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Rescue fleet changing color for consistency
Should all of Stafford's fire and rescue vehicles be red?
Date published: 7/3/2009
BY JONAS BEALS At a Stafford County Board of Supervisors meeting two weeks ago, Supervisor Paul Milde made a motion for staff to look into a seemingly innocuous issue: the color of the county's firetrucks. There was no second, and the motion died. According to a county ordinance, any new firefighting apparatus purchased with taxpayer funds must sport the predominantly red color of the county. This could be troublesome for firehouses like Station 2 at the courthouse, which has had lime-yellow trucks for nearly 50 years. An apparatus purchased by a volunteer station can be painted whatever color the volunteers choose, but a new firetruck can cost more than $500,000--an amount that most county volunteer departments have difficulty amassing on a regular basis. It is likely that any new trucks will be purchased by the county. "This is a normal transition that every growing community faces," said Milde, who did not get support for his motion but certainly struck a nerve. "But this is not the time to try and take away the volunteers' identity. Do you want to trade volunteer identity with uniformity?" Savings versus tradition Fire and Rescue Chief Rob Brown said the color of a unit has little bearing on the service provided, but he has practical and financial reasons to favor a fleet of red firetrucks. A standardized, interchangeable fleet could potentially save the county money and ensure that each station is equipped with safe, reliable trucks at all times. Brown plans to rotate trucks among stations to prolong their useful lives and save money. A busy station like Falmouth can put as many miles on a firetruck in one year as a smaller station would in five. Moreover, a new paint job could cost $20,000 to $30,000--something Brown would like to avoid if he moves an apparatus to a new station. "This is about good business, good financial management and building a team," he said. "And it's working." Response times have improved over the past four years. But as Brown tries to organize and unify the countywide department, some volunteers feel that their traditions are being threatened. Shawn Dunstan, chief of the Stafford Volunteer Fire Department, worries that the loss of their unique station colors could hurt recruitment efforts and erode morale. "Our trucks are yellow," he said. "It's a pride thing."
Read more stories about Stafford Date published: 7/3/2009
Mr. Brown do your research!
(posted by
Sassy71
, July 4, 2009 9:50 am)
If Mr. Brown is so concerned about the taxpayers, perhaps all the new trucks should be painted to benefit us. Research shows http://www.psychologymatters.org/solomon.html
Want to save? I’m certain that the county doesn’t require as many of the Assistant,Division Chiefs Captains and other “officers” that are padding the payroll.
The volunteers saving us MILLIONS. The least we can do is say thank you and leave them with pride intact if it be Blue/white, lime/yellow or any other color of the rainbow
Fire truck shell games
(posted by
Grumpy1
, July 3, 2009 10:56 pm)
Shifting trucks around is a novel concept, however I think you might save a great deal of miles if your change a couple polcies. First, stop the joyriding down to get a fre meal. Second, stop rolling two or more trucks every time someone has a fender bender.
If it ain't broke...
(posted by
remembercasey
, July 3, 2009 6:30 pm)
Make sure someone in Stafford County Government breaks it. Here's a news flash, if your house is on fire, you don't give a darn what color the fire truck is. Red is fine, yellow is great, purple with pink polka-dots is wonderful too. We only care that someone shows up, and are grateful to the firefighters who sacrifice their time to do so. If a certain paint color boosts their pride and morale--leave them alone!
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