two extra trucks needed to be rented to fill gaps in coverage, WFAA.com reported. 

One of those rental trucks has arrived and is already out of commission per the Dallas Fire Fighters Association. 

It underscores how big of a problem DFR is facing with its fleet and how things could go from bad to worse quickly, the report said.

Since DFR announced almost two weeks ago that the fleet was in tough shape, another truck has also gone out of service per a fire official, according to the report. 

DFR is specifically worried about how fast a truck can be pulled out of service versus the time it takes to replace one so the agency can maintain its full response capabilities, the report said. 

The memo to the Dallas City Council states that DFR maintains a 23-vehicle fleet of fire trucks scattered across the city. But nine trucks are currently out of commission due to mechanical issues, the report said.  

The department has seven ladder trucks in reserve, which are all being utilized now, according to the report. 

That leaves the department down three trucks if you count the additional one that was sidelined since the memo went out, the report said.

 

Toyota Motor Manufacturing Kentucky recently donated seven acres of land to Georgetown-Scott County (KY) for the city to build a new fire station and training center for emergency medical technician and paramedic training, WTVQ.com reported.

The Georgetown-Scott County Emergency Medical Services will create and service a new district, which should significantly reduce response times for emergency services, according to a press release from Scott County Fiscal Court. Later, the city will also add facilities, manpower and equipment for the needs of the Georgetown Fire Department.

Grand Prairie Fire Department Station 5 pushed in its new truck, Squad 5, into service with the time-honored tradition of “pushing” a new apparatus into its home.

This apparatus will respond to Hazmat calls and other major incidents. Squad 5 is also a mobile command post equipped for large-scale incidents.

A closer look at our Squad 5! Follow us on TikTok at https://t.co/IcMsTKBcWM. pic.twitter.com/hxRqNGTCEX

— Grand Prairie Fire (@GPTXFire) September 28, 2022

Station 5 placed Squad 5 into service with the time-honored tradition of “pushing” a new apparatus into its home! 🥳
This apparatus will respond to Hazmat calls and other major incidents. Squad 5 is also a mobile command post equipped for large-scale incidents.#firefighters pic.twitter.com/yv8GonXZrj

— Grand Prairie Fire (@GPTXFire) September 28, 2022

The Lockport Fire Department will be buying a used ladder truck from a volunteer district, having gone through approval for the funds by the Common Council, LockportJournal.com reported.

The Lockport Fire Department owns a 1997 Aerial Platform Truck that has logged 6,000 engine miles and has reached its life expectancy, the report said. It is also experiencing mechanical problems, a situation that is exasperated because the manufacturer has gone out of business and it’s difficult to find the proper parts for its repair.

To solve the problem the fire chief asked for another truck. The Brighton Fire District in Tonawanda has a 2001 Pierce Aerial Platform Truck with 1,200 engine hours available for $150,000 and that would fill the department’s needs for now, the report said. It is estimated that those five-years could get them over the hump.

According to the resolution at Wednesday’s Common Council meeting, a newly built truck, designed to meet specifications for Lockport, would take at least three years to be delivered, and that the current ladder truck needs to be replaced sooner, the report said. This makes the Brighton truck’s availability all the more helpful.

By Bill Adkins

Lynchburg (OH) Fire Department recently applied for the FEMA based AFG grant (Assistance to firefighter’s grant). With help from Ohio First Responder Grants, LLC Lynchburg was able to purchase a 2022 Rosenbauer 3,000-gallon tanker at a fraction of the cost. The grant was designed to replace a 2000 International 2000-gallon tanker along with a 2001 International 1800-gallon tanker. These tankers were equipped with small PTO pumps and were no longer practical for the current operations set forth by Lynchburg Fire Chief Jeff Turner. 

Lynchburg Fire Department covers 89 square miles and protects the Village of Lynchburg, Dodson Township, Hamer Township, Salem Township, and Union Townships in Highland County. With a population of more than 7,500 and the large land mass, hydrants are far and few between. Water tankers are Lynchburg’s primary source of water supply. So, one can imagine how important having possession of a reliable tanker is to the community. 

Members of Lynchburg FD discussed options for a tanker to best suit the dynamics they have day in and day out. Like most small-town fire departments Lynchburg relies on volunteers for staffing. Some volunteers come from miles away and may need to meet apparatus at the scene. One scenario tanker 412 may be tasked with is being first arriving apparatus. The members wanted the new tanker to have enough equipment and a large pump to sustain fire ground operations until other apparatus arrive. Another scenario, and what may turn into a more frequent option that they had not had before, is nurse tanker operations. After researching options and looking at tankers from surrounding departments, asking what worked and asking what those departments would change, the members of Lynchburg FD came up with Tanker 412.

Tanker 412

Tanker 412 is a 2022 3,000-gallon Rosenbauer on a Kenworth T440 chassis. With a Paccar PX-9, 450-horsepower engine, Tanker 412 will have no problem negotiating Highland County roadways. With members wanting the new apparatus to have a large pump they decided to go with the Qmax 1500. This 1,500-gallon-per-minute (GPM) pump is controlled by a Fire Research INCONTROL 300 power module. Tanker 412’s chassis has cameras on the driver’s side, passenger side, and rear to help operators negotiate tight spaces and turns. 

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