The Shreveport Fire Department’s mission statement says, "Faithful to our Community. Ready to Respond. Willing to Educate. Dedicated to Serve." This mission statement defines us as Shreveport Firefighters. We are your public servants and we are willing to go above and beyond when a citizen calls for help.
You expect the highest level of professional service and you deserve that level of service from your Class One Fire Department. The 2019 General Obligation Bond includes funds that address our department’s critical needs. We do not have discretionary funding in our annual operating budget. As a result, we have not been able to replace our aging response fleet, which includes several engines that are more than 25 and 30 years old. We have several fire stations that need to be rebuilt. They were constructed in the 1940s and 1960s before SFD provided emergency medical services. Therefore, they no longer meet our operational needs.
If you approve the 2019 General Obligation Bond, it would provide funding that supports the Shreveport Fire Department in the following ways. Proposition 2 enables us to purchase 20 new fire engines over the next four years. We have 21 engines in service at all times, and these engines are our primary response vehicles. The National Fire Protection Association recommends moving an engine to reserve status at 15 years. Currently, 50 percent of our fleet is more than 15 years old. The 2019 Bond also includes funds for one heavy rescue truck, an air supply truck, and four ladder trucks.
As I stated earlier, we have several stations that were built before SFD provided emergency medical services. They are fire station 11 (Youree Drive/ est. 1943), station 14 (Greenwood Road/ est. 1961), and station 15 (W. 70th St/ est. 1961). These stations are designed to deploy a single fire engine. They are single-bay stations that lack the needed accommodations to effectively deploy an EMS crew. These stations will be entirely rebuilt.
Finally, the 2019 Bond will enable us to make long overdue renovations at many of our older stations. Fire stations are staffed 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Fire houses are our firefighters second home. They are subject to a great deal of wear and tear. If you approve the 2019 Bond, we will be able to replace leaky roofs, upgrade our bathrooms and kitchens, and install modern exhaust removal systems, providing our firefighters with the working environment they deserve.
Each of the three propositions assists the Shreveport Fire Department in carrying out our mission. Proposition 1 upgrades our city’s water infrastructure, which is essential in firefighting and a critical piece of our Class One Fire Rating. In fact, it accounts for 40 percent of our Class One Rating, and this rating helps reduce the costs of your home and commercial insurance. SFD responds to 125 calls a day. Proposition 3 ensures that our fire engines and ambulances are driving down roads that are in good condition, which not only extends the life of our fleet, but the life of your personal and commercial vehicles. Proposition 3 also includes funds for a modern traffic control system as well, which will not only speed up commute times for Shreveport citizens, but it will also prioritize emergency vehicles, increasing SFD’s response time.
At the Shreveport Fire Department, we "strive for excellence, to be accountable and lead by example in order to guard citizen safety and trust, while embracing challenges and creating opportunities to serve." We believe the 2019 Bond will help us see this vision through as we continue to serve the citizens of this great city. We assure you that we will be accountable with the funds your vote provides. We will guard your trust and we will always put your safety first.
Your Fire Department has embraced many challenges, but we have always strived to provide the best service every time you call. Now, we need your help. We need you to help us turn these challenges into opportunities to better serve you, your children, and your grandchildren. Citizens will be asked to vote on the 2019 Bond Proposal on November 16, 2019.
On behalf of the men and women who proudly serve on your fire department, we thank you in advance for your continued support. We desire to see our city grow and prosper in every way. We also want you to take ownership in your department. The department looks forward to better serving this city with the resources provided by this general obligation bond. May God bless you and our City.