Deputy fire leadership outlined multiple equipment and readiness requests as part of the fiscal 2026 budget workshop, tying several asks to lessons learned during recent storm response and to new technical standards.

Nut graf: The fire department presented a consolidated list of items they ask the commission to fund or plan for: personal protective equipment handling and turnaround (bunker‑gear dryers), updated computers to meet the county’s next‑generation CAD/records requirements, replacement dry suits for water rescues, an in‑house firefighter physical‑agility training system, overhaul of reserve engines to reduce downtime, one rigid‑hulled inflatable boat (RIB) for flood response and a later‑year request for a Sherp amphibious all‑terrain vehicle. Staff said some items can be offset by grants; others are capital requests to be placed in future years.

Details presented
- Bunker‑gear drying equipment: department said new forced‑air drying racks would reduce mildew, speed return‑to‑service after washings required by current EMS/fire safety guidance, and limit gear damage from improper drying. Department proposed placing two units across stations to speed equipment turnaround.
- Computer replacements (dispatch/CAD): the county’s Prime/CAD upgrade imposes minimum hardware requirements. Fire staff said some station and EOC computers do not meet the minimum screen and processor specs needed to operate the new Hexagon CAD system; the department requested funds to replace administrative and EOC workstations to maintain interoperability with the county system.
- Water rescue PPE and fleet: department requested replacement dry suits and other PPE after high use during the previous storm season; also asked for a RIB (rigid‑hulled inflatable) to improve rescue reach vs the existing aluminum Jon boats. The department reported 109 emergency calls related to flooding and 65 rescues during the last event.
- Training and readiness: requested a firefighter agility training rig (fire sled) to enable daily conditioning, reduce injuries and allow in‑house pre‑hire agility testing; department noted that doing PAT testing in‑house saves candidate fees and scheduling delays with third‑party testers.
- Reserve engine overhauls: with lead times for parts increasing, primary apparatus had significant downtime (example cited: 626 hours out of service in one recent month); department seeks to overhaul engines before they go into reserve to extend useful life and reduce forced outages.
- Later‑year purchase (FY2028): an amphibious Sherp vehicle (all‑terrain, floatable) was discussed as a future purchase to reach areas inaccessible to standard high‑water vehicles or boats in certain flood geometries. Staff noted the vehicle is on a state purchasing contract used elsewhere in Florida; they flagged parts/access concerns but said the maker uses off‑the‑shelf components.

Funding notes and questions raised
- Some items were positioned as grant‑eligible (for example, certain FEMA/HMG or other resilience grants) or as projects that could be phased into CIP schedules.
- Commissioners asked whether county or state funds could support CAD computer replacements; staff said county funding was not available and counties typically require the agency to supply compatible hardware.
- Commissioners pressed on cost/benefit for the large Sherp vehicle; staff offered to arrange a demonstration with peer departments and to return further cost/maintenance analysis.

Attribution: requests and technical descriptions were given by the fire department deputy chief and supporting staff during the budget workshop; the presentation and questions were recorded in the workshop transcript.

What’s next: the department’s list will be included in the city manager’s budget package for prioritized consideration; commissioners instructed staff to pursue grant opportunities where feasible and to return with more detailed cost and readiness analyses for higher‑cost items.