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Tuesday, July 15, 2008
Diesel prices forcing fire department to change
(Interim Dayton Fire Chief Herbert Redden, right, and assistant Chief Michael Caudill are looking at ways the department can become more fuel efficient. Photo by Peter Wine)
Surging diesel fuel prices are eating away a larger-than-expected chunk of the Dayton Fire Department’s budget, forcing officials to reconsider decades-old response practices in an effort to save money.
Interim fire Chief Herbert Redden said he has to do something or the fire department’s financial budget will be a mess by the end of the year.
He said there have been preliminary discussions about changing his department’s response practices to the numerous false alarms at area businesses and residences in the city.
Current protocol is the department has to send a full crew to the scene; including at least one truck, two medics, the battalion chief and a few other vehicles.
Fire officials are now considering sending one vehicle to investigate the alarm to see if it is indeed a working fire, Redden said.
“If it is then we will send the cavalry,” he said. “If not, then we won’t.”
And those aren’t the only changes being made in protocol.
Why? Read more after the jump.
“We budgeted in 2007 for fuel to cost $3.50 a gallon,” Redden said. “We never thought it would reach the level it is today.”
At the end of Monday, July 14, diesel fuel cost an average of $4.76 a gallon across the country. Most of Dayton’s fire engines get between three and five miles to the gallon and the ladder trucks get even less, fire officials said.
The fire department is also considering fining businesses that continually have false alarms because they tie up equipment and personnel.
In some cases, firefighters have become used to false alarms at certain locations and don’t expect to fight fires.
That drives down morale and sharpness among firefighters, Redden said.
“We have to do something,” Redden said. “If fuel prices went down about 40 cents a gallon we might be OK, but I don’t think they are doing that anytime soon.”
Redden said orders have already been given not to leave engines and other vehicles idling while on the scene of a possible fire. He said the department has cut back on attending special events and parades in order to conserve fuel.
What do you think the fire department should do to conserve fuel and still help and protect Dayton residents?
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