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Show SDFD bids for used aerial fire truck By SCOTT SUMMERILL BOUNTIFUL - The South Davis Fire District (SDFD) has opted not to go in partners with Bountiful Fire Department (BFD) on the purchase of a new aerial apparatus ap-paratus and are now negotiating with Sandy City Fire Department for an 11-year-old truck listed at $215,000. The aerial apparatus is a truck equipped with a hydraulic ladder that can be extended to allow firefighters to handle scenarios above ground level, and below, without exposing them to the dangers of unsafe structures during firefighting and rescue operations. According to SDFD Chief Brent Argyle, the truck is needed for the district to meet the Insurance Services Ser-vices Office (ISO) requirements. Prior to the SDFD Board of Director's Direc-tor's decision to bid on the Sandy truck, SDFD and the BFD were discussing the option of buying a CONTINUED ON PG.2 SDFD CONT. FROM PG. 1 new truck to be shared by the two departments. However, the cost of a new truck with aerial capabilities ranges from $400,000 to $600,000. In addition, when considering the service area of the two departments, one truck would not be enough to bring both into ISO compliance. "We have the requirement for the apparatus," Argyle said. "But, we've never had the money. We've always had to rely on neighboring departments whenever we've run into these scenarios." Another problem with a joint effort by the departments is that Community Development Block Grant funds would have to be used. Unfortunately, there is no guarantee that there will be enough money, or when the funds would be available. "We're concerned about down the road," said Argyle. "I think (the truck from Sandy) is a very serviceable piece of equipment It was completely certified in 1989." The 1 979 aerial apparatus is equipped with an 85 foot boom with a bucket at the end to hold a firefighter. The bucket has a firefighting nozzle that will deliver 1 ,000 gallons of water per minute, and the truck has a pumper capacity of 15,000 gallons per minute. In addition, addi-tion, the truck has a 6,000 watt generator, ge-nerator, and the ladder can be operated from inside or at ground level. The ladder can be operated at -7 degrees from ground zero, which gives firefighters the ability to descend des-cend into dangerous pits and trenches tren-ches with relative safety while performing per-forming rescue operations. According to Argyle, there will need to be some additional money to get the truck ready for service once the deal goes through. "We'll have to replace the communication com-munication equipment and have it painted," he said. "I don't want to have it say Sandy City for a year." |