Commissioners question Augusta Fire chief after two fire trucks overturned within one week
Augusta Fire Department Chief Antonio Burden met with Augusta commissioners during a special meeting Tuesday afternoon to discuss the two Augusta fire trucks that overturned within one week.
New details came to light during the meeting, including that both pricey trucks were beyond repair and would need to be replaced. The trucks are insured, city Finance Director Donna Williams told commissioners.
"Our vehicle program works out over the long run," Williams said. "It tends to work out very well for us, being that the high propensity of our vehicles are involved in public safety and are subject to greater risk. ... When it doesn't work out for us that well is with very high dollar equipment, such as our fire trucks. So it's a risk and we do our best to manage it."
Brakes blamed:Firefighters say faulty brakes caused two Augusta fire trucks to overturn in 1 week
Disregarding policy:Sexual misconduct and OnlyFans: Inside the investigation of the Augusta Fire Department
Williams said it will be up to the fire department to replace the trucks with its budget.
Commissioners also asked Burden about the causes of the wrecks, stating they found two accidents happening in such a short period of time "a little disturbing."
Burden said the department is still completing investigations into both incidents and did not offer a definitive answer.
"While I appreciate the fact that there may be gaps and/or lessons learned, we're certainly going to look for those," Burden said. "Once again, when I talk about training, and things around the training, specifically during budgetary times, I hope to realize all of your support."
Richmond County Sheriff's Office incident reports for both crashes noted the drivers were not drug tested. However, Williams clarified risk management drug tested the drivers of both trucks within 32 hours, per city policy.
The Augusta Chronicle has requested those test results, as they were not mentioned in the meeting.
Quick Response Vehicles offered as a solution to reduce costs
Commissioners requested Burden look into Quick Response Vehicles (QRVs) as a solution to replacing the damaged trucks.
Burden said QRVs, which are smaller, less expensive vehicles, are able to handle EMS and extrication calls, limiting the wear and tear on larger trucks. He also noted QRVs are not as difficult to obtain as large rigs, which are affected by current supply chain issues and take longer to purchase or repair.
"I think it's something that we really need to consider, to have those smaller vehicles on the road and be able to respond, and in some cases relieve, larger apparatus," Burden said.
However, after noting his department is short on staff, Burden said he would need additional staff to operate the new vehicles. Many commissioners turned their heads to the idea.
Mayor Pro-Temp Brandon Garrett asked if Augusta Fire could use the same personnel that were assigned to the two damaged trucks for the new QRVs, to which Burden said no, because they would be taxing a system that is already taxed.
"I think that part of the conversation earlier was about using these [QRVs] in lieu of the fire trucks, but not adding personnel," Garrett said. "I think that would kind of be redundant because the cost savings that we're going to have buying the smaller trucks, you're going to use it up on personnel. So it's kind of a moot issue if that's the way ... we're looking at it."
Commissioners requested that the chair put the conversation on the agenda for a future meeting and give the chief an opportunity to price QRVs.
This article originally appeared on Augusta Chronicle: Commission questions fire chief after two fire trucks crash in a week
