TO: W. Calvin Horton, Town Manager
FROM: Daniel Jones, Fire Chief
SUBJECT: Additional Vehicle Request for Fire Department
DATE: March 3, 2006
The purpose of this memorandum is to request the addition of a Ford Escape hybrid vehicle (or equivalent) to be shared by the three on-shift Assistant Fire Marshals as requested in phase 2 of a 3 phase addition of personnel (see Staffing Request Budget paper). This vehicle would be used on a daily 24-hour basis for conducting inspections, bar and nightclub safety checks, hazard investigations and for emergency response to serve as the incident safety officer. It would primarily be assigned to and shared by the three on-shift Assistant Fire Marshals. The vehicle would also be used to transport all equipment needed by these personnel including personal protective equipment, inspection forms and records, safety equipment and investigative equipment.
If the request for additional Fire Department staffing is approved, the three on-shift Assistant Fire Marshal positions would be filled and these personnel would require a vehicle for the performance of assigned duties. The daily duties of these personnel would include the following:
Commercial occupancy inspections
Bar and nightclub safety checks
Emergency Response and Shift Safety Officer (meets OSHA and NFPA requirements)
Fire Investigations
Complaint investigations related to fire and life safety concerns
Public education
Back-up on-duty Shift Commander for simultaneous incidents or mutual aid
Towing fire investigation trailer
Of the duties listed above there are three that have a higher priority. After the Rhode Island nightclub fire in which 100 patrons perished, the Town’s governing body and concerned citizens and parents wanted to know how we were going to respond to prevent a similar tragedy in Chapel Hill. One recommendation was to conduct bar and nightclub safety checks regularly after hours to ensure compliance with North Carolina Fire Codes and prevent overcrowding problems. This vehicle would be used on a daily basis by the on-duty assistant fire marshals to conduct these safety checks.
An additional high priority assignment relates to the Shift Safety officer duties. OSHA requires that a safety officer be designated for every working structure fire and other hazardous responses. The additional response vehicle will facilitate quick response during structure fires and other hazardous operations for the on-duty assistant fire marshals and allow them to assume the duties of safety officer early in the operation.
The additional response vehicle will also provide more flexibility in terms of response when our department provides automatic mutual aid to other jurisdictions. Our current policy requires the on-duty shift commander to respond with our engine company when mutual aid is requested in another jurisdiction. When this occurs, the Town has decreased command officer coverage until an off-duty command officer can respond from his/her residence to assume the responsibility. The additional vehicle will allow the on-duty assistant fire marshals to respond for mutual aid requests while maintaining continuous coverage for the Town with the on-duty shift commander.
In the interest of fuel savings and to reduce environmental impacts the Department recommends the purchase a Ford Escape hybrid vehicle for these personnel to share. The hybrid allows the opportunity to combine the four wheel drive capability that is needed during inclement weather with a vehicle that also has an efficient fuel mileage rating. The smaller size of this vehicle will also improve maneuverability for day-to-day work, access and parking around the Town. The use of hybrids in emergency services is relatively untried and we believe this application would be a good experiment of using hybrid vehicle technology without jeopardizing emergency coverage initially.
According to Public Works the base price for this vehicle is $ 26,056. The following tables detail vehicle costs with equipment (total cost and year one cost):
|
TOTAL COST OF VEHICLE |
Ford Escape Hybrid 4WD |
$26,056 |
|
Siren, emergency lights, CHFD markings |
$1,100 |
|
|
Tow Hitch |
$420 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
TOTAL |
$27,576 |
|
YEAR ONE VEHICLE COST (FY 06-07) |
Fleet Use Charge |
$2,700 |
|
Vehicle Fuel |
$400 |
|
|
M&R Vehicles |
$1,100 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
TOTAL |
$4,200 |
The first and eighth year of debt service for this vehicle is estimated at $2,700 and years two through seven are estimated at $ 4,400. Annual operating costs for this vehicle include fuel and maintenance. Fuel costs are estimated to be $400 while annual maintenance is estimated at $1,100.
We recommend the addition of one vehicle to the Fire Department fleet for use by the on-shift Assistant Fire Marshal. This request is contingent upon the council’s approval of the six new firefighters requested in the 2006-07 budget.