Daily Times-Call
LONGMONT, Colo. — The Longmont Fire Department expects to launch a pilot program that will send firefighters to certain calls in a sport-utility-vehicle rather than dispatching larger engines and a ladder truck.
Fire Services Chief Jerrod Vanlandingham said that once the pilot program begins, the department will send two Fire Station 1 firefighters to fire alarms with no smoke or fire and carbon monoxide alarms where no one is feeling sick instead of a full engine.
The department has been working on the project for about two years and is using a nearly 20-year-old SUV it already has on hand, Vanlandingham said.
“We feel like we are ready to pull the trigger and move forward,” he said.
Vanlandingham said the smaller vehicle — dubbed the “Omega Truck” — will not respond to medical calls, and firefighters on board will be able to break away and respond to emergencies when needed.
Capt. Ron Graham, president of the Longmont Professional Firefighters Local 1806, said management worked with firefighters throughout the development of the project.
He said the safety of the public and firefighters remains the department’s top priority, and the department will adjust the program as needed.
“This isn’t just a Longmont problem,” he said. “There are increased calls across the United States, and each city has its own issues.”
Boulder Fire-Rescue Chief Michael Calderazzo said his department piloted a smaller response vehicle in 2013 and 2014 but is reevaluating whether to move to a bigger truck, use the current one for non-emergencies or try a different approach.
He added the program was implemented to ensure the right resource is sent to the right type of call “rather than the old shotgun approach that sent everyone all the time to everything.”
Longmont is also changing how it dispatches personnel based on information provided by 911 callers.
“Currently, on every medical call we’ve been sending one engine and one ambulance, regardless of the severity,” he said. “Now we are sending a response appropriate for the severity. On less severe calls, some of them might just get an ambulance.”
The change in dispatch was expected to begin at midnight on Tuesday, and Vanlandingham said the change, coupled with the Omega Truck, could reduce the number of times larger vehicles are called out as much as 1,200 times a year.
Lafayette Fire Chief Jerry Morrell said his department doesn’t have the personnel to use smaller vehicles, but it will send an ambulance to certain non-emergency calls rather than an entire engine.
“I applaud them for doing that,” Morrell said, referring to Longmont. “Our problem would be if we sent people off in a smaller truck and there was a fire, they would have to come back to the station.”
Vanlandingham said calls for service are steadily increasing, but the resources for more fire equipment have not. Using smaller vehicles and changing dispatch methods can also extend the lives of larger fire trucks and engines, which can cost more than $1 million.
“We are hoping to save wear and tear and ultimately extend the life of the engines out to the 10-year mark.” he said. " Right now there is no way we will get 10 years out of these engines.
Louisville Fire Chief John Wilson said his department isn’t quite ready to utilize a similar program but added that fire departments across the United States are heading in that direction.
Wilson said certain departments have already started partnering with local hospitals to follow up on patients for things like checking bandages and whether people are taking their medication.
“I think you will see more departments go that route, because it makes sense,” he said. “I think the state is getting behind it. ... Everyone is trying to define what this is and what kind of partnerships to form.”
Longmont Firefighter Molly Meehan said new ideas can be challenging, but she hopes that the Omega truck will help the department “get out of the box and try new things.”
She said it will be different to have two firefighters work out of an SUV and making decisions on calls but added the administration has been willing to give it a try.
“It shows a lot of confidence in the staff,” she said. “We’ll see how it goes. We haven’t been on a call yet.”
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