Montgomery County Council members are expected to approve a nearly $31 million financing plan to purchase what officials have said is much-needed fire apparatus.
The multimillion sum accounts for 71 new pieces of equipment for the county’s fire stations.
District Fire Chief Philip Guercio said during the next three years, stations will acquire 37 new engines, which are the “workhorse-type of units” that carry hoses and pump water to extinguish blazes. Also included is more revolutionary air foam capability on the pumps to better put out fires, as well as additional aerial units, hazmat vehicles and heavy rescue squads that can be deployed during train derailments and other large-scale emergencies.
“This will make a huge difference,” Guercio said Wednesday.
Two years ago, the Montgomery County Council’s Office of Legislative Oversight released a scathing report about the Fire and Rescue department’s shortcomings in inspecting, maintaining and repairing its 424 service vehicles.
According to the report, the county only budgeted $367,000 for a proposed $7.2 million apparatus need in the department.
Council Member Phil Andrews, chair of the Public Safety Committee, said the ordering of the new equipment is directly in response to these findings.
“We are really playing catch-up with this to bring our fleet up to where it should be,” Andrews said. “This plan will allow us to have a better balance of fleet.”
Council legislative analyst Chuck Sherer said council members originally approved the plan for the updated equipment in May. Council members on Tuesday voted to spend $2.5 million on the actual management plan for the incoming apparatus.
That includes hiring a full-time medical director for the fire service and more centralized oversight of the equipment maintenance. A resolution also came before the body Tuesday to authorize the actual financing of the equipment. That will be voted on next week.
What’s Next?
» Once fire officials award a contract, it will take 18 to 24 months to get the equipment.
