Fire Department Capital Improvement Plan
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FIRE DEPARTMENT PROJECT DESCRIPTIONS 2018 ‐ 2022 As a city‐wide Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) is developed, major capital improvements for the Brookville Fire Department (BFD) may include the following: Apparatus: purchase and/or refurbishment of fire engines; ambulances; heavy rescue vehicles; aerials; ladder trucks; water tankers; command vehicles; utility vehicles; light trucks; sport‐utility vehicles and equipment trailers. Major equipment: purchase and/or replacement of personal protective equipment (PPE); self‐contained breathing apparatus (SCBA); and advanced life support (ALS) medical equipment. Facilities: new construction and/or renovation of fire stations; training facilities (manipulative drill ground buildings and props); emergency operations centers, and accessory buildings. TABLE 1 FIRE DEPARTMENT CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS ITEM 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 Apparatus $36,000 $225,000 $350,000 $850,000 $70,000 PPE $30,000 $30,000 $15,000 $15,500 $16,000 Thermal Imagers $12,000 Cardiac Monitor $35,000 Power Cot $17,000 Chest Compression 20,000 $10,500 $10,500 Device Facilities $50,000 $10,000 TOTALS $165,000 $300,500 $385,500 $865,500 $86,000 Estimated apparatus expenditures include the following: Apparatus Replacement: Currently the BFD has no standard apparatus or equipment depreciation and replacement schedule, nor does it have an amortized equipment replacement fund. Monies set aside typically can cover the need to purchase ambulances when necessary; however, in 2015, for the first time in the history of the BFD, a used fire engine was purchased to replace a 29 year old pumper that was in poor condition. Prior to this purchase, only new pumpers had ever been purchased throughout the 144 year history of the BFD. Whether purchasing new or quality‐used apparatus, the one constant with a department the size of the BFD is an annual, recurring need to address significant capital needs. The current funding stream is not sufficient to replace firefighting apparatus on a reasonable schedule of 10 years of “front line” service and 10 years of “reserve” service. Even with an extension of that replacement schedule to 15 years “front line” service and 10 years of “reserve” service for a total of 25 years, revenue is insufficient given the present number of “front line” fire apparatus, and the problem will only compound over time. A similar situation exists with ambulance replacement. The additional of a third ambulance to the fleet in 2015 has helped keep two ambulances available for “front line” service 99% of the time; however, the lack of scheduled replacement of ambulances has led to inefficient use. A procedural adjustment in 2016 has established a rotation which minimizes use of the newest ambulance (keeping it from running out of warranty prematurely) and maximizes use of the most troublesome ambulance (in an effort to position it for replacement). A standard cycle of fire apparatus replacement for a modern suburban department would likely by as previously stated: 10 years of “front line” service and 10 years of “reserve” service before being cycled out of the fleet. However, given the available resources of the BFD, it may be more practical to extend the service life to 15 years of “front line” service followed by a minimum of 5 years of “reserve” service. Given our current call volume, a standard cycle of ambulance replacement for the BFD should be four years “front line” and eight years “backup / reserve”. Given the recent move to a three‐ambulance fleet, two ambulances with high mileage will need to be replaced/refurbished to permit the four year rotation to be implemented. Adjusting service life of apparatus (up or down in the number of service years) is based on the continual analysis of on‐going maintenance costs to determine trends in exceptional costs that are in excess of routine preventative and regular maintenance expenditures. Apparatus maintenance records should indicate how much time is spent in time and materials for maintenance costs on a single piece of apparatus. This analysis will allow the ability to flag apparatus that has gone beyond cost‐effectiveness equilibrium. Apparatus Recommendations: Adopt and implement an apparatus replacement schedule policy. The policy should also require the maintenance of equipment and accurate repair records. This data will support the evaluation of useful service life for each apparatus, and it will take into account any necessary adjustments to either extend or reduce “front line” or “reserve” service status. Another consideration is that the 2013 Insurance Services Office (ISO) evaluation of the BFD identified the department lacks the necessary apparatus to receive full credit (i.e., an additional pumper and an aerial device for the fleet). Much like the addition of the ambulance to the fleet as detailed above, a forth pumper would need to be added to make a pumper