Operational Considerations - Dependability, Safety, Performance

As major fire apparatus ages it affects us in several ways. By age 20 parts are no longer immediately available and equipment must be pulled out of service for longer periods. By age 30 parts for engines, transmissions, and pumps are not likely available at all. Our oldest tanker sits on a 1977 chassis and has been modified to work as a tanker. We seldom train with it because it so often breaks down and is expensive to operate. Thus we are faced with the dilemma of spending money or placing volunteers in the tenuous situation of operating an unfamiliar piece of equipment in the dark and cold of a winter fire. As years pass more and more of our equipment will fall into this category unless we meet our equipment replacement schedule.

Operational cost and equipment dependability are critical issues. Furthermore, since standards set by ISO have increased, we also face the requirement to haul and pump more water. Without hydrants available we have increased water storage at our remote stations at the Vallata and on Isberg. This has been another challenge to our current budget. As the oldest trucks are replaced the new ones will have larger tanks and greater pumping capacity. This helps our ISO insurance rating and our performance at a fire.