The sound of rumbling fire engines is being drowned out by complaints about rising gasoline prices.
Expressing a desire to do his part in the effort to conserve resources, Fort Wayne Fire Chief Tim Davie initiated a program Thursday to ensure the fire department uses its gasoline efficiently.
The program limits use of the departments vehicles, including take-home vehicles, to emergencies only.
Engines will not be left running as they might have been in the past, and special assignments that might fall in the area of community relations will be eliminated, said Bob Amber, a department spokesman.
He said firefighters sometimes leave engines running to keep electrical systems charged and prevent a driver from being faced with a dead battery when responding to an emergency.
A policy that allowed employees to use vehicles for errands such as picking up groceries as long as they were able to respond to emergencies has been discontinued until further notice.
It really came as no surprise. I think everyone wants to make sure to do their share, Amber said.
Amber said the fire department uses BP gas stations and City Utilities supply.
A BP station at Lake Avenue and Anthony Boulevard ran out of regular unleaded gas Tuesday night, though its supply was replenished Thursday night.
The Fort Wayne Police Department, which also has a take-home vehicle program, has not changed its policy, said Robin Thompson, a department spokeswoman.
Were evaluating it day-by-day, she said.
The Allen County Sheriffs Department likely wont consider changing its take-home vehicle policy until 2006.
It participates in the countys fixed-gas price program, which maintains one price for the year, said Victor Hopkins, a spokesman for the department.
Were still paying the same as we were at the beginning of the year, he said. With rising gas costs, even though were not doing it this year, its possible for next year.
