GREENSBURG, IN — District 1 Greensburg City Councilman Kevin Fleetwood this week addressed an issue with fire truck standards.
He told his council colleagues that the City of Greensburg Fire Department has been using two Washington Township-owned fire trucks under contract with the township, but has learned they do not meet National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 1901 safety standards for reflective chevron striping on the back of the vehicles.
“It’s something I didn’t know about, so I did some research, and the NFPA 1901 standards is a very thorough document,” Fleetwood said. “It’s 216 pages and one thing I do want to note is there’s no legal requirement that you have to meet these standards. It’s just good practices.”
Fleetwood said city employees are driving trucks that don’t meet safety standards and he is floating the idea of coming up with a new policy.
“Before something like this is purchased or brought in, and placed in the (fire) department for use, there’s more awareness at the Board of Works level or the Council level that, ‘Hey! These trucks are coming and they don’t meet this standard and is the city leadership fine with those vehicles being put into service,'” Fleetwood added.
As a result, City Council has asked for a review of the city’s insurance coverage and liability and will send a formal letter to Washington Township in which the city will ask for NFPA-standard reflective chevron stripes to be placed on the back of their trucks.
