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City close to adding ladder truck
Published Thursday, May 14, 2009
The city of Clanton’s fire fighting capabilities may soon be again improved as the city is completing negotiations to purchase a ladder truck.
The city council opened bids on the vehicle Monday but wanted more time to study the bids before awarding the contract to one of the two companies that submitted bids.
Fire Chief David Driver said this week the new ladder truck will put Clanton in compliance with ISO (the organization that determines fire insurance ratings) regulations. “The ISO requires ladder trucks for communities that have three or more buildings that are more than three stories tall or that require 3,500 gallons per minute fire (water) flow,” he said, adding Clanton certainly falls within the area of needing the ladder truck.
The bids on the truck ranged from $902,264 to $872,000 for a new truck and from $841,264 to $799,500 for trucks that have been used as demonstration trucks.
“The demo trucks are like new and will serve as purposes as well as a new truck,” Driver said.
He said the new truck would be housed in the downtown Clanton fire station due to it being centrally located within the structures the require a ladder truck in case of a fire at these locations.
Driver said several members of the Clanton Volunteer Force are already qualified to operate the ladder and that he is planning training sessions to certify those who are not. “We have the personnel who can do the training within our ranks,” he said.
Another $70,000 will be needed to equip the truck once it arrives.
The city has made application for a Firefighters Grant through FEMA to help finance the purchase of the other needed equipment for the truck.
Driver said the ladder truck could be in operation within the next few weeks if the city chooses to purchase one of the demo trucks.
“Meeting the ISO regulation of having a ladder truck is another step toward lowering the city’s insurance-rating number and hopefully reducing local fire insurance rates,” he said.
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Comments
Posted by travlr423 (anonymous) on May 15, 2009 at 1:33 a.m. (Suggest removal)
union grove has a 100' ladder truck that they can probably save you close to a million dollars on. and you can take that savings and create some kind of position for me with the city that pays really well. i can sure use the money right now. who knows saving you that kind of money could make a good position for a purchasing agent. so what do you say. we have a deal or what. i can start first thing Monday morning. but feel free to call me anytime over the weekend and we can discuss the pay and benefits package. oh, yea i would really appreciate a sign on bonus also.
p.s.
the kids need a new pair of shoes and the milk is running low. i like you, if you like me check yes or no.
Posted by TheDude (Michael Wells) on May 15, 2009 at 6:50 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Whoa, hold on there! I could use a job too! I don't need a sign-on bonus or a company vehicle. I am aged, seasoned, and pickled to perfection. Been there, done that. I had to make my kids leave home and I don't even drink milk. Monday? i can start right now!
Posted by eagle1 (anonymous) on May 15, 2009 at 9:08 a.m. (Suggest removal)
kw, it would be more than I'm gettin' paid right now! Hey man, you need somebody to carry yer tools around for ya? I could do that and comment on the Advertiser blogs on yer krackberry for ya. I would do you proud. That way, you could work and not worry about taking all those little breaks to retaliate on-line. Whadda ya say? Hmm?
Posted by southernpride (anonymous) on May 15, 2009 at 10:14 a.m. (Suggest removal)
How much need is there for a 100' ladder truck? Who says we need one?
Not being smart alec on this one, just asking.
Posted by JanineS22 (Jan Smith) on May 15, 2009 at 11:16 a.m. (Suggest removal)
According to the article, in order to improve our ISO rating, they need the ladder truck. The City of Clanton has done a good job managing their money. If they can upgrade equipment that will possibly save my life, and at the same time save me money on my home owners insurance, I'm happy. I like to see our tax dollars put to good use.
Posted by REK1138 (anonymous) on May 15, 2009 at 12:42 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Shouldn't there be stimulus money for this?
Posted by southernpride (anonymous) on May 15, 2009 at 1:34 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I agree JanineS22.
I understood the article to say it wil impove our ISO rating. I should of been more specific with my question. Does anyone know if a smaller one would do?
Posted by getbizi (anonymous) on May 15, 2009 at 3:02 p.m. (Suggest removal)
“The ISO requires ladder trucks for communities that have three or more buildings that are more than three stories tall or that require 3,500 gallons per minute fire (water) flow,” he said, adding Clanton certainly falls within the area of needing the ladder truck...............?? Do we have that many or any buildings in Clanton that exceed 3 stories or do we meet the 3,500 gallon criteria? I believe the million dollars would be better spent providing for a full-time, paid department.
Posted by eagle1 (anonymous) on May 15, 2009 at 3:04 p.m. (Suggest removal)
kw, where do I sign! I can drive a mule, don't even care who Paris Hilton is, and the only thing you might hear out of me is a few intermittent repercussive expulsions of intestinal gas. The only cool bands I know are BTO, The Eagles, Aerosmith, ZZ Top, Queen, AC/DC, etc. The Desert Inn Chiropractic Center sounds interesting.
