Small PA VFD Faces Repairs and Equipment Issues with No Money

The small Graysville Volunteer Fire Department has a number of issues from fire trucks in need of repair to equipment in need of replacement. The department's chief is faced with the reality that the needs of this department depend on funding that is not quickly available to their small organization. The department operates on county and state funding which totals approximately $13,000 a year, according to a recent report from Observer-Reporter.com.

The report outlines an issue the department chief is facing with a 1987 GMC truck that is in desperate need of repair or replacement. The report tells how Chief Mike Chapman feels about the issues:

"the problems with the truck include a badly rusted tank and a non-working pump, among others. "It is $18,000 from one place just to fix the pump and a couple of other small things, plus around $2,000 to get the tank fixed," Chapman said. "Another company wanted $25,000 to repair it." Included in the higher price was an option to sandblast the tank but Chapman said that wasn't possible. "It is so badly rusted there wouldn't be anything left," he said. "A new tank and bed is $33,000."

Where will the money come from to deal with these issues?

Read the entire Observer-Reporter story HERE.

PA Fire Department to Propose New $15.8M Equipment Replacement Policy

A new report on firefighter equipment and safety from Patch.com out of Pennsylvania:

The Lower Merion Township Fire Department plans to ask the Board of Commissioners to adopt a new 20-year $15.8-million fire apparatus replacement policy for its six volunteer companies in the coming April cycle. The previous equipment replacement policy expired in late 2010.

The policy, outlined by township Fire Chief Charles McGarvey at the board's March 2 meeting, establishes a time-line for the purchase of three new pieces of equipment for each of the township's six companies by 2030. The final cost, adjusted for five percent annual inflation, would be paid for with monies from the township's Capital Projects Fund created through the sale of general obligation bonds.

...

McGarvey added that new equipment doesn't only maximize the ability of the volunteer force to do their job, but helps recruitment and retention for the individual companies. The scarcity of firemen is a problem in municipalities across the state.

Read the whole thing HERE.