Fire District Board purchases radios, discusses vehicles and equipment

Maricopa’s Fire District governing board met Thursday evening at 6 p.m. The five directors discussed the purchase of additional radios and a new vehicle for the department. They also heard a report detailing the need for a retirement system board.

Fire District board of directors (left to right) Clerk Sandra Baker-Probasco, John Sampson, President Don Pearce, Oliver Anderson and J.W. Salazar.

Purchase of Portable Radios
Captain Wade Brannon explained that the department currently has six radios, but that they would need to add to that number. “We are planning on expanding rapidly,” he explained.

Brannon also indicated some problems with the radios now in use. “The dials are not actually designed to use with a gloved hand,” explained Brannon. He added that the radios are not water resistant, and the switches on top move back and forth very easily. Keypad buttons on the front of the handset are easily depressed, thus stopping transmission and reception.

The portable radios the department is looking at are specifically designed for public safety use and have a constant five-watt output. Designed for use with a gloved hand, they are field programmable and have an emergency button that sounds a signal in dispatch. This is a response to line of duty deaths where a firefighter in is trouble but cannot call attention to his or her situation. The radios also feature noise reduction software to diminish background noise.

The board approved the purchase of three Motorola #2500 radios for the three chiefs. These models have LCD screens that indicate the identification of each firefighter. Five Motorola #1500 models will also be purchased. The total expenditure will be a minimum of $11,038.12.

Board president Don Pearce indicated that some of the older radios were purchased with a state land grant and might have to be returned.

Vehicle Purchase
The possibility of adding a smaller type vehicle for departmental use was discussed. Chief William Kelleher is using the former command vehicle to commute. It is also used by Fire Prevention Chief, Eddie Rodriguez, to do inspections during the day.

J. W. Salazar expressed the need for inspections to be done in an official, marked vehicle. “Priority needs to be given for on-site, official duties,” he stated.

Oliver Anderson moved to “authorize the department to see what is available that will be usable now and in the future.”

Disposition of Outdated Equipment and Vehicles
A lengthy discussion was held in regard to the disposition of outdated equipment and vehicles. Pearce explained that the local water district needs a utility truck. “People in our town have paid for this. The truck would stay in our community, and I’m sure people would really appreciate it.” He added that the old tank truck could go to Thunderbird Farms, which has an all-volunteer fire department.

The board asked that staff determine “what we have, what condition it’s in and whether it’s serviceable.” These concerns will be addressed at the next regular meeting.

Retirement System Board of Directors
Jim Chaston explained to the board that one of the requirements of the retirement system is to have a local board. The board would have five members, a chairman, two firefighters elected by secret ballot and two citizens appointed by the chairman. “We really need to get this board up and going,” explained Chaston. John Sampson will head the committee to set up this board.

Fire Prevention
Rodriguez reported that he recently attended State Fire School for an inspector’s certification. Locally, final inspections are complete for Cost Cutters, Lance Lane’s State Farm Insurance and the UPS store. Evacuation drills have been held at both Santa Rosa and Pima Butte Elementary Schools.

Rodriguez also attended a hazardous materials storage seminar in Tucson. “We can go into a business now and regulate what they can store and how much,” he explained.