MONROE - Rising fuel costs have caused the Monroe Fire Department to make some changes.
Chief Daryl Rausch announced Friday the fire department no longer will send tanker trucks to rural vehicle accidents.
Rausch said diesel fuel costs have gone from about $1.77 per gallon to about $4 over the past two years. He estimates the department will use about $20,000 in fuel before the end of the year. In 2007, the fire department used about $12,000 in fuel. In 2006 the department used about $6,000.
Two engine trucks and a pickup truck will continue to respond to accidents, Rausch said.
"Engine 8 and the pickup truck will perform traffic control as long as the crews are not needed to assist with patient care or extraction," he said.
The change will not affect response times or the department's ability to perform its duties, Rausch said.
The Green County Sheriff's Department will be requested to assist with traffic control at accidents, he said.
Firefighters who normally would be on the two tanker trucks will remain at the station until they are needed, he added.
A second change at the fire department is that less equipment will be used for training. Trucks will be filled during training exercises. Vehicles not needed during training will remain at the station, Rausch said.
Chief Daryl Rausch announced Friday the fire department no longer will send tanker trucks to rural vehicle accidents.
Rausch said diesel fuel costs have gone from about $1.77 per gallon to about $4 over the past two years. He estimates the department will use about $20,000 in fuel before the end of the year. In 2007, the fire department used about $12,000 in fuel. In 2006 the department used about $6,000.
Two engine trucks and a pickup truck will continue to respond to accidents, Rausch said.
"Engine 8 and the pickup truck will perform traffic control as long as the crews are not needed to assist with patient care or extraction," he said.
The change will not affect response times or the department's ability to perform its duties, Rausch said.
The Green County Sheriff's Department will be requested to assist with traffic control at accidents, he said.
Firefighters who normally would be on the two tanker trucks will remain at the station until they are needed, he added.
A second change at the fire department is that less equipment will be used for training. Trucks will be filled during training exercises. Vehicles not needed during training will remain at the station, Rausch said.