ECVFD changes in 2007 make city safer
By SHANNON CRABTREE scrabtree@leader-news.com

Contributed Photo Coming Soon The El Campo Volunteer Fire Department is expecting delivery of a 2008 Pierce pumper similar to the one shown above later this month. The new pumper truck will be outfitted with a compressed air foam system which will allow volunteers to use less water when battling fires and thus lower collateral damage in buildings.

Homeowners should be safer this year thanks to the efforts of the El Campo Volunteer Fire Department during 2007.

Aside from answering calls for help last year, volunteers also sought funding for a new fire truck and started a review of El Campo's ISO rating, a move which could mean signifi- cant insurance savings to every home or business owner.

Within weeks, firefighters are expecting the arrival of a 2008 Pierce Velocity custom triple combination pumper which will be put quickly into service.

"Hopefully when it gets here, all we'll need is water," Fire Chief Jimmy George Jr. told City Council.

At a cost of $589,362 authorized by the El Campo City Council, the unit will be equipped with a compressed air foam system which should allow volunteer firefighters to use less water when battling blazes.

The pumper is the first new fire suppression unit the city has agreed to buy since 1995 when the department's aerial ladder truck was replaced with funds from a voter-approved bond.

Since then, ECVFD has replaced three of its eight suppression units using grant or donation dollars.

The upgrades to the department's fleet may assist with the city's ISO rating which could lower insurance costs.

The Insurance Services Organization rates areas based on water supply and delivery systems as well as fire department equipment and response. That data is used to determine how much home and business owners pay for insurance.

The lower a community's ISO rating or Public Protection Classification is, the less a home or business owner in the area pays for insurance.

The volunteer fire department's performance will be responsible for most of that rating. Half of the ISO determination is based on the department's first-alarm response and initial attack as well as its apparatus, pumping capacity, personnel and training.

The city's water supply and ability to deliver it accounts for 40 percent of the score while 10 percent is based on facilities and dispatching.

One is the best rating - only eight communities in Texas have that level of protection, including Houston, Stafford and Tomball.

El Campo is currently considered a 5 for fire protection within the city limits or within 1,000 feet of a fire hydrant, while Louise and Wharton are both a 6.

Danevang and Glen Flora have 9 ratings and East Bernard comes in at 7. Hillje isn't rated.

The last change in El Campo's ISO rating came in 2002 when the unincorporated area within 5 miles of the city limits dropped its rating from 10 to 9, bringing those residents an estimated 2 to 5 percent savings.

The review is pending as the department enters 2008. It could be one to two years before any savings are seen on citizens' bills should the city's ISO rating be lowered.

The fire department is also anticipating the delivery of a new command unit for the fire chief.

Like the El Campo Police Department, the fire department is moving away from using Ford Crown Victoria cruisers in favor of the cargo-hauling ability of the Ford Expedition.

The department currently has four cruisers - retired police patrol units with high mileage - which are used by the fire chief, his two assistant chiefs and the fire marshal for scene response.

Last year, City Council approved the purchase of a Ford Expedition for the fire chief's use. It is due for delivery this month.

Also during 2007, the department took steps to ensure another of its units - a 1997 American LaFrance pumper designated 1232 - will continue to protect the public for years to come.

With the approval of City Council, the vehicle received an almost $40,000 repair to reinforce the frame.