Appropriating $103,000.00 Emergency Medical Services Capital Improvement Fund

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SOUTH BEND FIRE DEPARTMENT 701 W. Sample Street South Bend, Indiana 46621 Timothy J. Brassell Fire Chief CITY ®f SOUTH BEND ROGER O. PARENT, Mayor COUNTY -CITY BUILDING South Bend Common Council County -City Building South Bend, IN 46601 Dear Members of the Common Council: SOUTH BEND, INDIANA 46601 July 17, 1984 2191284 -9255 In the attached appropriation ordinance, the Fire Department proposes to fund several major capital improvement projects from the Emergency Medical Service fund. As of July 1, the fund balance was $136,593.90, 128,961.30 of which is unemcumbered. The Fire Department proposes to replace all self contained breathing apparatus (S.C.B.A.). The Department owns and uses 55 units. This equipment is used at every structure fire. All units in use are Survivair brand and vary in age from 1971 to 1977. Recent improvements in design have reduced the weight of new units from approximately 36 pounds for the equipment we now have in use to approxi- mately 23 pounds. This decrease in weight provides a tremendous re- duction in wearer fatigue. Additionally, the modern units are much simpler in design. This simplicity will allow the Department to sig- nificantly reduce the approximately $5,000 in parts inventory now on hand. Most important, the new type units are easier to use and offer greater safety and reliability. It is critical that all the equipment be the same which is why we are proposing that all the Department's S.C.B.A. be changed at once. The importance of this equipment cannot be over stated. This is one piece of equipment that the firefighter's life literally depends upon. Also included in the cost breakdown are spare bottles. These are necessary in order Lo change air bottles at a fire scene should the fire extend beyond the 30 minute duration of one bottle. Also, extra bottles allow sufficient spares to shuttle empty cylinders back to Central Station to be refilled in the event of a very major fire.