Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, December 31, 1993 TAG: 9401070001
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-9 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE:
DATELINE: RADFORD LENGTH: Medium
``If it were not for the excellent rapport we have with Fairlawn and with Christiansburg, we'd be hurting.'' he said, referring to Radford's mutual-aid agreements with its neighbors.
Worrell - a 44-year veteran volunteer firefighter - this week called on the Fire Department to take stock of its equipment and to report back to council Jan. 10.
Fire Chief Martin ``Jigger'' Roberts said that some older equipment has broken down recently, but he thinks the city's firefighters still can do their jobs, despite the aging gear.
``The equipment is getting old, and council's going to have to make some decisions on what they want to do,'' he said Thursday. He said city fire personnel were taking a close look at the condition of all equipment for the report.
An aerial ladder truck is in Roanoke for repairs that Worrell estimated could run $50,000 or more. An equipment truck that broke down during the Christmas parade earlier this month was supposed to be back in service this week. The chief said the city has two pumper trucks used on regular calls that are around 20 years old, which is about as long as they'd be expected to last in Radford.
The city expects to take delivery of a new $232,000 pumper early next year. But, Worrell said he doesn't need to see the results of the Fire Department's equipment inventory to know the city ``desperately'' needs yet another new truck right now and a third in two or three years.
He also said the city's hazardous materials truck is ``not suitable for fighting fires.''
Worrell said he ``pleaded'' with his council colleagues earlier this year to buy two new trucks instead of one. He contends the city could have saved $120,000 or more by buying the vehicle this year.
``We had the money ... but they elected not to,'' he said.
Roberts said the city's fire calls have been minimal during the recent cold snap. ``Normally, you do have more fires in the wintertime, because people fire up their furnaces and wood stoves, and you do have a potential there.''
A fire in an empty house Wednesday is still under investigation. Roberts said a chain saw was the only piece of Fire Department equipment that refused to work. ``We completed the task. We just used an axe instead,'' he said.
Roberts said the department's other equipment is in good shape, and City Council this week approved just over $13,000 to outfit as many as 12 new volunteer firefighters. He said the department has picked up six new volunteers, bringing its complement to 29 volunteer and six full-time firefighters.
City Manager Robert Asbury on Thursday expressed confidence that the department could handle all calls, and he wasn't worried about a major fire.
``All the departments have informal or written mutual-aid agreements. A call for assistance will bring help,'' he said.
by CNB