Stamford, CT New Engine 9

[FireMedic049]

Awesome topic!!  I've read in some of the trade journals and online sites about some the lawsuits in the City, but haven't ever been able to really wrap my head around the entire thing - this was an excellent description.

 

Not to take away from the discussion of the apparatus, but two major items I see from what you wrote:

1.  Is the city attempting to make the SFD an all-career FD?  Is one needed, or do the combination departments have enough staffing to make a difference?

 

2. Is there some reason that the continued purchase of problematic apparatus continues?

 

Thanks!

The answer to question #1 is technically "no".  The south end of the City of Stamford was covered by an all-career department.  The north end was covered by several volunteer departments that were significantly funded by the City along with a few career engine companies that were placed into the volunteer districts due to poor response from the volunteer stations.  The City was attempting to merge the VFDs into what would be a second fire department with 50+ career firefighters, funded by the City, but lacking the same direct oversight they have of the existing career department. 

 

The City conducted a referendum last year regarding changes to the City Charter.  One of the issues put before the voters was whether or not to transition to a single city-wide combination fire department with a single city-wide Fire Chief rather than the fragmented system currently in place.  The citizens voted for a single department structure with career and volunteer personnel.

 

 

If you want some addition information and have a few weeks with nothing to do, there's a rather large thread on the EMTBravo forum discussing the matter.