HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0683.036 1998-2000FROM,.: kaic FHOhJE hL. ^ -c 326 2137
Council Chairman James Arakaki
and the Hawaii Count) Council
Regarding The budget process, and fire protection in Kailua Fire District
T 2F 12:32FM F1
RIECEf VII
W 61 T o — b-
time
County Council
%1r. Arakaki I am writing this letter to express my concern and to male each of - - >>j in the
Council aware of the condition of our primary Fire Apparatus at Kailua Fire St )
The apparatus assigned to Kailua Fire Station is a 1982 Sutphen ladder truck the ]colds 500
gallons of water. This water capacity is insufficient as a front line Fire pumper ir: u district
such as Kona where many areas lack fire hydrants This truck has been in and o�.t of service for
several different mechanical problems The out of service duration has varied from a few weeks
to almost a year_ At the present time this apparatus has been out of service for ti last three
months_ There have been many attempts to replace this vehicle .kith a modern r,ion, but for
one reason or another these attempts have failed
Each time this ladder truck is out of service, it is replaced an apparatus _ -ious
problems of its own- Lately the replacement apparatus has been a 1969 Amer l— , ,a France Fire
Pumper. This apparatus carries 500 gallons and it, too, lives in and out of the n shop. At
the present time this 31 year -old apparatus is out of service due to a major ch r_ n problem.
To compound the problem of inefficient and out dated primary pumping appar.:: ,: Kailua Fire
Station presently has another replacement apparatus with problems of its own 1 980 Ford
Pumper with an engine that is seriously under powered. This so- called emerge' v'ehicle can
not exceed 25mph up Palani Rd and there are many roads with in the district th. ?r exceed the
incline grade ofPalani Rd. This Vehicle obviously should not be in Kona here are many
hills that are several miles long_ This apparatus and the other ones previous]- Ti :.; , oned gives
the public a false sense of security
In conclusion, I hope each of you have a better understanding of my concern th t :Kailua Fire
Station is in desperate need of a modern Pumping Apparatus to protect the life a : uroperty of
Kona. I hope that the Council can help rectifving this problem when budget there
way in regards to Fire protection for Kona
Mahalo fore your time in this matter
Michael Andrade
Fire Equipment Operator
Comm. N�, (4 ,3 • 0`3cp
File No WD
Re 'r' / (a4""
Rel. ."Io 2 7 Mai