Fire Department Gets Go Ahead to Replace Two Engines
Council agreed to appropriate just under $1 million for the purchase of two fire engines in this year's budget
The Fair Lawn Volunteer Fire Department has received council's blessing to replace two fire engines this year for what used to be the price of one.
Originally slated for just a single engine replacement in this year's budget, Chief Eric Reamy successfully pitched council at the April 3 budget meeting that it was in both the fire department and the town's best interest to replace two engines this year.
"Our intention is to save you money, still get the apparatus we need and try and look good in your eyes as we’re doing all we can to have you spend less money," Reamy said.
Rather than replace Engine 5 this year for $675,000 and Engine 1 next year for $675,000, Reamy requested council roll both purchases into a single two-engine purchase this year for what he assured council would be no more than $935,000.
"These are bare-bones, no fancy bells and whistles apparatus," Reamy said. "They are simply to get us to the scene, put the fire out, do whatever work we have to do and get us back to the house."
While it's been borough policy to replace engines after 15 years -- typically one at a time becaue purchases are staggered -- two engines are coming up for replacement this year because past councils had delayed replacement.
Both of the pieces being replaced this year are older than 15 years. Engine 5, the fire department's spare engine, is 27 years old. Engine 1, a support piece, is 16 years old. Reamy said both pieces would be sold at auction to recoup some of the purchase cost for the new engines.
Especially Engine 1, he said, should net a decent return.
"Being that it’s 16 years old, it’s starting to show its age, but it’s still serviceable to somebody," Reamy said. "You could get $50, $75, $95,000 in cash right back into your budget. There’s definitely a market out there for a decent shape apparatus that somebody could use."
Another selling point Reamy made for bundling the purchases this year was that by waiting until next year the cost of a new truck would have increased anywhere from $30,000 to $50,000.
"If this was done next year," he said, "without batting an eye, it’s going to cost you probably $30,000 or more to place this order -- and that’s just with upgrades, federal regulations, I’m going to call it cost of living."
Reamy said the department would be able to purchase the new engines so cheaply this year because they'd be piggybacking off a bulk order from a major city that might be replacing as many as 60 engines at a time.
Once the two new engines arrive, the 17-year-old Engine 4 -- which is currently a front line piece -- will become the department's spare.
Engine 3 is the next apparatus in line to be replaced in 2016, Reamy said.
Tommy P
9:44 am on Wednesday, April 11, 2012
At a time when Fair Lawn residents are trying to save money, the town is about the spend more than it needs. Why not allow engine 1 to replaced in 10 years? If the existing vehicles can fetch $95,000 at auction, why are they not good enough for us?
Zak Koeske
10:33 am on Wednesday, April 11, 2012
Deputy Mayor Trawinski asked that question. Chief Reamy's response was: “It has almost reached its useful age for us, where we want the best equipment for our volunteers, and I expect them to use that apparatus to get to a scene and their lives depend on it.”
Matt S
10:43 am on Wednesday, April 11, 2012
You have to look at it while also looking at the area its used in. To be sold at auction it could go to some rural town in Wisconsin possibly (just picking a random state). For use in suburban Bergen County like Fair Lawn and it's mutual aid counterparts, an engine at that age should be slated for replacement right about now. Certainly it's not at the end of its life altogether but yes, the town could benefit A LOT from a new engine.
LENNY
11:45 am on Wednesday, April 11, 2012
when it comes to equipment that is used to save
a life
a home
I will go with what the people trained and doing the job every day and night when called for free who put their lives on the line to say what we need in equipment.
Douglas Bradley Haber
1:53 pm on Wednesday, April 11, 2012
Amen.
RadburnBpark
1:38 pm on Wednesday, April 11, 2012
As someone who works with many towns on there fire trucks repairs i can tell you that the cost of keeping the trucks going after 15 years becomes very expensive. You have to remember that you can not just go to a local auto parts store for replacement parts and its not cheap to maintain them after that many years. Many of the towns i deal with actually sell them to Central and Southern American cities who consider them an upgrade to the equipment they have. The last thing you want when your house is on fire is that your towns fire truck is in the shop for repairs and not driving to your house.
Tommy P
1:44 pm on Wednesday, April 11, 2012
I feel strongly our firefighters should have reliable and efficient equipment to do their jobs. I have supported them in the past financially and will do so in the future. However, the idea that are uniquely qualified to make decisions about acquiring new vehicles is a bit of a stretch, isn't it? While we should definitely solicit their opinion, they are not tasked with making the decision.
I would be interested to see the document which describes requirements and how the Chief determines the truck has exceeded its useful life span. Why can't we save half and buy a 4 or 5 year old unit for less than half? (http://www.firetec.com/detail/PE-10028.html)
Should we really care if a truck shows it age, or should the standard be its serves it function reliably?
Adolpho Mostaccioli 2
7:38 pm on Wednesday, April 11, 2012
My father was a Chief down in south jersey where I grew up, and what he told me when I asked him this question because I thought you had a point he told me that in the state of new jersey to be a "first due truck" the truck needs to be 15 years old or younger due to ever changing laws. So I guess you could buy an old truck to save money but you'd just have to buy a new one.
Tommy P
8:45 pm on Wednesday, April 11, 2012
I am not familiar with that requirement, but lets assume for a moment its accurate. Buying a truck at 1/2 off MSRP, for 2/3 of the time is a 18% savings and less capital outlay. Isn't it?
Adolpho Mostaccioli 2
10:30 pm on Wednesday, April 11, 2012
Yes, the math seems right and makes sense and if we could do it I do think that's a better idea, but will the used trucks meet New Jerseys strict POSHA's standards?
Harold Vogel
4:05 pm on Wednesday, April 11, 2012
I hope the FD is going to use the $300,000 it got from the town for the sale of the George Street "Park" last year.
Chris Antonelli
4:46 pm on Wednesday, April 11, 2012
I could be wrong, but I think vol. depts. have slightly higher standards in regards to equipment. I remember hearing that somewhere.
Zak Koeske
7:24 pm on Wednesday, April 11, 2012
@Chris I'm not sure about higher standards, but what the chief told me is that in the past volunteer departments have been given more leeway to splurge when it comes to getting engines with more "bells and whistles" because as volunteers they're not being paid salaries and benefits and the town is already saving a lot of money.
Bruce Knuckle
7:06 pm on Wednesday, April 11, 2012
Poor timing is the issue, however, gotta give the chief credit for looking to bundle a purchase to save money. Leave it to a volunteer to show the council how to make the big purchase while saving some money. @ Harold, can the "George Street Park " house used skateboard equipment?
Curly Howard
12:23 am on Tuesday, April 17, 2012
look from what i have looked up and talked to some people about engine 1 doesn't any problems with it whatsoever they only want to get rid of that engine because it is old on the other hand engine 5 which is 27 years old is an open cab in the back and according to the state of new jersey that is illegal to still have in service but yet again the town always needs a spare engine. at one point in the history of fair lawn there were 3 spare engines 1 spare was kept in station 3 just like engine 5 is now kept another engine was kept at fire company 2 where their "tac 9" is now and then the 3rd and last spare engine was kept at station 1 on George street where their squad or if you want to call it just a pickup truck is now but from what i have seen in many towns its better to have atleast 2 spare engines just incase something big happens such as the plaza building fire that way you can have more engines working from the town instead of calling other towns for help and taking them away from their towns to help us so in my opinion i say they sell engine 5 and keep engine 4 and engine 1 as spare engines because you never know what will happen.