Fire truck wanted in Manassas
{Submitted photo}
A new fire truck would replace the city’s 16-year-old tower ladder truck, which was parked in a garage for more than 100 days last year because of mechanical problems, said Manassas fire and rescue spokesman Francis J. Teevan.
Fire officials in Manassas are asking the public to help them get a new fire truck.
The department recently filed a request to obtain $900,000 from the Department of Homeland Security for the purchase of a new ladder truck.
The truck would replace the city’s 16-year-old tower ladder truck, which was parked in a garage for more than 100 days last year because of mechanical problems, said Manassas fire and rescue spokesman Francis J. Teevan.
The ladder truck is the only one of its kind in the city, and the only truck that is consistently staffed by firefighters from Manassas, Manassas Park and Prince William County, added Teevan.
Hard budget times have meant more down time for the aging vehicle and, without the federal grant, it is unlikely that the city will be able to come up with the funds to replace the truck.
The current projected cost of a replacement truck tops $1 million, said Teevan.
But there is something residents can do to help get the grant money.
City officials are encouraging residents to write to the Grant Programs Administrator at DHS in Washington in hopes a public outcry will help their chances in getting the money.
The City of Manassas Fire and Rescue Department is a combination department, which uses both career staff and volunteers to respond to fires and medical emergencies in Manassas and can assist in Manassas Park and Prince William County.
Staff writer Uriah A. Kiser can be reached at 703-878-8065.
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Reader Reactions
It is interesting so far in the discussion that, aside from the reference to using an aerial for townhomes and the units within a five mile radius, no mention has been made of this type of unit being a strategic asset for the City in terms of what is within our borders, and just on the edges.
We have: MICRON, City Hall, Prince William Hospital, Lockheed Martin, BAE and other structures where this type of unit is key to have as the first response. Granted, there are 3 other such units locally, but five miles even with full lights & siren can seem like going 20 miles depending on the time of day around here.
I, based on my younger days experience as a Firefighter & EMT know the value of a tower truck - my fire company sat at the bottom of the hill from Geisenger Medical Center in Danville PA, and even with similar units close by, there was a reason we had the truck since we were “first in - last out” within Mahoning Township.
Extending beyong the City’s borders, there are plenty of secondary reasons why I could see all four units being at one fire.
Getting into the weeds of the age of the truck, maintanence issues, personal/personnel issues in department are all growing pains of a new full City department. The full department is only coming up on one year old…and this is a chance to compete for funds. Personally, as a City Resident, I would rather try for a new item and trade up when bucks are available, then wait until there are none….and then it is coming out of my pocket.
Andy Harrover’s blog “My Side of the Fence” is also discussing this issue. Someone posted there that the truck is necessary and the second fire station is also necessary to bring the City of Manassas up to national standards. I believe the fire officials. There are 35,000 residents of the City of Manassas. A million dollars is $28.57 per person. If you believe that the City needs the truck, hold a yard sale of stuff you don’t need but others could use and take the money to City Hall. If the City is awarded the grant, they can use the yard sale money toward the second fire station. Don’t you want to live in a community that meets national standards?
There’s also two opportunities to let your voice be heard. There’s a City Council meeting Monday night (June 22) with citizen comment time at 7:30 p.m. and the Fire & Rescue Ad Hoc Committee meets this Tuesday (June 23) at 5:30 pm in the second floor conference room of City Hall.
Support the people who are watching out for us, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year for all hazards safety, not just fire suppression.
See now, there’s a problem with the thinking of this statement; “If the grant money doesn’t go to Manassas it will just likely go elsewhere so why not here if there is a need.“
And this is the second time I have heard this applied to grant money. Just who do you think is going to pay for this truck. This administration is giving money away like it grows on trees and everybody wants a piece, whether justified or not.
We do not need to education to have a comment on speeding our tax dollars. I realized a lot of people think this money is free, but come on, we all know its is not.
If someone wants to comment and educate the masses, ok, but don’t come and chastise us stating how ignorant we are, it is ultimately our money, so get off your high horse.
drzeus..I see your point now as to the need, and I agree with you that since there are two others within 5 miles it is a bit much to ask for a million, though..
Before anyone says anyhting about my statement below: No I do not work for Manassas nor do I have any affiliation with them. It just really aggravates me about the publics ignorance of what we really do and no one gives us any kind of credit until they need us.
The ignorance on this topic is amazing. I am a career firefighter and have been for 20+ years do I pretend I now about your career choice? The answer is no, so why do so many people choose to think they now my job and the equipment required? I would welcome any of you to come ride-a-long and see what the job really entails. It may surprise most of you how many emergencies are dispatched on a daily basis. A ladder truck and/or tower is an essential piece of modern firefighting operations and is more than justified. Many of you who state that your personal vehicles are older and still running fine have no idea of the daily wear and tear that fire apparatus endures. The weight of these vehicles alone takes its toll starting and stopping. I also have to ask why everyone is up in arms about this, they applied for a federal grant. If the grant money doesn’t go to Manassas it will just likely go elsewhere so why not here if there is a need. How many of you know what equipment and manpower a typical house fire dispatch requires? Or a commercial fire? How many of you even know the what equipment is carried on a ladder truck? Stop pretending you know what we do and if you are so interested in what we do educate yourself before making ignorant comments. We don’t sit around playing checkers while waiting for calls and the call volume we typically do face in this area would probably surprise you, there is more than you think.
ljp93,
Just a bit of education. Ladder trucks aren’t just used for reaching high places, though that is one of their uses. Most have a reach of about 100 feet, but they are routinely used on house fires to access the roof. At times where the apparatus can’t park close to the building or the driveway is long, or the engine is in the way, you still need that much length to be able to reach the roof of a two or three story house. If the roof needs to be vented, the bucket allows a firefighter to cut a hole in the roof without actually standing on it above a fire. They also carry a much greater and taller compliment of ladders than engine companies do.
These are very useful and necessary apparatus. My only qualm with MVFD requesting a cool million to buy another one is that it is obvious they didn’t maintain the current one, AND there are two other aerials within a 5 mile radius.
I would never be a public servant or a vulunteer. Too many people think they know the job better than the person doing it.
To the poster Cindy B…what does Manassas being near (30 miles) have to do with it?
If they want this million dollar fire truck and they willing stopped a good fundraiser like the bingo, should they not explore other options like refurbishing the old one and also wouldn’t the public before they write to the address the other poster provided and help beg for a new fire truck ask to see how many times the equipment is actually used? And where in the City of Manassas is are there really enough tall buildings to justify the need for such a tall ladder? Could they not like previously mentioned redo the old one (in researching this I found it is done all the time and since there does not really seem to be the need for this much truck on a full time basis it would make more sense)or like another reader posted do they just want a nice new one. It just seems like a waste of money in the economic times we are going through and for a truck that is not really used all that much. Didn’t the City of Manassas also just spend a lot of money hiring a paid Fire Chief? When playing bingo we always thought the Fire Chief was a volunteer, why do they have to pay one now?
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