The Fire Department has put its nearly $5.4 million proposal to lease five new
fire engines and two new
ladder trucks on hold after Modesto's new City Council members raised questions about the deal. Fire Chief Sean Slamon said he decided to pull the item from Tuesday's council meeting agenda and hopes to bring its back to the council in mid-March for a decision.
The proposal calls for Modesto to lease the
engines and trucks from Wisconsin-based Pierce Manufacturing and PNC Equipment Finance over 10 years. At the end of the 10 years, the city could purchase the engines and trucks, extend the lease for five years or enter into another lease for new engines and trucks.
City officials say the proposal addresses a critical need to replace aging fire apparatus that costs too much to maintain and do it in a way that doesn’t break the Fire Department’s budget. Slamon has said the money for the lease payments would come from savings from reduced maintenance costs and from money now being used to pay off the recent purchase of two Pierce fire engines. Those payments end in 2018, and the lease payments begin in 2017.
City officials say the proposal addresses a critical need to replace aging fire apparatus that costs too much to maintain and do it in a way that doesn’t break the Fire Department’s budget. Slamon has said the money for the lease payments would come from savings from reduced maintenance costs and from money now being used to pay off the recent purchase of two Pierce fire engines. Those payments end in 2018, and the lease payments begin in 2017.
City officials gave a presentation last week about the proposal at the council’s Great Safe Neighborhoods Committee. Officials from Modesto-based Burton’s Fire – which is a dealer for South Dakota-based Rosenbauer, one of Pierce’s competitors – were at the meeting and asked why the city was not putting this project out to bid to ensure it was getting the best price.
Read more here: http://www.modbee.com/news/article60958912.html#storylink=cpyCity officials say the proposal addresses a critical need to replace aging fire apparatus that costs too much to maintain and do it in a way that doesn’t break the Fire Department’s budget. Slamon has said the money for the lease payments would come from savings from reduced maintenance costs and from money now being used to pay off the recent purchase of two Pierce fire engines. Those payments end in 2018, and the lease payments begin in 2017.
City officials gave a presentation last week about the proposal at the council’s
- 599
- Article rating: No rating
Posted: Feb 22, 2016
California's new corrections chief is backing off a plan to lower standards for inmate firefighters, focusing instead on persuading county sheriffs to send more jail prisoners to the state program.
Scott Kernan, who took over last month as secretary of the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, said in an interview with The Associated Press that he expects California will have enough inmate firefighters for this year's fire season despite a dwindling pool of candidates from state prisons.
- PUB DATE: 2/22/2016 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: The Sacramento Bee
Read more
- 591
- Article rating: No rating
Posted: Feb 22, 2016
More than 40 fire departments from seven counties battled a fire Friday at a warehouse owned by FutureX Industry in the small town of Marshall in Parke County.
Fire departments from Parke, Montgomery, Fountain, Vermillion, Putnam, Clay and Vigo counties answered the call at 226 E. Guion St. with tanker trucks, aerial trucks and manpower.
- PUB DATE: 2/22/2016 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Journal Review
Read more
- 606
- Article rating: No rating
Posted: Feb 22, 2016
The application for SAFER grant applications is now open.
Fire and EMS agencies have until 5 p.m. March 25 to submit grant applications.
Information on the program can be obtained here.
The SAFER grant was established to:
Assist local fire departments improve and restore staffing and deployment capabilities so they may more effectively and safely respond to emergencies.
- PUB DATE: 2/22/2016 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Firehouse.com
Read more
- 590
- Article rating: No rating