Lego City Fire Department
Current Events
This page was last updated on 8-12-02
This page describes things that the Lego City Fire Department is undergoing or considering.
2001 National Run Survey Completed
We just finished calculating our rankings as compared to those nationally and listed by Firehouse Magazine. To see this list, go back to the main page and click on the appropriate link.
Apparatus Update
As you may have read in the past few months, we were allocated the entire 2002 budget. We began constructing the new fire stations and ordering the needed apparatus. However, our available funds fell short of what was needed to completely order the entire budget. We were able to construct all 6 new fire stations. The last fire station was completed on 8-12-02. The expansion of the Dispatch Center, tripling it's size and capabilities, was also completed on 8-12-02. However, when ordering parts for the 7 new ambulances, we miscalculated. We have now reordered the pieces we need. We are currently receiving these items daily. As of today, our current budget for this year has allowed us to complete the construction of all buildings, including the 6 new fire stations, equipping the 6 new EMS stations, expaining the Dispatch Center, and fully equipping and building the Training Academy. This all was finalized on 8-12-02. We have been allocated funds to also complete all the apparatus currently in possession. This includes the 7 new ambulances and 4 more EMS trikes. We already received delivery of the 5 new ladder trucks and 9 new engines. However, the remainder of the budget will probably be postponed until 2003. This includes the purchase of 2 tankers, 3 grass rigs, 1 haz mat, 3 light rescues, 6 command vehicles, and a supply truck. This is an actual budget of $120.37 and a theorectical budget of $1,645,000.00. We are hoping to be able to complete the budget this year, but it may have to wait until 2003.
Lego City FD Sites on Yahoo Groups and AOL Groups
There are two supplimental sites for LCFD online. The first is AOL Groups and the second is Yahoo Groups. These two sites rely totally on fan support and contribution to be successful. On these sites, visitors can post messages, pix from their own Lego FDs, etc. I invite everyone to visit and join these groups. The success of these groups depends on you. Thanks for your continued support.
Fire Chief and Online Messenging
I don't think many people know, but the Fire Chief can be send an instant message. You can instantly access the Fire Chief on AOL's Instant Message using the screen name "LCFDFireChief" or use Yahoo Messenger with the name "lcfd_fire_chief". Drop me a quick line or if there is something you'd like to ask or discuss without waiting for an email reply, drop me a line.
Patches of Real FDs are for Sale
I have decided to sell 99% of my fire department patch collection. Due to the high demand that I was unable to keep up with, I no longer collect them. So rather than having them sitting in a box collecting dust, I have placed them for sale. Each patch costs $2 dollars. For a complete listing of the patches available, click here.
Year 2002 Budget Proposal Monies Allocated and Orders Placed
LCFD has been allocated funds for the entire 2002 budget. This means that we have purchased all pieces and sets for all the items requested in our Year 2002 Budget Proposal. Bid requests were sent out at the middle of February and orders were placed starting at the end of February. We have finished construction of all, but one fire station. We are awaiting the pieces for this fire station. I have already taken pix of the completed fire stations and apparatus and in about two weeks will be posting these pix and their corresponding pages online. We have hired 353 personnel and purchased 5 command vehicles, 9 engines, 5 ladders, and 7 ambulances in addition to the EMS Station and the 6 Fire Stations.
We are seeking bids to purchase an additional 13 command vehicles, 3 Light Rescue Units, 3 Grass Units, 2 Tankers, and 1 Haz Mat Unit. We are expecting these units to be in service sometime in the summer of 2002.
LCFD Retirees
Upon going through the personnel records this week, I discovered that this is the last year of employment for the 4 founding employees. At the end of this year, these 4 employees will meet the mandatory retirement from years of service. Fire Chief Eric S. McDonald, Assistant Fire Chief Delmar Bowman, District Chief Gaylon Pavin, and Training Coordinator Rick Ammons will have 20 years of service with LCFD and thus, be retiring. I was thinking there were still a couple of years left, but it turns out it is this year.
On-Line Polls
I have set up a poll in which you enter your opinion on LCFD and the website. I'll use this to improve the website and to help me make changes regarding LCFD. I invite you to contribute to the poll. You can access the poll by clicking here. There is also a poll for the visitors to choose their favorite apparatus from each catagory with the favorites at the end of each year being awarded the "Showcase Choice Award" for that year. I invite you to visit this poll and take a minute to select your favorite unit from each group by clicking here.
Year 2002 Eligibility List
As of 3-31-02, we have hired every person that was on the certified list of the Year 2002 Eligibility List. Also, we conducted testing on 3-20-02 and hired all 29 people that were on that list as well. Currently, we have no openings for personnel and there is no current Eligibility List. Once we have the need to hire more personnel, we will conduct the testing at that time and certifiy a list then.
If you would like to be considered for 2003's list, please apply online at: Employment Opporitunities. However, I end up disqualifying many people because they don't rate themselves honesty on the application. Of the 100 or so people that applied online, I disqualified about half of them. So if you apply online, be honest when you rate yourself or it'll be thrown out and you will have wasted your time.
Employment Status
It seems that in the fire service, employment opporitunities are commonly questioned. This permanent section will inform you as to the employment status within our department. As of 3-31-02, we have hired every person that was on the certified list of the Year 2002 Eligibility List. Also, we conducted testing on 3-20-02 and hired all 29 people that were on that list as well. Currently, we have no openings for personnel and there is no current Eligibility List. Once we have the need to hire more personnel, we will conduct the testing at that time and certifiy a list then. We use real people's names in LCFD. If you would like to be put on the Eligibility List of the Lego City Fire Department, goto the Application page and fill out an application online.
URL: http://members.aol.com/LCFDFireChief/lcfd.htm
Copyright © 2001 Eric S. McDonald