BFD quick-response vehicles a no go

Posted: Mar 8, 2010 11:03 PM by Nikki Laurenzo
Updated: Mar 8, 2010 11:03 PM

Watch the fire union president's full speech to the council below

BILLINGS - A tie vote by the Billings City Council halted a plan to add smaller vehicles to the fire department's fleet.

The quick response vehicles have been a controversial topic since the council approved the original plan back in 2008.

The item Monday's agenda was a bid award for two quick-response vehicles as well as the needed equipment which came to about $314,00.
QRVs are designed to respond to medical calls, vehicle fires and grass fires.
"The smaller vehicles are more cost effective because 70% of the fire department's calls are medical", said Chief Paul Dextras.

Council members listened to about an hour of testimony from members of the fire union Local 521 who strongly oppose what they describe as an "experimental project" that will jeopardize public safety.

Several council members were concerned about spending thousands of dollars on new vehicles when the city is already in budget crisis.

The fire union also presented the council with a letter from Deputy Chief Mike Piper of the Arvada Fire Department in Colorado where Chief Dextras previously worked .

Piper said Dextras did good things for the department but implimenting Q-R-V's was not one of them