A rescue boat, ladder truck and new staffing model for CFR in 2019

CHELAN – In a previous special commissioner meeting, Chelan Fire and Rescue Commissioners Russ Jones, Phil Moller and Jay Witherbee voted to purchase a used ladder truck with a budget of $220,000.

Fire Chief Tim Lemon informed the commissioners at the Dec. 12 meeting about a new ladder truck listing in Alabama with a cost of $195,000, under 50,000 miles and 5,200 engine hours.

“After having a conversation with this gentlemen, he said that they would accept $175,000 for it,” said Lemon.  

From an operational stand point, Assistant Fire Chief Brandon Asher has taken a closer look into the truck.

“This one fits really well for what we are looking at, specially if we are looking at having this engine as first out, “ said Asher.

The truck has some features and upgrades that will help Chelan Fire and Rescue. For example, the ladder truck comes with a basket pull out tray and a vertical stand pipe, “that allows us to get in the center of building to fight fires that way,” explained Asher.

According to Asher, overall it has a lot of great things and it well serve CFR well. Lemon added that the truck also has phone system, a 375,000 tank on board and the truck is one inch shorter than Ladder 71, “it should fit the station better.”

Lemon also informed the commissioners on the fact that the company selling the truck certifies the ladder and the pump before it leaves the lot.

“They also provided a one year limited warranty on the major components of the apparatus,” said Lemon.

With the board’s approval Lemon will send Asher and John Goyne to Alabama to inspect ladder truck on a three day trip.

Sitting in the parking lot of Station 71 is a boat that was recently brought to Chelan by Commissioner Jones. “It was the Coast Guard’s 25 foot, built for homeland security in 2013 … it was an opportunity to obtain this craft, our cost is the handling fee to the State Department of Enterprise Service for $5,5000 and then we will need to seek motors for it,” stated Jones.

The boat will serve rescue swimmers and deliver them to any emergency on the lake. Commissioner Moller expressed his opinion on the rescue boat, “This is a great find, but I just don’t see that one we have the money for it, two we don’t have the personnel to staff it and three that we really have a need for it.”

The handling has not yet been paid, however Jones explained that they have up to one year to make the boat operational. If after 18 months if the boat doesn’t meet their needs, they can sell it.  “They are currently selling for $110,000 - $150,000,” he said.

Jones believes that the fire department can get volunteers to operate the boat. “We would want to also see if we can partner up with EMS.”

Deputy Fire Chief Mark Donnell, stated that rescue boat operations need to be addressed in the long range plan. “It’s going to have an impact on the budget, it is going to have an impact operationally and are we ready to do that,” said Donnell.

Since the rescue boat is not yet part of the long range plan, Commissioner Witherbee can’t support it.

“As a reminded I was authorized by the previous Commissioners to make an acquisition,” said Jones.

For now, this will be tabled. Meanwhile numbers and costs will be researched and presented to the Commissioners in a future meeting.

Donnell reported that CFR is preparing for the staff reduction in 2019. “We are looking at how to manage that operationally, it should ‘t be too much of shift change,” he said.

With a few tweaks here and there, CFR will operate with two full-time personnel starting January 1, just as they did in 2016.

Association report:

The association will be ending the year with $30,652. Most of the 2018 expenditures went towards helping victims, purchasing equipment for the fire department and also for donations to the community. Next year, the biggest fundraiser for the association will be held in October.
This month the association donated $1,000 to the Chelan Food Bank, $1,000 Chelan Valley Hope and a bag full of toys for the Manger Mall. Along with that, they gifted five $500 Walmart card to Santa Stars.