Fire Department’s equipment is aging

Equipment is aging and repairs are starting to eat into the Crowley Fire Department’s budget.
Fire Chief Louis “Buddha” Romero Jr. told the city council’s Public Safety Committee that, just four months into the current budget year, the department has expended nearly half – 48% to be exact – of the amount budgeted for repairs.
“The trucks are getting old,” Romero told the committee, pointing out that the last time the city purchased a truck for the local fire department was in 2006.
On a brighter note, Romero reported that the new emergency communications system for the fire department should be coming on line by the end of January. He explained that the current system is spotty in some areas.
Turning to the monthly reports, Romero said the Crowley Fire Department responded to 48 calls during November, including:
• Five structure fires;
• 15 alarms;
• Eight EMS calls;
• One Haz-Mat call;
• One extrication;
• Two vehicle accidents;
• 11 public assist;
• Two trash (dumpster) fires;
• Two vehicle fires; and
• One assist police department.
Average response time for November calls was 3:02 minutes, according to Romero.
The 47 December calls included:
• Two structure fires;
• 15 fire alarms;
• 12 EMS calls;
• Two grass fires;
• One Haz-Mat call;
• Two vehicle accidents;
• Nine public assist calls;
• One trash (dumpster) fire;
• One vehicle fire; and
• One assist police department.
Average response time during December was 2:58 minutes, Romero reported.
For 2021, the Crowley Fire Department responded to a total of 463 calls — an average of 1.25 per day.