County May Consolidate Fire Districts, Aging Fire Fleet
Consolidating 13 local fire districts in Pickens County, S.C., into one operation may come with challenges. The average age of the districts’ 31 pumper trucks is 16.5 years old, and some districts are in debt due to vehicle purchases.
Photo of a fire truck via Pixabay
Pickens County, S.C., officials may consolidate 13 local fire districts into one district in an effort to boost support during emergencies. But this change will come with a price tag, including a unified fleet of aging vehicles, the Independent Mail reported.
According to Independent Mail, the average age of the districts’ 31 pumper trucks is 16.5 years old, and only two of the 13 fire districts would be compliant with National Fire Protection Administration standards, which state no trucks older than 25 years should be in service, and trucks older than 15 years should only be used as reserve vehicles. In addition, some fire districts are in debt due to vehicle purchases, which adds to the list of complications.
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