Imagine that your neighbor is hosting a party. The patrons are loud, some of them are unconscious on your fence, and your can hardly get to sleep over the earth-shaking bass beat. Somewhere in your neighbor's house, a party-goer falls asleep with a cigarette in his hand, and a fire starts. The blaze grows, and your intoxicated neighbors do not notice until it is too late. The fire breaks up the party, sending people running, and the wind starts blowing the flames toward your house. Naturally, you call 911 for the Fire Department, hoping that they will save your home from this blaze. The firefighters suit up, slide down the fire pole, and run to the truck.
But nothing happens. The truck has broken down again.
Lawrence Fire StationsPhoto: Samuel Lamb
Two of the Lawrence-Douglas County Fire and Medical Department's fire engines attracted attention this year. They are each 21 years old, and have garnered 101.13 replacement points between them. According to the budget, "vehicles with 30 or more points are considered as needing immediate consideration for replacement."
21 years is a long running time for any vehicle, but even more so for vehicles on which lives depend. Steve Stewart, fleet manager for the Department, said he would like the engines to be replaced more often.
"We are trying to reach a 15 year life cycle," Stewart said.
Repair and operating costs rise with the age of the machine. That reason alone does not encompass the issue, however, considering the $1.6 million cost of replacing the two engines. Bill Stark, chief of the Department's administrative division, said that cost is not the main concern.
"The reliability of having a rig that is ready to be used at a moment's notice and not break down on the way to a call is key," Stark said, "and difficult to measure."
The new units also have safety features to protect the firefighters themselves. Some of those new features include rollover protection, airbags, and harness belts.
"We will be able to respond more efficiently and safely," Stark said.
With more than 2000 incidents and five deaths in 2006 because of fires in Douglas County, the importance of a reliable fire service is undeniable. When the neighbor's party goes up in smoke, the Lawrence-Douglas County Fire and Medical Department will be on the road with their new engines.