The Cities of Blue Ash, Loveland, Sharonville, Mason and Symmes Township joined forces to purchase replacement ambulances for each community. Through their combined organization known as the Northeast Fire Collaborative (NEFC) these communities look for ways to: “Improve service, enhance training and save tax dollars on group purchasing.”
āRecently we received a regional grant for new self-contained breathing apparatus. This grant was worth nearly eight hundred thousand dollars.ā – Chief Kirk Mousa
Together these five communities developed a single ambulance specification that provides for commonality of patient compartment configuration. āThis type cooperation allows for maximum savings through multi-unit discountsā said acting Fire Chief Bryan Brumagen, City of Mason Fire Department.
āThe NEFC has been cooperating now for 10 yearsā said Fire Chief Rick Brown with the City of Blue Ash Fire Department. āJust last year the group came together for the construction of a Fire Training Tower that is shared by the NEFC as well as other regional partners.ā
The ambulances that were purchased went in service just this past month. āThese units replace aging equipment and were part of each communityās capital fleet replacement scheduleā said Fire Chief Otto Huber with the Loveland-Symmes Fire Department.
āOur collaborative looks for ways to apply for grants to improve serviceā said Fire Chief Kirk Mousa of the City of Sharonville Fire Department. āRecently we received a regional grant for new self-contained breathing apparatus. This grant was worth nearly eight hundred thousand dollars.ā
āThe fire collaborative that was started in 2008, following the great recession, has proved to be a worthy endeavor for our communities. It improves service for all our communities and provides for improved training and equipment for our firefightersā said Dave Kennedy, City Manager for the City of Loveland.
