Letter to the Editor: Downey Fire Department operating with subpar equipment

Dear Editor:

The Downey Fire Department needs a new ladder truck/aerial firefighting apparatus. The existing fire apparatus is obsolete and constantly in need of major repairs, taking it out of service for weeks at a time.

In its place, the forcible entry tools, ventilation, overhaul, and salvage equipment, as well as the ground ladders normally carried on the Truck Company are delivered to an incident on a flat bed truck and a trailer pulled by pick up trucks driven by crew members usually assigned to the out-of-service apparatus.

While Downey firefighters demonstrate their ability to improvise, adapt and overcome the lack of a reliable Truck Company, it is quite something to see these pickups and trailers responding with lights and sirens through Downey on their way to an incident.

This arrangement is hardly optimal.

With all of the existing high-rise structures in the city and more in planning by Los Angeles County on the Rancho Los Amigos South Campus, the City of Downey should request that the county fund a new truck/aerial fire apparatus, which will be used to protect the new county facilities.

It may also be time for the city to once again consider contracting out fire and rescue services to Los Angeles County Fire Department.

They have real truck companies.

Brian Heyman
Downey