NOAA's party boat

[likwid]

Originally Posted by spence

Why would you need to fight a fire from the water? It's not like the docks at a place like Menemsha would ever catch fire.

-spence

NEVER!

[buckman]

true story... Mt Chace Me. is a little tiny remote northern Maine township. They recieved Homeland funds for a 400K fire engine. It sits in a garage where it awaits the all volunteer firefighters. The house next door to the fire station burnt to the ground before they could get to the fire house. Never mind the house was worth 20K. The 400K fire truck never moved.

[likwid]

Homeland Security must have covered up the story.

[spence]

Originally Posted by buckman

true story... Mt Chace Me. is a little tiny remote northern Maine township. They recieved Homeland funds for a 400K fire engine. It sits in a garage where it awaits the all volunteer firefighters. The house next door to the fire station burnt to the ground before they could get to the fire house. Never mind the house was worth 20K. The 400K fire truck never moved.

What's the point of the story? Did the township not need a fire truck?

-spence

[buckman]

Originally Posted by spence

What's the point of the story? Did the township not need a fire truck?

-spence

Yes that's the point Spence... it would be cheaper to build new houses when they burn. And the houses would be better

[spence]

Originally Posted by buckman

Yes that's the point Spence... it would be cheaper to build new houses when they burn. And the houses would be better

Is it really? Your story didn't say anything about the fire department not needing a new truck...if anything it was an ironic tale, but not much more.

I'd think that in a rural area the local volunteer fire department probably serves many different towns. I do know a thing about fire trucks and even the basic ones are pretty expensive, most are customized for the local municipality. 400 grand doesn't even get you anything fancy...

So was this fire truck a needless accessory, pushed upon the people of Maine by radically liberal central planners? Or did the Federal Government help a rural area better prepare for their emergency services with an expense not easily justified with meager local tax dollars?

-spence

[buckman]

Originally Posted by spence

Is it really? Your story didn't say anything about the fire department not needing a new truck...if anything it was an ironic tale, but not much more.

I'd think that in a rural area the local volunteer fire department probably serves many different towns. I do know a thing about fire trucks and even the basic ones are pretty expensive, most are customized for the local municipality. 400 grand doesn't even get you anything fancy...

So was this fire truck a needless accessory, pushed upon the people of Maine by radically liberal central planners? Or did the Federal Government help a rural area better prepare for their emergency services with an expense not easily justified with meager local tax dollars?

-spence

It was just a funny story Spence. 400K fire truck sits in a garage while the house next door burns. Get it???? I was there when they held training for this truck. Even you would have found it mildly amusing. They were all wishing they had a parade in town,you now, if they had a town.

[Mr. Sandman]

OB has a larger fire fighting boat (that cost about 500K if I recall), twin jet drive diesel I think). It was used to fight the menemsha fire. (also alum. boat which I know has had some electrolysis problems.

Look I am not against the collective fire/police dept's having equipment like this, I support it. I just don't believe it is the federal governments job to create grants and give this stuff away to any town/every town who apply. Because we have 5 towns that support a year round population of 15K should we really have a need for multiple boats? If the island needs one, they should BUY own, and PAY for one with taxes, not be given one.