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Article From The Tacoma News Tribune
Sumner sheds troubled firetruck
ROB TUCKER; The News Tribune
Last updated: September 28th, 2006 01:00 AM (PDT)
Sumner has returned its troubled new firetruck to the manufacturer and has received its $197,810 down payment back.
The city and Sumner Fire District No. 1, who partnered to buy the pumper truck, said the purchase contract with American LaFrance Co. is canceled.
The company, based near Charleston, S.C., said Wednesday that the April 18 purchase deal was concluded in a mutually satisfactory manner.
The city plans to buy another new engine – not from American LaFrance – and is looking at regrouping its fire service as emergency calls and overhead costs increase, said Mayor Dave Enslow.
The star-crossed firetruck kept breaking down, due to electrical and engine problems, and it never responded to an emergency call.
“You can’t afford a breakdown,” Enslow said. “The people expect you to be there.”
Sumner isn’t the only government reporting problems with American LaFrance fire engines. The city had contacted officials at Everett, Bellingham, Vancouver, Woodinville and White Salmon, all of whom reported problems.
So did the San Francisco Fire Department after buying 10 American LaFrance engines for $3.5 million in the past year. The pumper engines have primer motors that are shorting out, door handles and passenger windows that break, faulty water pressure relief pipes that flood electrical systems and sirens that won’t turn off, according to the San Francisco Chronicle.
The joke going around station houses, the newspaper reported, is that if the Big One hits, the city service garage is the best place to be because that’s where all the rescue equipment is.
The Fire Department says the problems are typical of those in any new engines and will be worked out, the newspaper said.
The manufacturer agreed.
“American LaFrance is very in tune to satisfying customers and if there are problems, we’ll fix them,” said Karen Haun, company spokeswoman.
Haun said Wednesday the company tried hard to fix Sumner’s problems.
“They tried,” said Assistant Fire Chief John McDonald. “But they were not successful.”
The city bought the pumper to replace a 1991 engine and demote it to backup status. But the old engine must now remain in front-line service until another new engine is bought.
Sumner originally agreed to pay a total of $432,000. McDonald said no tail lights, brake lights or turn signals would operate at the rear of the new engine. Later the engine quit running at least three times, he said.
FULL MERGER RECOMMEND
In addition to changes with the vehicle fleet, Sumner city officials are looking at a broader plan to regroup its fire service.
The City Council this week heard from Dick Moore, a former Sumner and Tacoma fire chief, who advised a full merger between the city Fire Department and East Pierce Fire & Rescue. The city already contracts with Dan Packer, chief of East Pierce, to double as Sumner chief.
East Pierce serves more than 60,000 people in the City of Bonney Lake and in surrounding areas, including Lake Tapps and around Buckley and South Prairie.
Sumner sheds troubled firetruck
ROB TUCKER; The News Tribune
Last updated: September 28th, 2006 01:00 AM (PDT)
Sumner has returned its troubled new firetruck to the manufacturer and has received its $197,810 down payment back.
The city and Sumner Fire District No. 1, who partnered to buy the pumper truck, said the purchase contract with American LaFrance Co. is canceled.
The company, based near Charleston, S.C., said Wednesday that the April 18 purchase deal was concluded in a mutually satisfactory manner.
The city plans to buy another new engine – not from American LaFrance – and is looking at regrouping its fire service as emergency calls and overhead costs increase, said Mayor Dave Enslow.
The star-crossed firetruck kept breaking down, due to electrical and engine problems, and it never responded to an emergency call.
“You can’t afford a breakdown,” Enslow said. “The people expect you to be there.”
Sumner isn’t the only government reporting problems with American LaFrance fire engines. The city had contacted officials at Everett, Bellingham, Vancouver, Woodinville and White Salmon, all of whom reported problems.
So did the San Francisco Fire Department after buying 10 American LaFrance engines for $3.5 million in the past year. The pumper engines have primer motors that are shorting out, door handles and passenger windows that break, faulty water pressure relief pipes that flood electrical systems and sirens that won’t turn off, according to the San Francisco Chronicle.
The joke going around station houses, the newspaper reported, is that if the Big One hits, the city service garage is the best place to be because that’s where all the rescue equipment is.
The Fire Department says the problems are typical of those in any new engines and will be worked out, the newspaper said.
The manufacturer agreed.
“American LaFrance is very in tune to satisfying customers and if there are problems, we’ll fix them,” said Karen Haun, company spokeswoman.
Haun said Wednesday the company tried hard to fix Sumner’s problems.
“They tried,” said Assistant Fire Chief John McDonald. “But they were not successful.”
The city bought the pumper to replace a 1991 engine and demote it to backup status. But the old engine must now remain in front-line service until another new engine is bought.
Sumner originally agreed to pay a total of $432,000. McDonald said no tail lights, brake lights or turn signals would operate at the rear of the new engine. Later the engine quit running at least three times, he said.
FULL MERGER RECOMMEND
In addition to changes with the vehicle fleet, Sumner city officials are looking at a broader plan to regroup its fire service.
The City Council this week heard from Dick Moore, a former Sumner and Tacoma fire chief, who advised a full merger between the city Fire Department and East Pierce Fire & Rescue. The city already contracts with Dan Packer, chief of East Pierce, to double as Sumner chief.
East Pierce serves more than 60,000 people in the City of Bonney Lake and in surrounding areas, including Lake Tapps and around Buckley and South Prairie.
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