Other cities outdo Hub on firetruck care

Make checks more often, have licensed mechanics

The Boston Fire Department's system for ensuring safety of its firetrucks, with its lack of licensed mechanics and its minimal maintenance program, compares poorly with other big-city fire departments, according to an informal survey.

In Chicago, firetrucks are inspected every 3,000 miles. In New York, it's every three months. In Philadelphia, rigorous inspections are sometimes conducted more often, in strict accordance with manufacturers' recommendations, city officials said.

Philadelphia and Chicago have separate city agencies staffed with licensed and specially trained mechanics dedicated solely to vehicle maintenance, including police cars and snow plows as well as firetrucks.

In New York, the Fire Department has a staff of mechanics trained by the manufacturers of the city's fire engines, ladder trucks, and other specialized vehicles.

The Globe reported yesterday that Boston has no such maintenance program and relies on a vehicle maintenance division staffed by uniformed firefighters who are not trained mechanics. The city's firetrucks receive annual state-mandated inspections but little in the way of preventive maintenance.

Fire Commissioner Roderick Fraser instituted an internal review of maintenance Monday after the first firetruck inspected after a fatal crash last week had to be taken out of service because of brake problems. Investigators believe brake failure caused a city ladder truck to career out of control down a steep hill and into a building Friday, killing Fire Lieutenant Kevin M. Kelley.

The truck's brakes had not been inspected for 10 months, even though the manufacturer recommends inspections every three months.

The maintenance programs in other cities are supported by sophisticated computer programs.

In Chicago, when firefighters refuel their vehicles, they must first input data at the pump, including mileage, truck number, and employee identification. A computer calculates when vehicles are due for routine preventive maintenance and inspections and notifies the city's fleet maintenance department, which schedules the vehicle for the necessary service.

"We have the ultimate sort of compeller," said Larry Langford, a Chicago Fire Department spokesman. "If the fleet guy says it needs to come in, and a couple of days go by and you don't bring it in, they just flip a switch and cut the fuel cards off. No more gas."

In Philadelphia, the fleet maintenance department is also involved in the purchase of firetrucks and has licensed mechanics with specialized training in fire apparatuses. The department provides fire officials with detailed schedules that have to be adhered to, fire officials said.

"Each and every officer knows when their piece is due for not only maintenance, but inspections," Philadelphia's fire commissioner, Lloyd Ayers, said.

Ayers said he thankfully hasn't had to face a tragedy like the one Boston is dealing with now. "Our prayers go out to Boston Fire," Ayers said.

In New York, firehouses receive fax reminders the day before trucks are due for service.

"Our inspection process extends to over 100 items and exceeds the New York State Department of Motor Vehicles safety inspection," Deputy Commissioner Frank Gribbon wrote in an e-mail.

Steve MacDonald, spokesman for the Boston Fire Department, declined to answer questions yesterday about why the city's program for maintenance lags behind other cities. He said he wouldn't comment in respect for Kelley's family.

"Not until after the funeral," MacDonald said.

Donovan Slack can be reached at dslack@globe.com.