| Many hours have been dedicated to this project of an Incident Command vehicle which dates back several years. The then Officers of the Christiana Fire Company were charged with exploring the pros and cons of establishing a vehicle such as this, and determining if this was a viable option to our company and the communities we serve.
After months of initial conversations were had, an older unit was made known of its availability at a very low price. The 1995 Chevy Tahoe was currently in service as a QRS (Quick Response Service) out of Mastersonville, Pennsylvania. The members chose at that time to pursue the unit as a trial unit only spending approximately $1500 on the purchase. This unit was soon found out to be a very valuable piece that the company could utilize to better serve and protect its communities.
With the age, mileage and now knowing the increased value this would add, members began a new search in the summer of 2012 to upgrade this unit. A cost range was set and the search was on. It wasn't until mid-March 2013 that Officers had located a 2006 Ford Explorer and voted to make the purchase. Graphics, lighting work and the re-installation of electronics was just completed in the beginning of June.
This vehicle is designed to transport the "on call" Duty Officer to any incident located in the Christiana Fire Company's local territory. This unit is equipped with a small array of equipment to aid the Officer in initial actions once arriving to the scene of the incident. Radio's, extinguishers, small hand tools, Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus, Maps, and Traffic Control equipment are just some of the items. As additional funds become available a planned "Command" console unit will be installed in the rear of the unit. This console will assist in command functions by adding laptop docking capabilities as well as whiteboard, file organization, tool and equipment mounting. This unit will be kept in the local area with exceptions due to trainings, meetings, and other fire company business outside of the local territory.
The Christiana Fire Company is proud to announce this addition to its fleet of apparatus. |
