Little Gasparilla Island Fire Rescue
2012 Fire Plan
“Little Gasparilla Island Fire Rescue is committed to protecting the lives and property of the community”
As Fire Chief I feel it is my responsibility to analyze all aspects of the operations of the fire department. I wanted to first look at the Fire Operations of the department to make sure that the department was able to provide the proper fire protection to the entire community of the Island. After touring the Island several times and looking at how the department would make a fire attack at different locations throughout the Island, the following plan is what I would recommend to the Fire Board:
1. Keep the current Mini Pumper
- This pumper is needed for the purpose as our main pumping apparatus at our major fires until the time that it can be replaced with a Grant or other means of assistance.
2. Take one of the new portable pumps we received on the AFG grant and place on the New Brush Truck that is stored at the Hideaway on mainland. Possibly upgrade the tank to 300-gallon tank (if truck can handle the weight) along with some utility boxes, and (2) hose troughs for a 2-½ inch hand line and a hose trough for a 3-inch supply line.
3. Sell Squad 1 to recoup some of the cost of the brush truck above. Take out the pump and return to Department of Forestry.
4. Sell current Chevrolet hose truck, and purchase a Ford F450 or F550 to replace this truck. The new truck (Water Supply Truck) would need to have three bins in the back for 3” supply hose to hold at least 1400 feet of 3” hose in each bin. It will need to also hold our other (2) new portable pumps. These pumps would be placed on the front of the hose truck for easy access to either leave on the truck for pumping, or to be taken off for relay pumping. This truck would also have two float pumps, three float strainers, (2) 200’ 1 ¾ attack lines, (1) 200’ 2 ½ attack line, and (6) sections of 5 inch flex suction draft hose. Also on this truck we will have (1) Ladder, and some other misc. fire equipment.
5. Green Tender needs to be painted and put a 1000-gallon tank with a 2-½ inch low discharge and place the pump from the truck that is at the Hide Away for brush fires and (2) hose troughs for 3” Supply and 1 ¾ attack line.
After this plan is in place. this will give the fire department the ability to fight a fire on the Island with all kinds of options. This will also get us closer to our goal of lowering our Insurance ratings through ISO. I know our ultimate goal is Safety of our citizens, protecting property, and providing the best service that we possibly can. With that said, I want to minimize what apparatus we have and still be able to serve our community well. The following is what will be in service:
- Pumper 1 (Mini Pumper)
- Squad 1 (New Brush Truck)
- Water Supply Truck 1 (Ford F450 or F550)
- Tender 1 (Green Tender)
- Polaris
