By Bonnie Culverhouse
Fire District 3 in Doyline is facing a shortage of air, as well as funds to purchase more self-contained breathing apparatuses for fire fighters.
“We’re in a world of hurt,” said Chief Shawn Woody. “Our next fire fight? We have no air.”
The chief said this has apparently been an issue for “a couple of years.”
Woody said he has reached out to several fire departments for help with refilling the systems already in-house.
“They won’t fill our systems any more,” Woody told the Fire District 3 commissioners Tuesday. “South Bossier has been filling our stuff for many years, and they don’t want to do it any more.”
Woody said all Doyline’s equipment is outdated, and according to paperwork left by the previous department, they were trying to buy around 30 new packs.
“That’s 300,000 dollars,” Woody said. “For right now, the compressor’s hooked up. I’m going on hopes that nothing is wrong with the compressor, and that the air quality check on it checks out fine.”
Woody said he hoped – with the contingency of the old compressor possibly having oil in it and failing the check – the commission will consider purchasing another compressor.
“If you let me order a compressor, I can fill our bottles,” Woody said. Cost would be around $28,000, which requires going through the bid process.
Commissioner Gary Loftin proposed a trip to the bond commission to present them with a quote for 8 or 10 systems.
“Then we go to a (lending institution) and finance those,” Loftin said. “If we put 40-50,000 dollars down, and finance that for 4 years. That would give us the 8 or 10 systems. Then at the end of 4 or 5 years, we can go back and buy another 10.”
Commissioner Fred Weaver said, “If we’re going to do that, let’s throw this air compressor in on that deal. We can put it on the same bid.”
The discussion continued concerning the old compressor, as well as need for a new one, and it was agreed checking out the old one to ensure there is no oil in it was the first act.
Loftin said going through the bond commission was a new step for him and could be a lengthy process.
“Any time you go through the bond commission, they have to look at your books and audit them to see if you can pay that bond back,” he said.
Weaver predicted the process could take a month or more.
Loftin also pitched the idea of re-certifying some of the current equipment, for five years, while purchasing new systems.
“We’re talking 4 grand to re-certify 8 systems,” he said.
Weaver and Woody agreed the commission should have 16 systems re-certified.
“You have two bottles for every pack,” Weaver said. “We know there’s a need, but it’s not an over-night process.”
However, Woody said there is no one locally who can certify the systems.
“They have to be shipped off,” he said. But Weaver said he is aware of a company in south Shreveport that will certify them.
Another issue concerns the age of the systems and lack of parts for repairs.
“They have X amount of parts,” Woody said, referring to the company that repairs the systems. “Once they run out of those parts, they can’t refurbish them.”
Woody said he talked with Brian Williams of Homeland Security, who is also Minden Fire Chief.
“He just bought all new packs for their whole fire department,” said Woody. “Three hundred and eighty-six thousand dollars, and he did not go through the bond commission. It’s put on a lease program. They put their packs up as collateral and you lease to purchase.
“I know it’s going to take time, but my concern is this: in the event of another fire … then we’re out of air,” he continued. “What’s our next move until we get this taken care of?”
Grants are a possibility to aid with purchase, and Woody said he is looking into the process. He will also contact Williams again for support with filling the tanks, as well as the grant-writing process.
In the meantime, while the fire board plans to check with the bond commission, they agreed to begin the bid process, which could take at least 30 days.
“I just know we’ve got to pull the trigger and do something quick,” said Woody.