Decatur Fire Department gets approval to buy radios

DECATUR — It is important for fire departments across Arkansas to be able to communicate with each other during an emergency situation.

Part of that communication system is having up-todate radio equipment for every department, whether it is a big city or a rural volunteer.

During a special meeting of the City Council on June 22 in the conference room and via Zoom at city hall, Fire Chief Jeremy Luker expressed the need for updates to his department’s radio system.

The county’s update to a new digital radio system is requiring all fire departments to have new radios in place by mid-August. Luker obtained a quote from Buress Projects Solutions of $69,853. The price includes refitting all 10 fire units, hand-held radios for each firefighter on duty and the base unit for the station 1.

Luker presented a payment plan whereby the fire department would take out a loan for $35,000. The remaining 34,833 would come out of the Fire Act 833 account.

In 1991, the Arkansas Legislature passed the Fire Protection Services Program Act of Arkansas. Act 833 “increased fire insurance premiums for revenues that may be used to defray training expenses of firefighters and to purchase, improve, or buy firefighting equipment in compliance with the National Fire Protection Association standards. The program revenues also enable initial capital construction and improvements of fire departments.”

Alderman Danny Herrington made a motion to approve the purchase of new radios for the Fire Department, using the plan presented by Luker. Linda Martin seconded. It passed 6-0.

The council also approved a short-term loan for the new radio system.

The new communication system will be received and installed in 6-8 weeks, about mid-August, just in time for the countywide upgrade to go into use.

Mike Eckels may be reached by email at meckels@nwadg.com.