Add a Comment

Comment by Mark Klaene on March 7, 2009 at 11:45am

If what you elude to is true then it is a real shame. I have suspected some of that in areas I know but for the most part around here old trucks are being replace with new for good reasons. Many of our county old trucks are Gas engines, over GVWR, no foam capability, no SCBA holders, limited compartment space, 500 GPM max, substantially reduced warning lights without load managers, sirens on the roofs, no 4wd (for our mountain departments) , no locking rear axles, unsafe aged tires (but with plenty of tread) no air brakes, no retarder brakes, and the list goes on. Now some of these can be replaced for far less money than it cost for a new truck , unfortunately often these little items are often forgotten and then kills fire fighters.
For volunteers in rural areas keeping any truck properly maintained is often difficult and expensive. Trucks and people spend days a month out of service. (If you can find someone to take off work to get the truck in for service). If purchasing a new apparatus means this is limited to 1/year instead of 1/month --it is worth it to me.

Finally lets not forget requirements for meeting NFPA and ISO requirements. I hate the idea of living around possible litigation but too many lawyers have made that a reality these days. (but that is a whole other blog) I would prefer to go to court after an accident and state I have a maintained, 5 year old NFPA compliant apparatus than a maintained , 30 year old non-compliant apparatus.

As with all purchases that we make the need must be justified and the money spent wisely. IF it isn't then we are not doing what we are sworn to do , protect property, for we would be wasting our citizen's money.

Comment by Bull on March 7, 2009 at 11:15am

chrome wont help you get back home

Comment by rfdjumper on March 7, 2009 at 8:34am

Anne,

It called Volitics. It's kind of an arms race but instead of Nukes, it involves chrome, sirens and lights, GPM and HP. Who can out do their brothers. The only thing I'm glad is I don't have those worries in a paid department, heck we're lucky we get chrome on the front bumper ;op

There is nothing wrong with an old engine as long as it is safe and does its job. I don't know about you but I got on this job to put out fire, not collect trophies at parades. So Parade pieces don't make any sense to me, even when I was a volunteer.

• ‹ Previous
• 1
• 2
• Next ›
• Page