In the face of an increasingly dynamic and multifaceted fire service culture, it has become imperative for traditionally resilient institutions such as the volunteer fire service to adapt and evolve in tandem with the rapid pace of change and navigate challenges. These challenges are not just in organizational leadership and culture, but also financially.

The Board of Directors determined within the first several months of 2024 that we as elected leadership must take an in-depth look at how we can navigate change that would steer FVFAC to a better path to resolve financial concerns.

In April of 2024, we seated a committee that would take an in-depth look at our Operational Fleet. This committee spent countless hours diving into maintenance and equipment records, reviewing dispatch and records management Data related to responses. The committee was also tasked with providing fleet reduction options to the Chief for consideration as well as providing data to make a decision that he felt was best. The committee seated by myself brought significant knowledge, experience, tenure, and commitment to the volunteer fire service.

This past month, I reviewed the data and proposed options from the committee and has placed a plan in effect that allows us to continue to be fiscally responsible without discontinuing services to the community in which we are committed to serving. Within our fleet we will combine rescue and engine services and incorporate those provided from both Rescue 13 and Engine 1312 to a new Rescue Engine, combining two utility response vehicles to one, and operate with one brush truck. With this plan, we have adjusted our equipment replacement plan and extended the replacement years for each piece of apparatus. Our departments fire apparatus will remain with an Engine, Rescue-Engine, Truck, Tanker, Brush Unit and UTV.

As Elected and Appointed Officers it is our duty to the Company and Community to not only be transparent but to also be financial fiduciaries and at times, we are often faced with making challenging decisions that require change. We are not alone. Nationally, the volunteer fire service is under siege. Recruitment and Retention as well as finance struggles lead the challenges. We have a duty to manage our way in front of the challenges which will lead to survival in the volunteer system.

Respectfully,

Daniel J. McKinney
Chief of Department