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Taylor Heeden
The Daily Democrat, Woodland, Calif.
(TNS)

The Woodland Fire Department is grappling with significant challenges related to aging fire apparatus and ongoing supply chain disruptions.

Due to the pandemic’s aftereffects, fire apparatus manufacturers are experiencing substantial delays, leaving fire departments nationwide, including Woodland’s, with aging front-line and reserve apparatus remaining in service far beyond their expected lifespans.

“This is a significant challenge for all fire departments, but it’s especially pronounced for us here in Woodland,” said Fire Chief Eric Zane. “Our ability to maintain and operate reliable apparatus is essential for ensuring public safety.”

Woodland Fire Department usually sources from Westates Fire Apparatus, a local manufacturer. However, Westates ceased operations several years ago, complicating the process of sourcing replacement parts for the department’s reserve apparatus, some of which are over 20 years old.

This has resulted in increased out-of-service times and the need for frequent repairs, creating a severe logistical problem for the department, according to a release from the city of Woodland.

In recent months, the Fire Department has been forced to borrow fire engines from neighboring jurisdictions to maintain adequate coverage within the city.

Notably, the department has recently taken possession of a reserve engine from the city of Davis. While this engine is similarly aged, its manufacturer remains operational, making parts more readily available and reducing out-of-service issues.

“We are grateful for the support and partnership with neighboring fire departments like the city of Davis, especially as they have recently upgraded their fleet with two new engines and a ladder truck,” Zane said. “This collaborative effort helps us bridge the gap during these challenging times.”

The current predicament prompted a review of the department’s apparatus replacement policy, which has called for a 10-year service life for front-line apparatus and a 10-year reserve period, totaling a 20-year lifespan.

Zane noted this policy, while effective in the past, is now under strain due to increasing call volume and operational demands.

“Our call volume has doubled over the past decade, meaning our apparatus is experiencing twice the wear and tear,” Zane explained. “Responding to calls with larger, older fire engines, especially when our crews are constantly on the move, poses a risk. A smaller unit would require frequent returns to the station to retrieve the appropriate apparatus in critical situations, potentially delaying response times.”

To address these challenges, the department will pilot a new strategy by placing a two-person squad into service to handle lower-acuity calls within Woodland.

This initiative aims to reduce the wear and tear on the primary fire engines and ladder trucks while evaluating the potential for extending their service life.

“Ultimately, addressing these issues will require additional funding,” Zane concluded. “Reducing the life cycle of our apparatus and staffing a smaller unit full-time will necessitate budget increases. As we continue to respond to a growing number of calls—9,000 in 2023 alone—securing the necessary resources will be crucial for maintaining our operational effectiveness and public safety.”

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(c)2024 The Daily Democrat, Woodland, Calif.

Visit The Daily Democrat, Woodland, Calif. at https://www.dailydemocrat.com/

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PRESS RELEASE

Apparatus Issues Pose Challenges for Woodland Fire Department

PRESS RELEASE

The Notre Dame Fire Department recently acquired a new fire engine, and members of the Notre Dame community turned out for a “push-in”—a bit of fire service custom and culture, with a dash of pageantry surrounding the occasion, ndworks.nd.edu reported.

The new engine—an HME Ahrens-Fox urban attack pumper, number 1141—was the centerpiece of a tradition dating back more than 200 years, to a time when fire trucks were no more than horse-drawn carts. As horse anatomy and physics would have it, horses could pull a cart, but pushing a cart back into a bay was something just not doable by the four-legged fire service animals. So, firefighters unhitched the horses and then pushed the cart back into the bay.

Today, that “cart” is 27 feet long, seats four members in the cab, and carries equipment such as vent fans, electric saws, a fire blanket for battery fires, and five types of fire extinguishers, according to NDFD Assistant Chief Tim Hoeppner.

The new engine, which replaces the oldest engine in NDFD’s fleet of three, features a shorter wheelbase and tighter turning radius, “which makes it much easier to navigate on campus,” Hoeppner said.

“Fire departments are based on a lot of culture, from the helmets we wear to the trucks we drive. And today’s ceremony, known as a push-in, is designed to help us remember those that served before us,” Fire Chief Bruce Harrison said to a bay full of well-wishers.

As attendees gathered just outside the fire department bay prior to the push-in, Rev. Brian Ching, C.S.C., rector of the Basilica, shared a few words before blessing the engine.

“Even with all the skill and talent in the world, there’s an element of danger each and every day. So we have long asked God’s protection on you and God’s protection on your equipment,” Father Ching said. “In fact, the blessing that I’m about to use was first written by the Church in 1912, specifically to bless fire trucks. And we updated the language just a little bit. But know that this blessing goes back a long time because we are grateful for the sacrifice and service that you all provide. And we certainly want to ask God’s protection on all of you.”

About 20 firefighters took part in the pushing-in of the engine—after it was hosed down, another part of the nostalgia of welcoming in a new engine. The transferring of water from the old fire engine to the new engine signifies the transferring of service and responsibilities, Hoeppner said.

The ceremony was well attended by firefighters both active and retired, as well as many other members of the ND community. Mike Seamon, vice president for University Operations, Events, and Safety, was also in attendance. NDWorks caught up with him immediately after the push-in.

“I had chills. You instantly think of everybody who’s come before us, for decades and decades—literally hundreds of years of people that came before us, regardless of what their equipment looked like. There’s just such a sense of gratitude and humility to be able to serve the University community this way. It’s just really emotional. It is beautiful. It is a true blessing.”