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City receives emergency vehicle

By Maridee Lawson

Wednesday, November 12, 2008

The city has a new emergency vehicle in its arsenal that will be able to aid in disasters and emergencies, both here at home and elsewhere in the state as needed.

The new Mobile Command Unit became part of Farmington’s fleet of emergency vehicles about a month ago. The city applied for a grant in March and received notification from Mark James, the director of Public Safety, as of Sept. 22.

The vehicle was one of three that were previously property of the Missouri Department of Public Safety since 1999. They were housed in Jefferson City. The department kept one for its use, then offered grants for the other two to communities in different regions.

Farmington received one and the other went to a community in Green County, in southwestern Missouri. Under the agreement, the command unit is property of the city and Farmington is responsible for maintaining it.

“We don’t have anything in this area like this. There is one in St. Louis and one in the Bootheel of Missouri, but not in between. It’s good for Farmington and the region, especially in case of a disaster,” Fire Chief Todd Mecey explained.

The mobile unit will be used as needed across the region in cases of disaster and emergency situations. However if the disaster, such as an earthquake, affects Farmington then the vehicle will stay here.

There are about six dispatch stations inside, and each station is wired for laptop computers and able to hook up to the Internet. The mobile unit will also be stocked with vests, maps of areas that it will most likely be used in, and it has a satellite phone and GPS unit already in place.

There is a 58-foot radio mast that will help with communications. The command unit will be able to communicate with other posts without problems. It is also equipped with exterior lighting. Mecey said the city hopes to install data conference and satellite options in the future.

The mobile command unit should be up and running within 60 days. The fire department is working on updating radios and resetting them for the local area emergency departments, as well as adding additional video equipment and updating some other gear.

There is a conference area that will be used for department heads to gather and discuss information and get notes together. The unit will also have cots available for crews to use if they are out for a long period of time.