City of Syracuse Chooses KME

[fyreline]

Thanks for the kind words. Believe me, I understand how tough it can be to convince any apparatus committee to truly keep an open mind. The experience that Syracuse had with the last KME units we had purchased over 22 years ago was not good, and from that day forward KME apparatus was basically off the table for us. But that was than, and this is now. Companies and cultures change, especially in the fire apparatus field . . . Witness the recent inevitable demise of American LaFrance, and how the entire field has changed over the years. I felt that it was time to re-evaluate every manufacturer, although setting aside my own personal prejudices was probably the toughest sell of all. After all, people are not logical, they are psychological . . . And perception IS reality. All I would ask of your committee is to keep an open mind. After all, as all committees sometimes need to be reminded, it's not "their" money. Ask to see KME's facility, meet their people, walk through their factory. Talk to recent customers. This should be done with every manufacturer - leave no one out. They may end up surprised. Best of luck to you - and remember that the apparatus you buy will likely be there after at least some of you are retired, so don't just buy the one you "like" the best. Buy the rig that will best serve your firefighters and community the most reliably, at the lowest cost. Your personnel and your citizens deserve the best, and they are trusting you all to give it to them. It can be a daunting job, even before you bring the whole "committee" atmosphere into it.


Retirement has been great. Yes, I miss the guys, and the fireground. I do not miss the politics, the command staff meetings, the budgetary problems, and the endless nonsense that some folks seemed to think was actually important. Also, with the days-on-end below zero temperatures we recently experienced here in Upstate New York, I don't miss the Arctic Urban Firefighting. In fact, my wife and I are on a plane tomorrow morning heading for our place in Florida for six weeks. Time for a break.