The Fire Department recently took delivery of two new firefighting apparatus'. The first is a 2019 Spartan Gladiator, capable of pumping 1500 gallons of water per minute. This apparatus is one of 10 pumpers in the City’s fleet, and will serve on the front line for 16 years. The second vehicle is a 2020 Rosenbauer Panther Aircraft Rescue and Firefighting (ARFF) apparatus. The mission of an ARFF is to respond in a timely manner to aircraft incidents, to rescue affected occupants, and to mitigate aircraft emergencies.

Fleet Management is behind the scenes ensuring emergency operations are able to get to their destination quickly and reliably. Our mechanics maintain emergency vehicles in a constant state of readiness so emergency personnel can continue to provide critical services. One of the ways Fleet is doing this during the COVID-19 outbreak is by working in two shifts Monday – Saturday. This not only provides support to critical operations but also utilizes appropriate social distancing guidelines. Another way Fleet ensures emergency readiness is by replacing vehicles in a timely manner. The newest fire truck is gearing up to go in service next month. The Type 3 brush truck was purchased in July 2019 and is undergoing final inspections. Fire trucks have a 16 year life on the frontlines with an additional 10 life as a reserve vehicle.

On September 3, 2019, two members of the City’s Fleet Management team, Alex Mayorga, Thomas Flentie, and Andrew Ramirez joined a very small group of technicians who have earned the title of “World Class Technician.” The Auto Care Association and National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) created the “World Class” designation to recognize Master technicians who have completed 22 specific ASE certifications. Since its inception more than 30 years ago, the World Class Technician designation has been achieved by only .21% of automotive technicians in the United States. Alex and Thomas are setting the example for other technicians to follow and have solidified our City’s Fleet Management organization as a model for other fleets.