Bozeman (MT) fire and police departments will be moving out of the stations where they’ve been for the last 50 years. They’re both moving to the new Public Safety Center, NBCMontana.com is reporting.

Bozeman Fire has been working out of Fire Station No. 1 at 34 North Rouse Avenue. The police department has been working out of the Law and Justice Center at 615 South 16th Avenue, which was originally built as a Catholic school. Both will be moving into the new Public Safety Center at 901 North Rouse Avenue.

Crews plan to start moving in next week, according to the report. Bozeman Fire has already been busy moving tables and fire poles to the new facility, along with a bell that’s been with the department since the late 19th century.

Both departments say the new space will help keep pace with the growth in the city, and they believe sharing it together will help protect the community, the report said.

Crews hope to be moved in by the middle of September.

By Bill Adams

Bill Adams continues his look at the configurations of front bumper extensions for fire apparatus. Read part 1 here.

A 19-inch Pierce bumper with the steamer elbow on the officer’s side far edge with an open well for a 25-foot soft sleeve. The driver’s side open well has a capacity for 125-foot of 1¾-inch preconnected to a deck-mounted elbow. Tow hooks are mounted underneath.

These wells feature what Pierce calls “round aluminum extrusions” on the top leading edges to facilitate removing hose. Most apparatus manufacturers will provide them or a variation of them – if they are specified. Everything on the front end is “blacked out” except the elbows and treadplate.

An open center hose well’s preconnect is supplied by a deck-mounted elbow on this Seagrave’s bumper. Dual air horns are on the officer’s side and a Q is recessed in a cut-out on the driver’s side. Painted tow eyes are beneath the bumper.

To my knowledge, there’s no regulation requiring dual air horns on a fire truck. If you have two, is it legal to have them side-by-side? Ditto for electronic siren speakers. Does being close together affect the performance of either?