Posted by November162000 (anonymous) on May 15, 2009 at 5:36 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Dang, eagle, you sound like a cool dude!
Posted by danwright (Dan Wright) on May 15, 2009 at 8:48 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Buildings that meet the criteria: Merchants, KMA, CRH and it appears the new civic center will be greater than 3 stories as well.
The benefits of an elevated master stream from the elevated ladder on buildings two stories taller or more are numerous.
Additionally the life safety benefits of a mechanical ladder at an apartment or hotel fire with people trapped on balconies is tremendous.
Posted by PrAaHe (anonymous) on May 15, 2009 at 9:37 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Lets dont buy it, but the next time your 100 ft tall building burns down while you're on the top floor....
Posted by craneop (anonymous) on May 16, 2009 at 7:08 a.m. (Suggest removal)
hold on a sec....it says it will lower iso but didn't see the numbers.is it a 4 or a 10 or what if it is below 6 your kickin without it.personally the number doesn't make a big enough savings but what it takes to get people out of a burning building and saving lives then go for it .but if not making life saving easier then need to take better look...full time fire and rescue is the way to go.problem with that is the pay is so low you gotta work somewhere else anyway so either way yall' decide.i got outta that cluster f years ago....signed;much happier ex asst. fire chief
Posted by southernpride (anonymous) on May 16, 2009 at 11:09 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Dan, will a smaller and less expensive ladder truck work or is the 100' the only one that will work?
Is this truck going to be taken out each time there is a minor vehicle accident? Seems they abuse the fire department now in that they make a run even when it does not appear necesssary to us common folks. I believe they make so many runs just to make a few bucks.
Comments?
Posted by danwright (Dan Wright) on May 16, 2009 at 2:54 p.m. (Suggest removal)
There are several factors to consider when determining the lentgh of a ladder truck that must be purchased for the fire service and the community it will serve. Two factors that are considered together is the height of the buildings and the access to the particular buildings. The further back the curb is from the building the longer ladder it will require. Another factor is future growth. A ladder truck's expected service life is 20+ years. To answer your question I don't know if a shorter ladder would be sufficient, but I would trust that the administration of the fire department researched and surveyed the City before making the decision.
I cannot answer your other questions because I do not know the answer. I am sure that you can contact Chief Driver and he would be willing to answer your questions and explain the responses that will require the ladder truck. The phone # to the station is 755-0533.
Posted by travlr423 (anonymous) on May 17, 2009 at 12:12 a.m. (Suggest removal)
hey, all i want to know is who's going to get the new job position as the city of clanton's new purchasing agent. if they don't pick me, after all it was my idea, i think i will form a protest downtown next week. if anyone would like to participate please register early there will be a small fee for participating. you can find me under the goose pond bridge. forms of payment are as follows, cash or cooking sherry. no checks or credit cards please.
Posted by travlr423 (anonymous) on May 17, 2009 at 12:26 a.m. (Suggest removal)
i think a tall ladder truck would also be good, so they could raise someone to the top and see how much alcohol thorsby and jemison will be selling. they can raise it at night and buy em some of them night noculars and keep a watch on that kinda stuff.
Posted by TheDude (Michael Wells) on May 17, 2009 at 6:43 a.m. (Suggest removal)
So travlr ... YOU'RE the one that's been grabbin' my bread crumbs when they float under the bridge! I thought the fish were eating them. I went through a half a loaf last week, thinkin', "Man, there must be Piranhas in there".
Posted by November162000 (anonymous) on May 17, 2009 at 9:07 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Well, I guess we can always use another fire truck in the peach and Christmas parades. Who knows, there might be a light bulb 100ft in the air somewhere that needs changing.
Posted by TheDude (Michael Wells) on May 17, 2009 at 10:07 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Nov., kw can just shimmy up that light pole with his authentic Indiana Jones gear & whip, and rejuvenate that light bulb in a tiddly wink. The ladder would only slow him down.
Posted by GalenS (anonymous) on May 17, 2009 at 4:33 p.m. (Suggest removal)
1.the old hotel next to the methodist church is 3 stories
2.the new holiday inn is 3 stories
3. The new jefferson state building is 3 stories
4. Clanton First Babtist has the stories
so their is 4 buildings right their in the city limits of Clanton that has 3 or more stories.
Posted by GalenS (anonymous) on May 17, 2009 at 4:36 p.m. (Suggest removal)
The fire departments ISO rating is a class 6
Posted by November162000 (anonymous) on May 17, 2009 at 5:27 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Those four places ought to get together and buy themselves a firetruck.
Posted by GalenS (anonymous) on May 19, 2009 at 3:42 p.m. (Suggest removal)
it dont work that way
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