By Dennis Mueller
Since the recession of 2008, fire departments across the country have had to cut their budgets and postpone replacing their aging and failing fleets.
My agency, the Lake Havasu City (AZ) Fire Department (LHCFD), is no different. Yet in May 2013, our city council approved the simultaneous purchase of four new Pierce Velocity 1,500-gallon-per-minute (gpm) pumpers and one new Pierce 105-foot aerial quint. The order cost $2.6 million, and the new apparatus were delivered in May 2014.
You might be wondering, "How was the LHCFD able to replace its aging and failing fleet when funds remain an issue for most communities?" or "How did the LHCFD convince community leaders it was time to purchase five new apparatus-half its fleet?" This article describes the plan we developed to obtain the necessary funding for the apparatus and to secure city leaders' commitment to a 10-year replacement cycle going forward. We began six months prior to the May 2013 budget talks. Below is a description of that plan, which easily can be adapted by other agencies for their use.
Step 1: Do Your Homework
Identify the apparatus that truly must be replaced. Create a list of the problems associated with each apparatus. Items such as the age of the apparatus, their mileage, and their maintenance records are good items to start with. Also include any incidents of unsafe or unreliable performance on this list.
Obtain preliminary bids from vendors for the number and type of apparatus you wish to purchase or lease.
Develop a list of stakeholders who will support your cause. This should include the mechanics who work on your apparatus, the vehicle maintenance foreman, the Public Works director, the finance manager of your community or department, your city manager, and possibly a key board member.
Step 2: Engage Your Mechanics
Meet with the mechanics who maintain your apparatus and obtain their support. They know the problems your fleet has, so they are credible sources of information. They should be able to identify which apparatus should be replaced-i.e. those that are unreliable and those that are about to fail.
Ask for the vehicle maintenance records and cost sheets for each apparatus over its lifetime. This information will tell you how much money has been spent to keep your fleet in service. An uptick in costs indicates it's time to start thinking about replacement.
Ask for a copy of your community's vehicle replacement program. This plan should identify when apparatus should be replaced and why. It will help identify apparatus slated to be replaced already. Study it and develop your presentation around the existing plan. If there is no replacement plan, help develop one.
Step 3: Meet with the Vehicle Maintenance Manager
The shop manager wants to run an efficient and effective shop, and you can help. Emphasize this common goal. Share the reports from the mechanics and point out the frequency that your apparatus are in and out of the shop. Show that in addition to reducing costs and increasing the shop's efficiencies, the new apparatus will free up the mechanics' time to work on other equipment in the city's fleet.
Review the estimated costs associated with future repairs and ask how you can help minimize them. This conversation will lead into a discussion of costs vs. benefits, which will open the door for bringing in your financial administrator.
Even if you don't have a shop or fleet manager in your community, you can review the same items with the manager of the garage or shop that maintains your apparatus. Be prepared for resistance. Private garage or shop owners may not like your plan to replace your apparatus because they are reaping the benefits of your aging and failing fleet. This will be especially true if you are their number one customer.
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Posted: Jun 16, 2014
WFM Meeting Minutes have been added to the document library. Sign in with with your login (firstname.lastname) and your password (your WFC number) to view the minutes from 6/3/2014.
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Posted: Jun 9, 2014
HURST JAWS OF LIFE S 311E2 CUTTER is part of the eDRAULIC 2.0 line. The cutter is more than three pounds lighter than the previous version while delivering the same performance characteristics. Features include curved blade geometry that pulls materials to the back of the blade area for fast, clean action; ergonomically designed star grip that permits tool actuation from almost any gripping position; two batteries and one charger; and, if needed, the eDRAULIC 110-volt adapter to provide corded power. www.jawsoflife.com, 800-537-2659
WATEROUS CRU2 PUMP was created with the industrial market in mind. Rated at 4,000 gallons per minute (gpm) at 100 pounds per square inch (psi) (15,000 l/min at 6.9 bar) with flow-through rates up to 6,800 gpm (25,000 l/min), CRU2C21 is the highest National Fire Protection Association (NFPA)-compliant performance pump on the market. It is available for midship mounting on all industrial-style fire trucks and direct mounting to diesel-powered units for skid-based systems or trailer units. www.waterousco.com, 651-450-5090
CARSON SIRENS SC-411 ELITE FORCE HANDHELD CONTROLLER has been added to the series featuring QuickClone® duplication technology. Select between the handheld dual-tone model, requiring two speakers, or the 100-/200-watt single-tone handheld controller. QuickClone® duplicating technology makes the programmed settings transferable from one unit to another without a computer, making this suitable for fleet installations. New blue LED backlighting along with a custom cradle for mounting is included. The SC-411HD-20 14 handheld dual-tone siren gives users dual-tone, full emergency warning system control. The rugged splash-resistant face protects internal circuitry from liquids. The control head has a dimming button so the user can tailor the blue LED background to his preference. Three primary control buttons act as a slide switch with the same functionality. www.carsonsirens.com, 888-577-6877
Spartan ERV Emergency Response Platform on Demand (ER POD) is a concept unit that offers functionality and technology to meet the demands and functionality of today's incident management team. The Spartan ER POD concept equips departments for response to natural disasters, urban search and rescue incidents, mass casualty EMS incidents, hazmats, mobile communications responses, crime scene incidents, and other needs. The Spartan ER POD is a flexible solution for high-risk, low-frequency incidents that can impact the response of fire departments, law enforcement, government, military, and public works departments. There are multiple response capabilities with one chassis. Departments can easily place the ER POD at suitable locations at an incident. There is less maintenance and service required than a vehicle, and there are multiple means to deploy the unit. www.spartanerv.com, 605-582-4000
BULLEX FIRE SAFETY AND EMERGENCY TRAINING TRAILER is a mobile fire prevention
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