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Echo fire chief flags aging gear and seeks grants, retirement changes for first responders
Summary
Fire Chief Matt Dunphy told the council March 10 that a firefighter retired after more than 50 years, that the department’s water drop tank was damaged and that their SCBA gear is obsolete and cannot be serviced; he said a grant writer offered to pursue funding for replacement gear for fees of about $600–$700.
Fire Chief Matt Dunphy told the Echo City Council on March 10 that Firefighter Alec Dirnberger has retired after more than 50 years of service and that the department is managing several equipment concerns. Dunphy said a recently damaged water drop tank may be repaired by the Wood Lake Fire Department, which would like to keep the repaired tank as a backup and offer its prior backup unit to Echo; the council had previously approved replacing the damaged tank and asked staff to ensure Echo receives a replacement or comparable equipment.
Dunphy reported that the department’s self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) units are obsolete and that parts are no longer available, creating a need to replace the equipment. He also said a few department members have struggled with written testing and that alternative training options are being explored. Dunphy told the council a grant writer has offered to seek grants to replace equipment and gear for fees in the $600–$700 range; the council encouraged him to proceed.
Dunphy also raised the possibility of adding First Responders to the Fire Department’s PERA retirement plan if that is administratively and legally possible. No formal vote on retirement-plan changes was taken at the meeting.
