Alexandria, VA Fire Department

[davemcclung]

[quote name='Shoop' timestamp='1309218642' post='445844']

Dave,



When I visited Alexandria they had mentioned that the department was looking, and pretty much on board with the idea of leasing apparatus like Arlington does. Any word on that?

[/quote]



Patrick, no I didn't hear that but that doesn't mean it isn't something they are investigating. They could easily tag onto the Arlington County multi-year contract with AES/Pierce that is a lease option. They are talking about one pumper spec as opposed to what they have now - all 8 are Pierce pumpers but build on 5 different specs. That would mean that pretty much any pumper they get would need to be short wheel base to fit in Station 201. Having one spec would mean you could set one SOP for what equipment is carried on the pumpers and allow each unit to have the equipment in the same compartment from company to company.



In order to do this I would think they would need to staff full time Rescue 206 because they would have to do away with the extrication engines at 204 and 207 unless you build the need for rescue equipment into the common spec.



For those of you that remember that Engines 201 and 202 have 1000 GPM pumps to allow the shorter wheelbase to allow them to fit into the stations.....202 is now at 209 and that isn't a problem and once they put 201 in the station they realized that they did have the space for a longer pumper.



I didn't do as much shooting at AFD stations as I normally do this last trip. I will do more shooting in Alexandria in September and I will ask about the lease option then.