Safety and readiness are becoming top concerns for local firefighters, with more than 50 percent of the current firefighting fleet in the Uintah Fire Suppression Special Service District 20 years old or older and no money to purchase upgrades. “At our last meeting, we were advised that we were not going to receive any additional funding for the year, which was not a good thing in our opinion,” said Brian Gorum, chairman of the fire district. “Fire service is an essential service.” According to information provided by the fire district, the standard set by the National Fire Protection Association is that first out pumper trucks to fires be replaced or put into reserve at 15 years of age. Currently, three of the five fire stations in the UFSSSD have first-line pumper trucks that exceed that age, something that was never the intention of the fire district.