Bodega Bay Fire buys another fire engine
Posted Jan. 7, 2007 --------- Bodega Bay Fire District received a replacement fire engine last week. The truck purchased from Windsor Fire District replaces the aging 8881. That engine was purchased new by the Volunteer Fire Company in 1984. Shortly after the purchase voters approved the formation of the Bodega Bay Fire District. It cost the Volunteers $105,000 plus sales tax. See story below dated De. 22, 2006.
The new engine is a 1994 Beck fire truck body on a Ford chassis. Windsor Fire has used the engine in regular service putting 85,000 miles on it. The renumbered 8881 has a Cat 3206T diesel motor -- the same motor on the retired 8881 -- and is equipped similarly. The new engine has a shorter wheelbase desiriable in the twisty roads of Bodega Bay. Windsor Fire included a new radio and headset system as well as numerous other goodies found on high functioning fire trucks.
Engine
8881 is the District's "second in" fire truck doing duty as an
additional fire pump, hose and water carrier. It carries 750 gallons of water,
several thousand feet of hose, nozzles, a large monitor -- to send a 1000
gallons a minute onto a fire -- safety breathing equipment, work lights,
hand tools and a complete set of emergency medical equipment.
In this photo Captain Mike Elson stands in front of the truck at the Bodega Bay Fire Station.
This photo looks up at the rusted structural supports for the water tank in the retired 8881.
Bodega Bay Fire District Board holds regular meeting
Posted Friday Dec. 22, 2006 -------- The regular meeting of the board had to mull over the implications from a recent downturn in bond rates. At last month's meeting a financial services company proposed replacing the District's labyrinthine financing for the fire house. The new scheme would have saved the District several thousand dollars a year. But the bond rates went down and the spread between long-term and short-term rates made the financial company withdraw their new scheme. The District cannot prepay the firehouse mortgage until year 2014. The lowering of long-term bond rates puts the distirct's underlying mortgage at an even greater disadvantage. The District pays about a half-percent higher interest than the bond rate at the time of the last meeting. That spread has increased. However the long and short term rates have diverged and that spread enabled the company to offer the refinancing arrangement -- now withdrawn.
At the last meeting the board also heard a report of the cost of an overhaul and rehabiliation of the District's second fire engine. The rehab would cost over $20,000 -- more than the vehicle is worth -- and still would leave the district with an older engine and it significant problems.
They have two fire engines. The newest or frontline unit is 8880 bought new just three years ago. The backup or second-in engine is 8881. That unit was bought new by the BB Volunteer Fire Department in 1984, just before becoming a political entity, the BB Fire Protection District. It cost $105,000 plus sales tax. The Volunteer Fire company had just raised $20,000 to add to the $30,000 already saved for a new engine. The Volunteer fire company secured a loan from Exchange Bank for the balance. Within a year or so the Fire District had paid off the balance.Fire engines are those monster trucks that carry fire hose, big pumps and a water tank. They are the work horses of fire departments.
Engine 8881 lived in the old fire house for a time, and also outside for some time. Now 22 years later and several major overhauls the fire engine is about to give out. A robust amount of rust on the frame and body is quickly becoming a safety issue.
Bodega Bay Fire finds itself looking for another fire engine. Captain Mike Elson started shopping for a fire engine nationwide at fire equipment dealers and manufacturers. The board asked that he develop some life-cycle analysis that might point to buying a new engine instead of used equipment.
And then the marketplace reared its ugly head. New fire engines cost over $300,000. There are very few suitable used engines available. Those that are available are costly or better left ignored because of obsolete configurations.
The best choice, Elson told the Board, was a used engine from Windsor Fire District. Windsor is somewhat unwilling to sell the unit since it is a valuable well-maintained engine. But their finances and available garage space dictate a sale. The unit is a 1990 Ford with a body by Beck with a moderate amount of mileage. Beck also built the BB engine purchased in 1984. Beck was a Cloverdale company that has since folded. Windsor asked $50,000 for the unit. All agreed that was top dollar. But the Board authorized Elson to pay up to $50,000.
Elson expects the engine to last at least eight years. By that time the District will have enough money saved to start looking for a new engine.
Elson, after Board meeting authorizing the purchase, said, “I have a lot of history with that engine. That was the engine when I started work here, I took that engine to my first structure fire. I’m sorry to see it go.”
