BALTIMORE - The Basil Joint Fire District's oldest engine is 32 years old. That's part of the reason that the Basil Joint Fire District has a 2.9 mill permanent levy on the ballot this November. It's not even the traditional fire engine red, but a bright safety green, thought to be more visible when it was purchased.
Though it is noticeable, it's hard to tell at first that it's actually a fire truck. Beyond that, the truck no longer complies with National Fire Protection Association standards.
The main focus of the permanent levy is to replace old engines and medics, as well as updating other equipment, Assistant Chief Kasey Farmer said. It should raise property taxes about $101 per $100,000 in home value. Farmer said that breaks down to about 29 cents a day.
"We're doing this because we have to," Farmer said.
That safety green engine is in reserve as required by NFPA standards. Trucks must be placed in reserve after 25 years. Plus, that 32-year-old engine has an open cab, which is no longer accepted.
Farmer said the reserve engine is put back into service any time the other engines need maintenance.
"It takes one maintenance issue and it's on the front line," Farmer said. "It's not made to be on the front line anymore."
The oldest medic in the fire district's fleet is on reserve and is 18 years old. Farmer said the medics have a much higher mileage than the engines, because they're used more.
"Those are the busiest trucks we have," Farmer said, meaning they don't last as long. A new engine can cost as much as $500,000 to $600,000 and a medic can cost around $240,000. Those are just the base prices for the most basic models, Farmer said.