Fire Department Equipment Donations or Rebuilds Play Important Role
Originally published in Plumas News in February of 2013
Story by Tom Forster, photos by Quincy Chief Robbie Cassou
Many Plumas County fire departments benefit from a wide range of equipment donations or loans from other agencies. These transfers have been going on for many decades, and help to provide important tools for local volunteer firefighters that would otherwise be cost prohibitive. Combined with occasional grant awards from government or private sources, these programs all play a very important role in providing modern fire services.
The annual budgets for 17 of our 19 community fire departments range from about $10,000 to several hundred thousand dollars a year. Almost all of the FD’s are fully volunteer, with the exception of a few with larger budgets, such as the Chester and Peninsula FD’s, who have some career staff. Some of the 19 have a full- or part-time Fire Chief, such as Quincy.
Compare that budget to the typical cost of new fire engines and equipment in 2013. For example, a new structural fire engine, known in the fire service as a Type I engine, may cost from $300-500,000 or more, not including the equipment carried. That’s more than the entire annual budget for the Quincy VFD, for example. Firefighter breathing apparatus, fire hose, nozzles and appliances, ladders, radios, a generator, and other hand tools can add upwards of $75,000 to the total. A new, 4-wheel drive, wildland “Type III” fire engine may cost upwards of $250,000, with over $50,000 or more in necessary equipment added.
Specialized equipment such as ladder trucks, known as ‘truck companies’, are sold new for over $750,000 each, with additional equipment costs of over $75,000. New water tanker apparatus, known as ‘water tenders’, can cost upwards of $175,000. These prices mean that buying new equipment for most small departments is not an option. Saving up funds to buy used engines or seeking grants, loans, or donations are the typical choices.
FD’s typically have a “can-do” culture, and it’s not uncommon to have a few members with mechanical or other skills to share. A recent example of rebuilding and upgrading a surplus U.S. Forest Service Wildland Type III Fire Engine occurred at the Quincy FPD. This department has a long history of both being frugal and effective, working successfully within a very small budget.
If you had visited the main Quincy station over the past six months, this 20-year old engine would have been found spread out in pieces, with several talented people laboring to bring it back to life. Quincy has three employees – Fire Chief Robbie Cassou, Mechanic/Facilities Maintenance Man Charlie Read, and Administrative Secretary Yvonne Bush. Cassou is well known for his many talents, including artwork, fabrication, wood, and metal work. Charlie has special training and certification in fire apparatus maintenance, including working on pumps and electrical systems. Read, Cassou, and volunteer Captain John Gay (retired from the USFS) spent hundreds of hours rebuilding this old engine.
This former USFS Engine was declared to be Federal "excess property" last year, from the Mad River area in Trinity County in Northern California. Once placed on this list, any federal agency can acquire the equipment first. If it is not taken, the property is loaned to the State of California through CAL FIRE, in this case through Doug Beutler of the CAL FIRE Lassen, Plumas, Modoc Unit. They help locate areas with fire protection responsibilities in need of surplus equipment. The fire engines remain on loan and are the property of the USFS. Often they serve for many years in rural areas before finally being auctioned off for private ownership or scrap.
In this case the Quincy VFD greatly improved their Type III Wildland engine capabilities with some hard work and about $2,300 in materials. After the engine was completely disassembled inside and out, Read completed the much-needed bodywork. Many pump and other parts were thoroughly cleaned and repaired. Painting was completed with a color scheme designed by Cassou. Logos and striping were completed by Wild Hare Sign shop in East Quincy.
This rebuilt engine carries 500 gallons of water and has pump capabilities of 500 gallons per minute. It also has a larger crew compartment than the engine it replaced, and more storage space for needed fire equipment and tools. Class A and B foam systems, and a diesel motor round out the upgrade from the older gas engine with a 70-gallon per minute pump. Quincy in turn transferred their older engine 8176 to the community of Meadow Valley, to replace an older engine that is no longer useable for fire protection. Quincy had previously rebuilt that engine also. See the photo above.