replacement schedule functional. TABLE 2 APPARATUS and VEHICLE REPLACEMENT SCHEDULE (VRS) Apparatus Front Line Backup / Reserve Decommission Class A Pumper (1000 gal) 10 – 15 years 5 – 10 years 25 years Class A Pumper/Tanker 10 – 15 years 5 – 10 years 25 years (1800 – 2500 gal) Ladder Truck 10 – 15 years 5 – 10 years 25 years Heavy Rescue Truck 15 – 25 years 25 years Ambulance 4 years 8 years 12 years Utility Vehicles 5 – 10 years 5 years 15 years Equipment Trailer 25 years 25 years 2 Vehicle 301 1986 Class A Pumper This vehicle served the BFD as the primary “front line” pumper from 1986 until 2010; “reserve” pumper from 2010 to 2012; “front line” pumper / tanker from 2012 until decommissioned in 2015. TABLE 3 BROOKVILLE FIRE DEPARTMENT (with ISO recommendations) Vehicle Type Apparatus & Year Front Line Backup / Reserve Decommission Backup (3rd)Pumper Vehicle 302 1995 1995 – 2012 2013 – 2020 2020 Heavy Rescue Truck Vehicle 303 2002 2002 – 2027 n/a 2027 Brush Truck Vehicle 304 2006 2006 – 2031 n/a 2031 Primary (1st) Pumper Vehicle 305 2007 2007 – 2022 2023 – 2032 2032 Backup Ambulance Vehicle 306 2007 2007 – 2011 2012 – 2019 2019 Utility Pickup Vehicle 307 2009 2009 – 2021 2022 – 2024 2024 Utility SUV Vehicle 308 2009 2009 – 2018 2019 – 2022 2022 Command Pickup Vehicle 309 2012 2012 – 2017 2018 – 2022 2022 Reserve Ambulance Vehicle 310 2017* 2022 ‐ 2026 2017 – 2021 2029 2026 ‐ 2030 Pumper/Tanker Vehicle 311 2000 2014 – 2019 2019 ‐ 2025 2025 (2nd Pumper) (acquired in 2014) Frontline Ambulance Vehicle 312 2015 2018 ‐ 2022 2015 – 2018; 2028 2022 ‐ 2028 Equipment Trailer Vehicle 313 2016 2016 – 2041 n/a 2041 ** New or Used Aerial TBD ** New or Used Pumper/Tanker TBD (4th Pumper) * Vehicle 310 was classified as a 2013 model, but it went into service May, 2012; and was refurbished in 2017. ** ISO‐recommended apparatus additions 3 Estimated major equipment expenditures include the following: Major Equipment Replacement: Replacing major equipment on an established schedule is more difficult than apparatus. Some items, such as PPE and SCBA have specific target dates for replacement, while rescue tools can last a number of years, but then suddenly become ineffective on new automotive metals that come into the marketplace. Major Equipment Recommendations: Adopt and implement a major equipment replacement schedule policy. The policy should also require the maintenance of equipment and accurate repair records. This data will support the evaluation of useful service life for each piece of major equipment, and it will take into account any necessary adjustments to either extend or reduce “front line” or “reserve” service status. TABLE 4 MAJOR EQUIPMENT REPLACEMENT SCHEDULE (MERS) Equipment Front Line Backup / Reserve Decommission Structural Fire Gear 7 years 3 years 10 years Structural Fire Helmet 10 years n/a 10 years SCBA Assembly 15 years n/a 15 years SCBA Cylinder 15 years n/a 15 years Thermal Imaging Camera 10 years 5 years 15 years Power Cot 7 years n/a 7 years Rescue Air Bags 10 years n/a 10 years Estimated facility expenditures include the following: New Fire Station Equipment: The 2018 capital budget anticipates at least $50,000 of “soft costs” related to the new fire station project. One of the features built into the new fire station is an Emergency Operations Center for our region. In 2017 we were awarded a grant to help cover costs related to our EOC. 4 1. Project Descriptions – Apparatus a) Backup (3rd) Pumper – Vehicle 302 This vehicle was purchased new in 1995 and currently has 19,332 miles and 2,023.2 engine hours. It was first used as the “front line” pumper from Fire Station 2, and then “front line” pumper from Fire Station 1 until 2012. This vehicle was designed as a basic Class A pumper and lacks many features required of a “front line” pumper in the BFD today. Some of these missing features include an integrated generator and light tower; integrated foam capabilities; and necessary body compartments to carry all required tools and equipment. This vehicle does feature stainless steel piping – an attribute that will prolong its useful life. Historically it is the pump and its related components that become the biggest maintenance challenges once a vehicle reaches the 20 year mark. This vehicle would be a prime candidate for refurbishment into a pumper / tanker. As stated above, the vehicle is not well‐designed for use as a “front line” pumper, but through the refurbishment process the vehicle could easily meet the department’s needs for a pumper / tanker / 4th pumper. The estimated cost of refurbishment/replacement is $350,000 and should be completed no later than 2020. b) Heavy Rescue Truck – Vehicle 303 This vehicle was purchased new in 2002 and currently has 18,400 miles and 2554.9 engine hours. It was well‐designed for the current and future needs of the BFD. Although the BFD does not currently have or anticipate a need to maintain a Reserve Heavy Rescue Truck, this vehicle is so configured that it could have a future use as a water main repair vehicle to be utilized by the Brookville Service Department.