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Fire department seeks new training props and radios, eyes youth recruitment program
Summary
La Conner Fire Department presented plans to buy two training containers (COMEX), improve ladder and roof training, and recruit teens for early training; staff noted radio model discontinuation and higher replacement costs.
La Conner's fire department asked the council to support modest purchases to improve training and to continue developing a local recruitment pipeline.
Fire Department representatives said the radios the department has traditionally purchased are discontinued and current replacements are about $8,000 apiece. The department requested flexibility to purchase two COMEX (container-based) roof-and-ladder training props when prices fall or if donated units become available; the town's communications plan includes about $10,000 for such equipment.
Aaron, speaking for the department, described the COMEX prop as a roughly 20-foot training container with a metal roof that can be placed and used for realistic roof and ladder drills. He said the prop would allow training that is difficult to replicate on ground-level practice rigs and would be useful for La Conner and neighboring departments sharing training. Aaron also said the department recently had several new trainees attend practical sessions, and staff are working with the local high school on a pilot teen search-and-training program.
Council members said training continuity and retaining locally based firefighters were important goals. The council did not take a formal purchase vote at the meeting; staff said they will try to time purchases for anticipated summer price declines and pursue donated units if available.
The department asked the council to note the estimated per-unit radio cost of about $8,000, the availability of $10,000 in the communications plan as a potential funding source and the plan to seek shared use with neighboring departments during training.