“It’s amazing the value that these people bring to the local fire service,” said Graeagle Chief Ed Ward, President of the Plumas County Fire Chiefs Association, “They are by far the most talented group in our area when it comes to rebuilding equipment, or fabricating the low-cost fire academy buildings and props, and more. Quincy should be very proud.”
The annual budgets for 17 of our 19 community fire departments range from about $10,000 to several hundred thousand dollars a year. Almost all of the FD’s are fully volunteer, with the exception of a few with larger budgets, such as the Chester and Peninsula FD’s, who have some career staff. Some of the 19 have a full- or part-time Fire Chief, such as Quincy.
Compare that budget to the typical cost of new fire engines and equipment in 2013. For example, a new structural fire engine, known in the fire service as a Type I engine, may cost from $300-500,000 or more, not including the equipment carried. That’s more than the entire annual budget for the Quincy VFD, for example. Firefighter breathing apparatus, fire hose, nozzles and appliances, ladders, radios, a generator, and other hand tools can add upwards of $75,000 to the total. A new, 4-wheel drive, wildland “Type III” fire engine may cost upwards of $250,000, with over $50,000 or more in necessary equipment added.
Specialized equipment such as ladder trucks, known as ‘truck companies’, are sold new for over $750,000 each, with additional equipment costs of over $75,000. New water tanker apparatus, known as ‘water tenders’, can cost upwards of $175,000. These prices mean that buying new equipment for most small departments is not an option. Saving up funds to buy used engines or seeking grants, loans, or donations are the typical choices.
FD’s typically have a “can-do” culture, and it’s not uncommon to have a few members with mechanical or other skills to share. A recent example of rebuilding and upgrading a surplus U.S. Forest Service Wildland Type III Fire Engine occurred at the Quincy FPD. This department has a long history of both being frugal and effective, working successfully within a very small budget.
If you had visited the main Quincy station over the past six months, this 20-year old engine would have been found spread out in pieces, with several talented people laboring to bring it back to life. Quincy has three employees – Fire Chief Robbie Cassou, Mechanic/Facilities Maintenance Man Charlie Read, and Administrative Secretary Yvonne Bush. Cassou is well known for his many talents, including artwork, fabrication, wood, and metal work. Charlie has special training and certification in fire apparatus maintenance, including working on pumps and electrical systems. Read, Cassou, and volunteer Captain John Gay (retired from the USFS) spent hundreds of hours rebuilding this old engine.
This former USFS Engine was declared to be Federal "excess property" last year, from the Mad River area in Trinity County in Northern California. Once placed on this list, any federal agency can acquire the equipment first. If it is not taken, the property is loaned to the State of California through CAL FIRE, in this case through Doug Beutler of the CAL FIRE Lassen, Plumas, Modoc Unit. They help locate areas with fire protection responsibilities in need of surplus equipment. The fire engines remain on loan and are the property of the USFS. Often they serve for many years in rural areas before finally being auctioned off for private ownership or scrap.
In this case the Quincy VFD greatly improved their Type III Wildland engine capabilities with some hard work and about $2,300 in materials. After the engine was completely disassembled inside and out, Read completed the much-needed bodywork. Many pump and other parts were thoroughly cleaned and repaired. Painting was completed with a color scheme designed by Cassou. Logos and striping were completed by Wild Hare Sign shop in East Quincy.
This rebuilt engine carries 500 gallons of water and has pump capabilities of 500 gallons per minute. It also has a larger crew compartment than the engine it replaced, and more storage space for needed fire equipment and tools. Class A and B foam systems, and a diesel motor round out the upgrade from the older gas engine with a 70-gallon per minute pump. Quincy in turn transferred their older engine 8176 to the community of Meadow Valley, to replace an older engine that is no longer useable for fire protection. Quincy had previously rebuilt that engine also. See the photo above.
“It’s amazing the value that these people bring to the local fire service,” said Graeagle Chief Ed Ward, President of the Plumas County Fire Chiefs Association, “They are by far the most talented group in our area when it comes to rebuilding equipment, or fabricating the low-cost fire academy buildings and props, and more. Quincy should be very proud.”
