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Overview <br /> <br /> Fire apparatus has evolved from horse-drawn buggies, to early model motor vehicles, to <br />the technology driven vehicles of today. <br /> <br /> Fire vehicles are unique pieces of equipment. They are specifically designed to transport <br />fire personnel to the scene of many different types of emergencies. These vehicles have a fire <br />pump, and all of them carry sophisticated equipment that must reliably operate on a moment's <br />notice when the alarm sounds. Fire apparatus must be dependable, as emergencies situations will <br />not wait. Calls are dispatched in all types of weather from hot, humid conditions, to rain, sleet, <br />snow, and major storms. <br /> <br /> Purchasing a fire engine is not like buying a family car. Selection of a fire vehicle is not <br />just a trip to a "fire truck lot" and picking out the "big red one". Instead, the procurement of fire <br />apparatus is one that must be handled with due diligence and careful consideration. Fire trucks <br />may be built with a few basic features or loaded with many options. The needs of the <br />community, the department's staffing, and the types of call activities are criteria that are used in <br />this process. The time frame for buying a fire truck includes nearly one year of lead-time. The <br />planning phase is the most important and takes 2-3 months if done properly. Once the planning <br />phase yields a set of vehicle specifications, vendors must be solicited. Once a price is <br />negotiated, an order is placed with 6-9 months needed for the truck to be built. <br /> <br /> Martinsvitle Fire & EMS had only one focus prior to 1995, fire protection. Then in 1995 <br />due to delayed response times by the local rescue squad, the department was licensed as an EMS <br />First Responder agency on November 1, 1995. Fire personnel became cross-trained in patient <br />care, in addition to firefighting, to aid those suffering from illness or injury. This movement <br />caused the call volume to increase 400% as the number of calls went from 500 per year to 2,000. <br />This occurred with no increase in operational staffing. Fire vehicles now must carry medical <br />equipment and has resulted in new considerations for vehicle replacements. <br /> <br /> Whether responding to a fire or EMS emergency, fire apparatus must arrive in a timely <br />manner. This is two-fold. First, studies have shown that the size of a fire doubles every minute. <br />The faster fire personnel arrive, the better chances of saving property. Second, the American <br />Heart Association has proven that time is of the essence in rescuing patients as brain damage <br />occurs within 4-6 minutes of cardiac arrest. Cardiac arrest may occur from fire conditions or <br />medical emergencies. <br /> <br /> The increased responsibility of EMS has been extremely rewarding. Many lives have <br />been saved by this invaluable program. One such example is the city resident that went to the <br />Sprint Office to pay her phone bill in June 1996. As she entered the lobby, she collapsed with a <br />heart attack. Fire personnel responded within two minutes and found the patient in cardiac <br />arrest. Firefighters who were cross-trained in emergency medical care started CPR and <br />defibrillated her. After inserting a specialized airway into her trachea and administering cardiac <br />medications, she was successfully revived. By the time the rescue squad arrived, she had a pulse <br />and was breathing on her own. The lady was released from the hospital a few days later and <br /> <br />3 <br /> <br /> <br />