The Brunswick Fire Department hasn’t seen interest in a tank truck it’s looking to sell, according to Fire Chief Ken Brillant, PressHerald.com reported.

The town’s website posted on September 20 that the fire department would accept sealed bids of at least $10,000 on a 1994 Ford L8000 tank truck, which has been a staple of Brunswick’s fleet for nearly three decades, the report said. One day before the town’s deadline for bids, the department has not received any offers.

The fire chief said he’s not surprised at the lack of interest in a nearly 30-year-old truck, according to the report.

If no bids come in by Friday’s midday deadline, he will meet with the city to discuss next steps, which could include lowering the current minimum bid of $10,000 or searching for a dealer interested in purchasing the vehicle, the report said.

Chief Concerns Richard Marinucci

Fire departments have probably always responded to some types of hazardous materials emergencies.

For the most part, when circumstances require a response from local government and there are no clear-cut options, the fire department often is the default agency. Prior to the establishment of Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) regulations and National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) standards, fire departments sent out their personnel to do the best they could. Fortunately, in many cases, there were not too many events, and the complexity was not as great as it is today. Through advances in society and science, many new chemicals exist and methods to use and transport have increased. Yet, statistically and anecdotally, response to emergencies involving hazardous materials has not overburdened most departments.

The need to be prepared to respond remains. As standards and regulations have been developed, fire departments have had more expectations placed on them. They have been given direction as to preparation and response. It could be argued that many of the requirements are not completely aligned with typical fire department responses. Time often is not critical to take action, and those performing jobs must have the proper training. In contrast, response to structure fires has always relied on rapid response with the purpose of getting to the scene in the moments that matter—that is, in time to save those who are savable and minimize the damage caused by the spread of fire. Regarding training, beyond the bare minimum, it is up to the local departments. Though national standards exist, states retain the right to establish the standards acceptable within their jurisdiction. Local organizations can exceed those minimums but not go below the requirements.

• Hazardous-Materials Incident Response
• Hazmat Responses Answered with Large and Small Rigs and Trailers
• Specialty PPE in Use at Hazardous Materials, ARFF, and Industrial Incidents
• The Challenges of Hazmat Responses
• Lessons Learned from Hazmat Training and Response
• Responding to a Hazmat Call

This could be an oversimplification but is intended to generate some discussion regarding the differences in approaches to responses to various incidents that occur within jurisdictions. We can start by looking at the typical makeup of firefighters. Generally, they are action oriented and conditioned to respond quickly, make decisions and acting at a moment’s notice, often without having all the information needed. Much of this is predicated on policies and procedures, standard operating guidelines, training, and experience. It often leads to a situation where emergencies are approache

Ferrara—St. Martin Parish Fire District No. 1, Evangeline, LA, tanker/pumper. Kenworth T880 cab and chassis; Cummins X15 500-hp engine; 3,000-gallon polypropylene tank; Hale Qmax 1,500-gpm pump; Federal Signal camera system; 102-inch-wide extruded aluminum body; Whelen emergency lighting. Dealer: Lester Daire, Ferrara Fire Apparatus, Holden, LA.

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Farmington will hold a special town meeting October 25 to decide whether to appropriate up to $850,000 from the unassigned fund balance or other financing options to purchase a new fire truck to replace Engine Two, DailyBulldog.com reported.

Engine Two is three years past due for a replacement; a different truck required replacement early due to the frame failing, so Engine Two was kept in service beyond the expected 25 year life span of the truck, the report said. While it continues to function, repairs are needed more frequently, resulting in increased costs.

The voters will also make a decision on appropriating funds for a land purchase of approximately 22 acres adjacent to the Public Works lot, the report said. This would allow the department more space to store equipment, materials, and supplies, allowing the town to benefit from bulk purchasing discounts on some materials. It would also meet the need for future expansion at the Public Works department, according to the report.