Project Statement:
The Brooksville Fire Department intends to purchase a new aerial
apparatus (Quint) with this grant. It will function as a multi-purpose/Special
Operations vehicle. The vehicle will provide Fire Suppression, EMS/BLS
First Response, Technical Rescue, Vehicle Extrication and support for
Hazardous Materials and WMD response. The unit will also contain a
compressed air breathing cascade system and be capable of developing
high volume foam master streams using the Foam Midget Induction System.
It is the intent of the department, to use this vehicle to replace three
(3) pieces of equipment currently in use that have well exceeded their
projected service length. The insertion of this vehicle into the City of
Brooksville Fire Department is critical to our ability to maintain
optimum service level based on the changes the City is undergoing now.
This unit will increase our capabilities and help us prepare to meet the
demands of the future based on the growth rate the city is currently!
experiencing. The Project will provide modern-day apparatus that is
compliant to the current editions of all NFPA Standards that apply and
allow for the dispersion of dependable apparatus to projected addition
of more stations within the City.
#2 Financial Needs:
In October 2002, the Brooksville Fire Department lost an area known as
Township 22 that was traditionally covered by the department for 32
years. This was the result of the cancellation of an inter-local
agreement by
experienced a loss in tax revenue of $350,000. Although this occurred
over 18 months ago, the Brooksville Fire Department continues to operate
without additional funding, yet continues to provide the same level of
service. This includes a call volume that has increased by 20% in the
first three (3) months of 2004, as compared to the same period in 2003.
The City of
full time and reserve staff, serving a community of 7500 residents.
Until recently, area of coverage responsibility was an incorporated 6-square
mile area within the city limits (after the loss of Township 22 in
October 2002). However, in January 2004, the size of the city doubled to
12 square miles with the annexation of property along U.S. 41 to the
south of the City. Additional annexations are currently under review and
expected to unfold in the near future. The most recent annexation is to
be built in three (3) phases with Phase #1 containing 999 homes. Land
clearing for this phase has begun, with approximately 30% of the lots
already sold. Construction in Phase #1 will begin in the summer of 2004.
The department staff consists of fifteen full-time personnel certified
at the Firefighter/EMT level, 15 Reserve Firefighters, (certified at the
same level), the Fire Chief and an administrative assistant. The
Department participates in a Regional Hazardous Materials Team with
fifteen (15) personnel (includes reserves) certified as Hazardous
Materials Technicians. Three (3) additional Technicians will be trained
in fiscal year 2004-05. The majority of these Technicians have also
received training in WMD, Bio Terrorism, Chemical and Radiological
Emergencies with all members slated to receive the same training. The
remaining personnel in the department are Hazardous Materials Operations
certified.
The cost to maintain the three (3) units slated to be replaced continues
to increase. This increase is due to the age of the equipment and the
need for continuous repairs due to normal wear and tear associated with
day to day operations. The ability to keep these units in a service
ready mode continues to become more difficult due down time for repairs.
We are at a point where the units often are in need of repair after
each use. This increase in maintenance expenses has created a need to
move funding from other line items to cover the associated costs. Other
line items, such as personnel and equipment have suffered in order to
maintain this apparatus. Additionally, due to the budget shortfalls
created by the loss of Township 22, capital improvement projects, such
as this aerial apparatus, have been put on hold. This loss of revenue
has severely impacted our ability to maintain staffing levels that are
adequate, thus affecting firefighter safety.
By securing this grant, the Department will be able to reduce
maintenance expenses and fuel costs (The Project will replace 3 vehicles
with 1). Our budget requests can then be focused on funds for use in
maintaining adequate personnel. This will improve personnel safety
measures by addressing critical safety and staffing needs.
Additionally, this Aerial/Special Operations Unit will provide a piece
of equipment that will serve many functions in the Citys Fire Department
and help move the Department into a position where we are better
prepared to serve the additional area already annexed by the City as
well as future annexations. The current Ladder Truck is in desperate
need of replacement, and is a safety concern as are the other two units
identified in this Project. This Project will provide for immediate
replacement, eliminating the need to wait for an aerial to be added back
into the Citys CIP when funding becomes available. This project will
also allow the City to dedicate funds for other CIP projects, such as
improving current stations and the addition of new stations.
#3 Cost Benefit of Request:
We feel this purchase will benefit not only the citizens of the City of
Brooksville, but the citizens in the communities of Spring Hill,
Highpoint,
Operations Quint will enhance our ability to provide prompt and
efficient Fire Suppression,
Materials service to the area we serve, as well as mutual aid to the
other areas mentioned. The Project will also provide us with a unit that
can be self-sufficient when the requirement for elevated master streams
is necessary.
The Project will replace a 30+ year old ladder truck, a 29 year old
engine, and an 18 year old rescue truck (all of which are currently in
service). The existing ladder truck is currently a first line piece and
is the only ladder truck in
criteria
used across the
doubled its projected life span and the other two (2) units have well
exceeded their life expectancy for use by the fire service. The purchase
of this Aerial/Special Operations Quint will also allow the department
to move an eighteen (18) year old engine back to reserve status.
Additionally, the units to be replaced are at an age where their ability
to operate safely is in question, therefore jeopardizing firefighter
safety. One critical safety issue relates to the fact that the existing
ladder and engine to be replaced by this project do not have fully
enclosed crew compartments. The units are no longer dependable and
therefore impact our ability to provide a prompt and efficient response
to emergencies.