City officials are debating whether a recent rash of Decatur Fire and Rescue fire truck breakdowns are the result of past decisions to purchase used trucks.
Two weeks ago, the fire department didn’t have a ladder truck or reserve engine pumper, and Station 1 on Fifth Avenue Southwest was without a truck for a day because of the breakdowns, said Fire Chief Tony Grande.
Grande said the department “just went through a spell” where multiple trucks broke down. He said it was particularly unusual for both of the city’s ladder trucks to have problems requiring service at the same time.
Fire and Rescue usually operates with a ladder truck and eight pumper engines in service and a ladder truck and two pumper engines in reserve, but Grande said the breakdowns left the department a little short.
However, Grande said the city was covered. The department took advantage of a deal in which it can temporarily lease trucks from Brindlee Mountain Fire Apparatus, of Oak Grove.
Not having a ladder truck could have been a problem if there had been a fire in downtown Decatur or one of the city’s industries. But Grande said he notified neighboring fire departments in Hartselle and Neel of the problem. Those departments have ladder trucks.
“I called our local partners and told them, ‘We might need your help,’ ” Grande said.
Luckily, Decatur didn’t have any calls that would require a ladder truck.
City Councilman Billy Jackson attributed Fire and Rescue’s breakdown problems to recent decisions to purchase used trucks.
In 2013, the city bought a 2003 engineer pumper for $204,500, less a trade-in deduction of $37,500 for three older Decatur fire trucks. The truck had 59,229 miles and 4,988 hours on it at the time of the purchase.
The city purchased a truck in 2012 with 4,500 miles on it for $199,000 from America Fire Equipment Co.
Jackson, who voted against the 2013 purchase and abstained in 2012, said the situation with the city’s fleet of fire trucks, police cars and sanitation trucks was created by the poor planning practices of the mayor and City Council majority.
“We’re starting to see the repercussions of buying used vehicles,” Jackson said. “We’re not able to do what we need to do, and it’s coming back to haunt us.”
Mayor Don Kyle said he finds it ironic that Jackson, who deals in used vehicles, would object to buying used vehicles.
“Sometimes breakdowns just come in fits and flurries,” Kyle said.
Grande wouldn’t say whether any of the two used vehicles recently purchased were among the broken down trucks during the problem week.
“All of our trucks are used,” the chief said.
Kyle and Council President Gary Hammon said the used trucks were purchased on the advice of then-Chief Darwin Clark.
“After an evaluation, they said the value was there,” Kyle said.
Hammon said he trusted Clark and his professional review of the trucks.
“He said he thought it was an excellent deal,” Hammon said. “Who am I to question his evaluation?”
The City Council recently approved a fleet renewal plan and purchases of three engine pumpers for just more than $1 million. The new trucks are scheduled to arrive in early September.
“Our hope is these purchases will solve our problems,” Grande said.
Kyle said the city also has implemented a new service plan that should reduce the maintenance problems and keep the trucks on the road.
[email protected] or 256-340-2432. Twitter @DD_BayneHughes.
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