Apparatus maintenance is a very important factor. With the vehicles costing anywhere from several hundred thousand dollars to $1 million in some cases, maintenance is a must. Whether it is a paid department or volunteer, a daily or weekly program should be initiated to keep your apparatus in top shape and ready for response. The vehicle driver or engineer should be the first line of defense. You don't have to be a mechanic to check the basics. Lights, tires, oil, coolant levels, wiper blades, hydraulic and water leaks are easy to check. Detection of a problem could adversely effect the operation and safety of the vehicle if left unattended.

Develop a basic checklist to make it an easy task. This should help avoid forgetting to check certain items. For a paid department, have the shift engineer or apparatus operator perform the task at the beginning of each shift. For a volunteer department, have one of your line officers complete the job.

You must make it be known that this is an important job that shouldn't be taken lightly. Remember the safe operation of any emergency vehicle is an important part of your firefighting operation.