Fire Department to expand its fleet
By SHANNON CRABTREE scrabtree@leader-news.com

L-N Photo by Shannon Crabtree Deploying The Troops El Campo Volunteer Fire Department Capt. Bill Morris directs a Danevang crew into a field fire off FM 960 Saturday afternoon. Winds helped spread the blaze which ultimately took El Campo, Danevang, Louise and Wharton firefighters to douse. ECVFD will soon add an SUV to its fleet.

The El Campo Volunteer Fire Department will soon be adding an SUV to its fleet of vehicles.

Although the city of El Campo has supplied the volunteer department's command staff with vehicles for more than 10 years, this is the first time a new unit has been purchased.

Three Crown Victorias removed from the El Campo Police Department fleet due to high mileage had been assigned to the fire department for the use of the fire chief and his two assistants.

One of those cruisers, currently with in excess of 130,000 miles, will be retired in favor of the new Ford Expedition, George said.

That vehicle will become his command unit carrying additional supplies and firefighting gear.

The $23,044.86 purchase price had already been approved in the fire department budget for the purchase of a pickup truck.

The SUV was later determined to be a better choice since it would not require the modifications needed for pickup use.

With the pickup, George said, the department would have needed to place a camper shell on top.

"This is more cost effective," he said.

The goal would be to keep the SUV for fire department use six to 10 years.

"If the police department can drive two expeditions, than the fire department can drive one," Councilwoman Gloria Harris said voting in favor of the request.

If later budgeted by Council, the department would like to obtain three units.

Last month, El Campo City Council approved the purchase of two Ford Expeditions and one Chevrolet Tahoe for police department use.

The two 2008 Expeditions will be used primarily for the two police officers assigned to the El Campo school district while the Tahoe will be placed into the regular patrol fleet for one year, Police Chief Jim Elliott told Council during the September meeting.

Currently the police department uses a mixture of Ford Crown Victorias and Dodge Chargers.

The new unit should be available within 90 days.