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Metropolitan Cities That Do Not Operate a Fire Department Shop. The f ollowing question was a s ked of each nrunici pal i ty that is covered by this survey. "As the Chief of your department, would you give your candid opinion as to which method is more efficient?" Cincinnati, Ohio Chief B. A. Lugannani Comment: There are good a rguments pr o and con on both meth ods of ma intaining equipment. Howev er 1 all factors bei ng equal, I think t here c an b e l i t t l e qu es tion that when th e repai r s ho p is part i of the Fire Department , the qua lity and quantit y of the work are far s uper ior to that obtained f r om an agency responsibl e for the ma i ntenance of a wi de variety of automotive equi pment. A comparison of Fire De partment maint en ance shops i n Cincinnati and Columbus, Ohi o readily demonstrat es this. The Columbus shops a re well maintained, with me chan i cs tra ined i n th e ser vicing of f ire ~quipment ·only, wh o devot e thei r entir e time to meeting the needs of the Fire Servic e a nd wh o a r e subject to Fire Depart ment discipline. In Cin cinnati t h e area designated as t h e Fire Division s hop is shared with s t reet s weep er s 9 a tire shop and a wash rack. The general ap pearanc e i s more t h at of a truc k junkyard than of an effi ci ent, well maint ained repair shop . Alt hough me chani cs are su pposed t o b e a s signed to Fire apparatus, t h ere is frequ ent transferring of pers onnel so t hat some men whose ma jor me chanical ex perience is tha t gained i n t he lawn mower and small car s hop are assign ed as Fire equ ipment me chanics und er supervisor s wit h little more experienc e . Over the yearsj the Fire Division has l ost pra cti cally all e ff e ctive control over t his agenc y . The situation in general is far from satisfact ory. There is an area , howev er, which a Fire Chief cannot ignore in evalu ating a centrali zed maint enan ce sh op . This is the area of economy t o the municipal operation. Unquestionabl y the maintenance of separate repair agencies--personnel, equipment, buildings, etc.--for each Cit y department cannot help but be more costly than when they are centralized, taking advantage of the economies that are achieved through the consolidation of pers onne l , equipment and buildings. Although th e centraliz ed agency will probably never serve an individual department or division as effectively as one of its own, I believe it can be operat ed with a degree of efficiency 'that would be acceptable» if a City Administration establishes control s that restrict the maintenance facility to a serv ice organ iz ation and insure the operating agencies of supervisory control over their own work and f u ll cqnt,.rol over selection and approval of their equipment 1 For a level Class is an Fire Department that f or years has maintained a high of efficiency and discipline, and recently attained a One A. I.A. rating , our present maintenance facility eyesore and a disgrace . City Administrat ion is becoming aware of th isj and it is anticipated that some corrective action will be forthcominga -1- �It may be of some value to r elat e so me of our background in this area. Until shortly after the end of World War II, the Fire Division did have its own r epai r sh op ~ with most personnel being part of the uniformed ran kso At that t ime, i n an economy move, the City centralized the mainten an ce sh ops und er one J\fu nicipal Garag e operation. Ho wev er, the Fire Di vision retained a supervisory position in the Municipal Garage with supervisory authority over the mechanics wor ki ng on Fire apparatus and with some voice in the transfer of men in and out of the Fire Department repai r section. This man , under the Fire Chief, had full control over practically all matters concerning Fire equipment. His position carried the ti·t l e of Sup ervisor of Fire Apparatus and Equipment and had rank equal to a Battalion Chief. · ·, In January, 1966, over strenuous objection of the Fire .Division, this position was abolished, and all operational control over t he repai r facilities -by the Fire Divisi on was take n away. Since then, we have be en able to show the need for filling the vacated position, but it has be en r eestablished at the rank of Lieutenant. The new position , however, has no supervisory authority and little control over th e s hop work related to Fire Department equipment and as to other duties and responsibilities assigned to the f nrmer. posi t i on at the Municipal Garage . There has been strong opposi t i on from t he man i n charge of municipal f a c i l i ties to the presen c e ,o f any Fire Division personnel in his operation. San Francisco, California. Chief William Murray. Comment: I f we had our own mai nt enanc e shop i t woul d b e more effi cient . J a cksonvi l le, Fl ori da. Chie f J. J. Hubb a rd. We It if it operated our own ma int enance sh op unt il Novemb er 1968. is now u nder t h e Ci t y Motor Pool . I t is my opi nion that we had our own s hop und er Fire Department Supervision would be mor e effi c ient . Fairfax Count yj Vi rginia. Chi ef Wa Ha Burtonj Jr. Comment: Cent ralized repair shop for alr ..the municipalit y may wor k efficiently for t h e Fire Servicej but I do not believe t h is would be possibl e without cl os a control b y the Fire Service. Su ch contro l wi l l ne ces sit at e a well qua lified Superint endant of Fir e Equipment and other personnel , al l under the control of the Fire Chief . -2- ., �Minneapolis, Minnesota. Chief K. W. Hall. Comment: Our Maintenance of Fire Apparatus is conducted by the Equipment Division of the Department of Public Works. We are satisfied with the service and fe el that it is more efficient and economical than it was when under the Fire Department. This is partly due to having to use the shop to employ various disabled fire fighters whereas this is not possible now. Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Chief Harry J. Keller. Comment: No, we do not operate our Maintenance Shop. It is my opinion it would be better under the Fire Department Supervision. Newark , New Jersey. Chief J.M. Redden. Comment: I find that c entralized maintenance, as opposed to a Fire Department operated shop, to be a severe detrement to Fire Department operations. Cleveland, Ohio. Comment: A separate and. complete maintenan ce would be more efficient. New Haven, Conn ecticut . Chief Frank Sweeny. Comment: No Department takes c are of its equipment like the Fire Service. You will not be satisfied with a City operated repair complex. Jersey City, New Jersey. Chief R. A. Gibney. Comment: A central garage maintained by the Department of Public Works maintains our equipmente This arrangement has been in existence short period of time., _ JJnable to say which method is more efficient., New Orleansj Louisiana Comment: A shop operated by the Fire Department for Fire Department e qu ipment is the only way a large Department can keep equipment rolling • .

.3 V / �Salt Lake City, Utah. Comment: Public Safet y Garage comprises: Fire Department, Police Department, and Boa~d of Health, all under the direction of the Fire Department Master Me chani c. We think our system of public safety works very well. We always have our fire apparatus under our supervision. Tulsa, Oklahoma. Chief E. s. Hawkins. Comment: We had our o~m sho p for some 50 years, but for many reasons--cost, help, etc., we joined a Central City Maintenance Shop. A Fire Department Shop is more efficient ' when adequate quarters and personnel can be providedo Most cities are growing so rapidly that a Central Garage is a must. We have a firm understanding that our emergency equipment co mes first. Richmond, Virginia. Chi ef Sherry . Comment: I think a separate Maintenance Shop is more efficient and more economical.

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