Huron Expositor, 2007-03-28, Page 13The Huron Expositor • March 28, 2007 Page 13
News
Seaforth firefighters argue with council for safety,
efficiency of custom cab for new fire pumper
Susan H u n d e r t m a r k
While Huron East council hoped
to save $50,000 in its .2007 budget
by choosing a commercial cab for a
new fire pumper for the Seaforth
Fire Department, Seaforth's district'
chief, deputy chief and captain
showed up Tuesday to argue for a
custom cab and chassis.
Huron East Fire Chief Marty
Bedard told council the safety of
Seaforth firefighters as well as the
ability to have six firefighters first
on the scene of a fire are two main
arguments for the custom cab,
which could add $30,000 to $50,000
to a $300,000 fire pumper.
But, Deputy -Mayor Bernie
MacLellan argued that many of the
features in a custom cab might be
negotiated for less money in a com-
mercial cab.
He asked that council tender for
both options to determine the
potential savings.
"I think we need to quote both
trucks. We need to know what the
difference in the cab is. If it's only
$15,000 (for a custom cab), we
should throw caution to the wind
and buy it. But, if it's $75,000,
maybe not," he said.
Mayor Joe Seili pointed out that a
fire pumper is a 25 -year investment
and that Brussels Fire Department
did not buy the cheapest truck
when they bought a new one recent-
ly,.
"We're the guys that write the
cheque but these are the guys that
have to use it. They know what they
need more than we do. We might
have to drop one of our other pro-
jects," said Seili.
"When you have a volunteer fire
department, you have to give them
the equipment they need," agreed
McKillop Coun. Bill Siemon.
Bedard listed other advantages of
a custom cab as crash -tested with
rollover protection, seatbelts
designed to fit a firefighter in
bunker gear, better visibility for the
driver, built-in systems to prevent
the pump from overheating, a heav-
ier frame, better suspension and
brakes, enough interior space for six
firefighters and longer warranties.
Clinton Fire Chief Steve Cooke
told council that Clinton firefighters
felt so strongly about the advan-
tages of a custom cab when they
bought a pumper in 1997 that they
fundraised $30,000 over five years
for it.
"Our next truck will also be a cus-
tom cab. It's the only efficient way
to respond to a fire," he said.
Cooke added that Huron East is
paying less for the wages of its fire-
fighters than three professional
firefighters' wages.
"They (volunteer firefighters)
deserve the best equipment you can
give them," he said.
"If you're worrying about $30,000,
you couldn't give a shit about the
safety of the firefighters," added
Seaforth captain Ralph Wood.
Brussels Coun. David Blaney
asked. if Seaforth would require a
custom cab because of the larger
geographical area it covers.
"I'm not against the fire depart-
ment having the best equipment.
But, I'd like to see them with a
brand new Chev, not a brand new
Cadillac," said Grey Coun. Alvin
McLellan.
Cooke responded that he found
the reference to a Cadillac "offen-
sive."
"It is a custom cab designed
specifically to do the job. It is not a
Cadillac," he said.
District Chief Tom Phillips said
he wasn't sure about asking
Seaforth firefighters to raise .money
for a custom cab.
"We raised $53,000 over the past
few years for equipment that could
have come out of taxes. If we go
back and ask them to fundraise for
this, we may have problems our-
selves," he said.
Deputy Chief Jim Sills said
Seaforth currently arrives at a fire
scene with four firefighters, not the
six that could arrive in a custom
cab.
He added that with only four, he's
left with three who can't safely
enter a burning building immedi-
ately without back-up.
While MacLellan pushed for
quotes on both a custom cab and a
commercial cab, Seili acknowledged
that the request was asking the
firefighters to do a lot of extra work.
"We got 10-15 tenders last time
that were 30-50 pages long. You're
asking for a pile of work," he said.
"It's a lot of money," responded
Siemon.
Council voted to authorize the fire
department to tender for both the
custom cab and the commercial cab.
•
McTaggart Wettlaufer .
INSURANCE BROKERS INC.
_
• AUTO • HOME • FARM
• TRAVEL • COMMERCIAL
• LIFE INSURANCE
BROKERS
Paul Wettlaufer • Amy Siemon
Suzanne Zehr • Leigh Crawford
Ken Hutchison • Bill Siemon
68 Ontario Rd. 348-9150
Mitchell 1-800-561-0183
Here s your
to save lives.
Please give at the Blood Donor clinic in Seaforth.
Monday, April 2, 2007
2:30 p.m. - 8:30 p
Seaforth Community Centre
122 Duke Street
Please call and make an appointment today,
This message brought to you by these community minded businesses.
,- r,-: The Municipality
t,
L
Plumb n V Heating Inc._
�,
Whitney-Ribey
Funeral Home
_
519 5271390
87 Goderich St. W. Seaforth
iisrMGr
HURON EAST
519-527-0160
Seaforth 519-522-0493
CASEY VAN BAKEL
Electrical &
Plumbing
Licenced Gas Fitter
519522-1558
Call 1 888 2 DONATE
for more information or to book an appointment.
www.blood.ca
Spring into action -
share your vitality with
someone in need.
McLaughlin
Chevrolet Ltd.
13 Main St. Seaforth 519.527.1140
Canadian Blood Services
it's in you to give