Toledo firefighters worry they might have to temporarily close a firehouse if one more back-up fire engine winds up in the repair shop, but councilmen hope a slight budget reconfiguration will help alleviate those fears.
Fire Chief Brian Byrd this month told council that crews have been consistently using rigs meant to be in reserve as their front-line equipment when they respond to fires. That means if a back-up engine goes down for any reason, there’s a chance at least one station would be left without a rig.
“I don't think anyone in any neighborhood wants to hear that it was their fire station, so to me it was important to figure out how to get these on order right away,” Councilman Chris Delaney said.
City councilmen believe they’ve found enough money in the 2018 budget to be able to order two fire engines and one ladder truck, vehicles that fire officials said would put them closer to the six engines and two ladder trucks the department needs.