CANON CITY FIRE DISTRICT MAY GROW.
February 26, 2008
Debbie Bell
The Daily Record
Ninety more homes soon could be added to the Cañon City Area Fire Protection District.
The homes are in an “island of territory” created in December, when the incorporated town of Brookside officially joined the local fire district because of its proximity to the newer Station 2 located on Elm Avenue. Previously, the town had been served by the Florence Fire Protection District.
“We have identified 360 acres and 91 parcels of property,” Cañon City Fire Chief Dan Brixey said Monday. “We have people living in this island serviced by Florence, but who are closer to our firehouse at Station 2.”
The area that could soon switch to Cañon City protection lies east of Ash Avenue, south of Elm Avenue and west of MacKenzie Avenue. Such a move basically would classify everything west of MacKenzie into the Cañon City department, while everything east of that street would remain in the Florence district.
Years ago, the divisions made more sense than they do now, said Barry Acton, a resident of the area who also owns an insurance agency in Florence. However, because Cañon City eventually built Station 2 at 1349 Elm Ave., his home now lies just 1 mile away from Cañon City service but 5 miles away from Florence service.
“I think this is going to benefit and be a win-win situation for everyone involved,” Acton said Monday afternoon. “Cañon City will welcome us in, and Florence will welcome us out. Everything is basically a go.”
The entire affected area must support the switch with petition signatures. Acton said the move makes sense because of proximity alone.
“Florence does an outstanding job of fire protection,” Acton said. “This will make things less congested for them.”
Belonging to the Cañon City district costs more than the Florence district, an increase reflected in property taxes. However, most homeowners actually will save a potentially large amount of money with the move.
Brixey said homeowners’ insurance policies are priced according to a rating from the Insurance Services Organization, a rating figured on the fire protection district, the water district and available communications. Currently, many of the homes in the island of territory are wrongly classified as belonging to the Cañon City district, giving policyholders a break on premium rates.
The ISO will conduct a survey starting March 3 to ensure homes are placed into the appropriate rating, a move that certainly will increase some premiums dramatically. Acton said truly belonging to the Cañon City district would save homeowners more than $300 on their taxes each year, after the homes are reclassified.
Based on current mill levies, a home valued at $100,000 would be charged $103.48 in the Cañon City district but only $38.68 in the Florence district. However, that amount would be more than made up for in homeowners’ premiums.
To fully protect property and to keep homes within the area at an appropriate premium rate, Brixey said his department just signed an Automatic Aid Agreement with Florence. Now, any fire or rescue call for the area automatically will be answered by the Cañon City district.
That agreement will sunset Jan. 1, 2009, giving residents the next 10 months to comply with signature requirements. If homeowners agree, they will be annexed into the Cañon City district at that time; if not, the AAA will become null and void, and homes in the area will revert back to Florence protection.
“We want to let people know there is some sense of urgency here,” Brixey said. “In January, this agreement goes away.”
Four residents of the area are organizing to spread the word and begin gathering the signatures necessary to precipitate the change — Acton, Bill Masse, Kate Colby and Jim Pinkerton. For more information, contact any of the four.
New Rescue Truck Sports All the Bells and Whistles
October 5, 2007
Firefighter D.J. Yeoman transfers equipment into the newest truck in the Station 2 fleet on Thursday. The brand-new Ford F-550 was a welcome addition that will allow the firemen to respond more efficiently to medical and car crash emergencies.
NEW RESCUE TRUCKS SPORTS ALL THE BELLS AND WHISTLES.
Debbie Bell
The Daily Record
Technology on wheels arrived at the Cañon City Area Fire Protection District earlier this week.
A new, 2007 Ford F-550 rescue truck was rolled into service on Tuesday at Station 2, located at 1349 Elm Ave., and primarily will be used on medical calls.
"It has all the latest technology," said Lt. Erik Johnson on Thursday, as he demonstrated the bright red truck’s features.
An on-board generator powers all auxiliary lighting, scene lighting and utility outlets. Three 1,500-watt lights provide illumination toward the front of the truck, while two detachable 500-watt lights are on the rear.
Warning lights on the truck utilize new, light-emitting diode technology.
"That reduces the amount of amps needed to provide warning lights," Johnson said. "All the new technology is going LED."
The 1 1/2 ton-class truck features more hauling capability than the 1994 truck it replaces and can haul up to 17,500 pounds. A 12,000-lb. winch on the front of the Ford can be used for pulling vehicles out of perilous situations.
Advanced life support medical equipment is tucked into every storage space in the Ford. It also carries extrication apparatus used to remove people from automobile crashes, as well as river rescue and rock-climbing equipment.
"It carries breathing air to refill breathing bottles on the scene," Johnson said. That same air system provides power for air tools, like chisels, that may be needed at a rescue scene.
"We ordered the chassis last fall" from Faricy Ford in Cañon City, Johnson said. "Then, it spent 90 days in Boise getting its body put on."
The body was built by Boise Mobile Equipment in Idaho and features extra interior space for rescuers and their personal equipment. As primary rescue equipment, the truck carries no firefighting gear.
"It has more cab space," Johnson said, and is capable of transporting four rescuers to the scene of an emergency. The old truck carried three.
Johnson said all shifts have worked to make the truck more efficient and bring it to peak performance. However, a group of four firefighters led the charge to acquire the truck.
"Lt. Greg VanRiper was the committee manager," Johnson said. "He was instrumental in getting the truck here. They all did a great job."
Others who helped make the new truck a reality were D.J. Yeoman, John Vernetti and Doug Lee.
The Ford replaces a 1994 GMC Becker rescue truck with 39,000 miles on the odometer.
"That might not sound like a lot," Johnson said. "It still has a lot of life left in it."
The fire district has the GMC truck for sale and hopes to see it remain in the local area. More information is available from Johnson at 275-8666.
The Ford F-550 cost the district about $118,000.
"This was really needed," Johnson said. "We were long overdue to replace the old truck."
Debbie Bell may be reached at dbell@ccdailyrecord.com.
