By Amos Maki
The Commercial Appeal
MEMPHIS, Tenn. — The Memphis Fire Department is pursuing plans to buy eight Alternate Response Vehicles to respond to medical calls after the union that represents firefighters withdrew opposition to the plan.
“In the spirit of moving forward and cooperation, the union is withdrawing its proposal and supporting the administration’s proposal,” said former Memphis firefighter Thomas Malone, now with the International Association of Fire Fighters.
Fire Department officials say using the smaller ARVs would save on fuel and maintenance costs without hampering response times.
The Fire Department wants to buy eight ARVs this year. Director Alvin Benson said the city would save $17,000 per year on fuel and maintenance for each ARV compared to costs for the larger vehicles.
The Fire Department responds to more than 100,000 EMS calls annually. Benson said three out of every four calls received by the Fire Department are for emergency medical service.
Currently, the city responds with large fire trucks equipped with EMS gear and supplies.
Officials with the International Association of Fire Fighters Local 1784 had said using the ARVs could endanger public safety because the smaller vehicles can only respond to medical emergencies and can’t fight fires, which means a second vehicle would have to be sent to a scene even if the ARV is close to the fire.
“With the ARVs, let’s not let the perfect get in the way of the good,” said council member Kemp Conrad. “We’re in a huge fiscal crisis in this city and there’s operational and capital savings to this.”
Copyright 2011 The Commercial Appeal, Inc.