At a recent fire exhibition on Long Island a fellow PIO asked if I had a couple of minutes to talk to him about a problem he was having. A number of people in his community were complaining to members of his volunteer department about what they thought was the excessive costs involved in running and maintaining a motorized drill team to compete. So upset was the Chief of Department that he asked the PIO to send a release to the local papers extolling the virtues of motorized racing. The only problem is the PIO agrees with the community complaints.
As a member of his volunteer fire department my PIO friend is also a fire district taxpayer who was never happy with the costs associated with running a drill team. (For the uninitiated I have an overview of motorized racing at the end of this post.)
I was at a loss for words. I told him to let me think about it a give him a call. It’s time for that call and I need your help!
I have over the years enjoyed attending motorized drills. But with today’s economy, motorized racing is a PR time bomb waiting to explode. My department does not have a motorized team and it helps me sleep better as a PIO, especially after my friend decided to write down the pros and cons of his department’s motorized team to try to formulate some sort of positive public release.
His list –
Pros
- It helps keep drill team members physically fit, mentally sharp and better overall firefighters who get to practice stills.
- It gives the public the opportunity to see firefighters from their department show in public the proficiency of their skills.
Cons
- There are only 14 motorized drill team members in a department of 146 fire and EMS.
- The racing equipment used by these guys is valued at close to $200,000.
- Race fuel cost the department around $10.00 a gallon.
- The team bought a new transporter a few years back that cost $75,000.
- Two years ago the team “refreshed” one of their motorized engines and bought Hoosier race tires at a cost of close to$30,000.
- The partying gets a little out of hand after some of the drills.
I am only the messenger here and report what he told me, but this is a dilemma I am having trouble giving him advice for.
His conscious tells him one thing, while his Chief tells him another.
HOW WOULD YOU ADVISE MY PIO BROTHER???
A quick look at motorized drill team racing -
For the uninitiatedtthere are two different categories of Drill-Team racing: “Old-Fashioned” racing teams, where all of the competitors race on foot, and any hoses or ladders that are used are carried on a small hand-pulled two-wheeled cart, and “Motorized” racing teams, which use two different classes of “truck” to race with: the Class-B racer, which is typically a heavily-modified older-model pickup truck retro-fitted with a pump, and the Class-C racer, which really bears no resemblance to anything except a modified dragster. Both the Class-B and Class-C racers have a “pickup”-type bed in the back on which to store folded-up lengths of special lightweight “racing hose”, a custom-made rack upon which special racing ladders can be rested for certain events. There are also usually flat “back-steps” on the rear of each rig for racers to stand on, as well as D-ring type handles attached to the rear of the racers so that the riders can hold on as they race down the track. Both classes will use racing engines, as well as racing slicks for tires, especially in the Class-C racer division.
Also on The Fire PIO…
- Firematic Funeral – May 26, 2010
- Great free Webinars for PIO’s from Cision – February 11, 2010
- PIO Community Outreach – March 11, 2010
- Run and Hide – It’s Installation Season – April 14, 2010
My first question is, does this enhance the department’s ability to provide service? If so, how?
Considering he, as PIO, is functioning as an agent of the department, I would say that he should go ahead with carrying out the chief’s order. Now, that’s not to say that he, as a member, has to agree with this decision, but he has been given instructions that he is to carry out.
If he wishes to make changes within his department, I’m sure he is free to do so to the best of his ability. But to not do your job because you don’t agree with it isn’t right.
Now, let me clarify – from what you’ve mentioned here, Jeff, I disagree with the motorized drill team, as well. Times are a bit rougher, and budgets are getting tighter. To spend money on this drill team does not seem to be advantageous to the department. Now, if the members were doing this on their own without using departmental money and resources, that’s their business. But to use taxpayer money (be it donations or government funded) doesn’t sit right with me.
Just my two cents.
What an incredible waste of tax payer dollars and department funds!
If I was a tax payer in district I would be pissed off!
I work for a rural volunteer department. We are expecting county tax revenues to be down 22% next year. We will survive as we have money saved in the bank and are putting off needed projects like a new station.
If it’s fitness you need turn your department on to crossfit http://www.crossfit.com
As for practice kills I don,t see how it beats actual practice on the rigs and equipment you use to respond with.
All that said I watched the video and it looks fun!
However funding should come from voluntary community support through public and corporate outreach and fund raisers… get some sponsors!
Playtime on the tax payer doesn’t sit well with me.
I agree with everything Doug said. Unfortunately, I am afriad the PIO needs to write the statement.
Jeff, you mentioned that this is a volunteer fire department. I am assuming then that the PIO is also a volunteer position. In which case, you friend can make a judgement call about if this volunteer position is worth going against what he believes. Obviously, if it is a paid position, the decision becomes much more difficult.
I wonder, though, if he might be able to point out to the chief who he, the chief, works for – the taxpayers who are upset by this irresponsible use of department funds.
Here are my thoughts…since you asked!
The motorized drill teams are a long standing tradition.
I have never seen one in person, but I do know they cost money.
The PIO works for the Chief. If the Chief gives an order, he must comply.
Times are tight. Do they hide the fact that funds may be used for this?
It can potentially keep the members fit, but so can a $30 gym membership. I see the point, but I am not sure it fits.
The fact that they may party afterwards is a non-issue and should not have been brought up. I drink after a hard day at work….Firefighters drink whenever they get together (off the job/not on duty). Not just at these events.
The question is what should the PIO do.
The answer is he should do what the Chief told him to do or step down.
Once he complies, he might bring up his issue to the Chief and the team and offer other ideas for funding the team outside of the use of funds specified for the department operations. Maybe they should do fundraising of their own.
my 2 cents!
As Billy Goldfeder would say “W.T.F.”!!! How can any department justify spending $200,000 for a racing team??? I have never heard of this type of team before, is this something done by many departments??? I’m from Illinois and in here in the midwest we have waterfighting, 2 teams of firefighters using a hose lines to push a barrell past each other. Our waterfighting team is sponsored by our firefighters association, no department funds are used to support it. I am just dumbfounded at how much money is being spent on this when there are departments out there that do not even have the appropriate PPE or equipment to respond. I would love to know if this department is fulfilling it’s actual mission, provide fire service, to it’s community.
Motorized drill teams are a long standing tradition in NY state. They not only help improve a member’s physical fitness, but also improve comeradie amongst the dept. Most of the depts that I am aware of are PRIVATE organizations that contract out to the towns, villages, etc for fire protection, ems, rescue services. If in fact they are a private organization, and charge a flat rate for their services who are the tax payers to complain? I would tend to believe that the majority of the money used to fund a drill team comes from private investments made by the organizations for such expenditures. basically they aren’t skimping on equipment or services to support the drill teams, that isn’t how it happens.
In this case the PIO needs to follow the DIRECT ORDER given to him by a superior officer no matter what his personal feelings are.
Bull, I would be OK with it if the motorized drill teams are funded exclusively with donations for that express purpose (so long as those donations are not taxpayer funded), or if the members paid for these drill teams on their own.
However, if these departments use any taxpayer funds, be they donations to the FD, contributions from a government body, or otherwise come from the citizens’ pockets, then I feel it’s wrong.
Either way, it seems that we all agree that the PIO should act professionally and carry out the orders which he was given. He can work to make changes inside the department as he sees fit (to the degree he’s allowed to by the organization and its members), but he should carry out the orders which he was given.