Quote:
Originally Posted by LuvtheVillages
In the 3/24 paper, page C3, is an article about the new fire truck that Villages Public Safety has purchased. Its key feature is a ladder that will reach a 10 story building, like the Brownwood Hotel. Its cost, about $1 million.
No wonder our annual fire assessment has to increase. I do not begrudge the firefighters a fair wage, but no houses are 10 stories tall, only businesses.
That's a good reason for a public safety impact fee on commercial property.
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Don't look at it as costing $1 M and don't just think of a ladder truck is just for for "tall buildings", that's also a lot of reach for places that are set back off of the street. You can't just plop a 100' aerial on the front lawn somewhere, even though at times you have no choice, it should be on pavement so it doesn't sink.
So if you have a two story building with 30' of frontage you'll need that aerial's reach to get to the roof in order to vent or to reach a top floor window.
Ladder companies perform many functions on the fire ground. Life safety is a top priority, ladder companies are generally assigned search and rescue as well as ventilation at a fire. Sometimes egress through the interior is compromised due to fire conditions. Having a 100' ladder gives the command officer more tools in his tool box to effect rescues of civilians and in some cases other firefighters.
That ladder will also allow firefighters to ventilate from a safer position than from a ground ladder or a roof ladder. It expidites the process when seconds count, it also is a help in a limited manpower situation because let's face it, The Villages Fire Department is far from "riding heavy" when it comes to manpower.
I'm all for paying the guys to the job, it's dangerous, I did it for 25 years but if you can also give them the ability to do the job safer you do so.