In case you haven't heard yet, Ruston is enhancing the fire department as recommended by the fire committee last year. The house next to Town Hall has been converted to bunkhouse for firefighters. Almost all the furnishing have been donated with a heartfelt thank you from the firefighers. Our volunteers are taking turns staying overnight and by mid-March we will have a resident firefighter committed to providing additional daytime coverage.
Purchase of the new engine is proceeding, too. I'll note for the Ruston Connection editors who wondered in their latest newsletter that this really was a real emergency need, really. Even though our reserve 1968 engine was functioning when the fire committee conducted their study last year, the pump failed in late 2007. The committee did note the challenges the department faced keeping their equipment running on the shoestring budget the council allotted. Old equipment can only last so long. It's not a conspiracy, really, really...
Thank you to the mayor and council for making these important enhancements to what was already a great department. We are grateful for your committment to public saftey. And thank you to our wonderful volunteers. Your gift of time and expertise makes us a better community. ~ Karen
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
3 comments:
Cheers and HUGE Thank You's ALL around. A step FORWARD, much needed, much deserved and a BRIGHT ray of hope shines on one of the best places on God's green and blue Earth.
Porkchop
Thanks Karen for the post on the Fire Department. I’d like to make couple of clarifications. The engine that will be retired is a 1968 American Le France. It has been the reserve engine since the 1962 Mack was purchased from Fife. At that time it replaced the 1946 GMC reserve engine. The GMC is now in LeMay’s collection, it should be noted the purchase price for the Mack was $70,000. This was after Fife had refurbished the unit at a cost of over $90,000.
Over the last few years, a considerable amount of money has been spent keeping the Le France operational. Many years ago Seattle Pump made repairs to the pump. Most recently the repairs have been to the brake system. When the Ruston Fire Committee made their report, the Le France was operational. At a training session late in the year it was determined the pump had failed. You have previously posted the repair estimate with the statement from the repair facility that the engine wasn’t worth the amount of the repairs.
The Fire Department is moving forward with purchase of the engine as authorized by the Council. This newer engine will become the “First Out” engine and the Mack will be put in the reserve role once all personnel are trained on the new equipment.
The resident program is moving forward as well. Almost all of the furnishings were donated and free cable TV will be installed next week. The Fire Department would like to thank those who donated, helping to make this important program a success. Each department has been asked to spend two nights a month there. The first day time resident will be starting in the middle of March. He is currently in the EMT class sponsored by Ruston Fire Department at the school. The department is looking at other Resident applicants to fill the remaining position.
This is definitely a step forward, a rare glimpse of cooperation from the CABAL. Will it last? Still trying to understand the chip on the shoulder approach to governing. Only BRADLEY knows!!!!
Post a Comment