A budget resolution, sponsored by council member Chris Tolbert, will release the money, allowing the city to complete a review of the fire department’s strengths and weaknesses before the 2018 budget is finalized.

At the time, the mayor said the study would be data-driven and “will likely explore demographic and population shifts in the city, first-responder response times, outcomes for patient care, fleet and facility needs and resource deployment.” The city plans to hire an outside private consultant to lead the study.

 

Located at approximately 66 N. Carol Canyon Road next to the Texaco gas station, the new fire station is a joint venture between Washington City and the Hurricane Valley Fire District. It will provide much closer coverage for Washington City's northern area and the nearby industrial park in Hurricane where the Wal-Mart Distribution Center, Lighthouse Foods, DATS Trucking and other businesses are located.

The original cost of the facility was anticipated to be around $1.5 million, with funding provided by the state’s Community Impact Board in two parts. This took the form of a 30-year, $1 million loan with a 3.2 percent interest rate and a $500,000 grant.

According to the CFD, the Rosenbauer Commander fire engine is a two-stage pump capable of delivering 1,500 gallons of water per minute. It also features Chevron reflectors on the back and front of the engine and LED lights, all of which provides a highly visible presence for an additional layer of protection.

It cost an estimated $384,766.00 and is a state-of-the-art Fire Engine Pump.

A 1977 LaFrance truck has been housed in a surplus yard at the training center, exposed to the heavy snowfall along with other high-mileage engines that have been removed from service. Last week, Heckler climbed into the cab, lifting the hood behind firefighter jump seats to reveal the engine and lamenting that the radio had already been removed, because it belongs to Spokane County.

The '77 engine was last in regular service in 2001, Stockdill said; it was in reserve status until 2010. Two of the department's other trucks of the same make and model were sold to Guatemala in 2011 at a price of $1.

The department spent $7,000 on the 2001 truck to replace strobes with LED lights.

"Our fire engines are out of date and are becoming substandard for emergency operations. NFPA 1901 states that 'fire departments should seriously consider the value (or risk) to firefighters of keeping fire apparatus older than 15 years in first-line service.' The standard further states, 'apparatus that were not manufactured to the applicable NFPA fire apparatus standards or that are over 25 years old should be replaced,'" he added.

The fire department has a 1986 Gruman engine, which has a crack in the main structure. Also, the truck body is rusting away from the frame.