Box 1, Folder 14, Document 8

Box 1, Folder 14, Document 8

Ezel Laader s

Metropolitan Cities That Do Not Operate a Fire Department Shop,

The following question was asked of each municipality that is
covered by this survey. "As the Chief of your department, would
you give your candid opinion as to which method is more efficient?"

Cincinnati, Ohio
Chief B. A. Lugannani

Comment: There are good arguments pro and con on both methods of
maintaining equipment. However, all factors being eaual, I think
there can be little question that when the repair shop is. part__
of the Fire Department, the quality and quantity of the work

are far superior to that obtained from an agency responsible

for the maintenance of a wide variety of automotive equipment.

A comparison of Fire Department maintenance shops in Cincinnati
and Columbus, Ohio readily demonstrates this. The Columbus st.ops
are well maintained, with mechanics trained in the servicing of
fire equipment only, who devote their entire time to meeting the
needs of the Fire Service and who are subject to Fire Department
discipline. In Cincinnati the area designated as the Fire Division
shop is shared with street sweepers, a tire shop and a wash rack.
The general appearance is more that of a truck junkyard than of

an efficient, well maintained repair shop. Although mechanics

are supposed to be assigned to Fire apparatus, there is frequent
transferring of personnel so that some men whose major mechanical
experience is that gained in the lawn mower and small car shop

are assigned as Fire equipment mechanics under supervisors with
little more experience. Over the years, the Fire Division has

lost practically all effective control over this agency. The
situation in general is far from satisfactory.

There is an area, however, which a Fire Chief cannot ignore

in evaluating a centralized maintenance shop. This is the

area of economy to the municipal operation. Unquestionably

the maintenance of separate repair agencies--personnel,
equipment, buildings, etc.--for each City department cannot
help but be more costly than when they are centralized, taking
advantage of the economies that are achieved through the consoli-
dation of personnel, equipment and buildings. Although the
centralized agency will probably never sérve an individual
department or division as efiecistcl, as OF ° aire eect,
believe it can be operated with a degree of effic

would be acceptable, if a City Administration establishes con-
trols that restrict the maintenance facility to a service
organization and insure the operating agencies of supervisory
control over their own work and full control over selection and
approval of their equipment

For a Fire Department that for years has maintained a high
level of efficiency and discipline, and recetly attained a
Class One A.I.A. rating, our present maintenance facility

is an eyesore and a disgrace. City Administration is becoming
aware of this, and it is anticipated that some corrective
action will be forthcoming.