Chief’s Corner for June 2002
The recent tax increase in RFPD-16 (Klein Volunteer Fire Department) will be put to good use starting later this year.  Plans are under way to modernize and expand the current fleet with 6 new pumpers equipped with state of the art fire suppression foam systems also known as CAF Systems. Klein took possession of one new pumper earlier this year equipped with a CAF system. The Fire District will have a total of 7 trucks equipped with this advanced system, one located in each KVFD station. The State of Texas recognizes this technology and extends additional fire suppression rating credit to departments that use these systems.

In addition, Klein will replace one five year old, 75 foot ladder truck with a 100 foot ladder truck and add one additional 100 foot ladder truck and one 95 foot Aerial platform truck.  Based on population and district size, these ladder trucks are needed to improve fire insurance ratings. The new ladder trucks are expected to go into service by the middle of next year.

KVFD expects to spend about $4.5 million to modernize and add to the fire truck fleet, adding two water tankers each capable of holding 3000 gallons of water. These tankers will improve the service to residents who choose to build homes and businesses outside of established water supply systems. KVFD will retire a 2000-gallon tanker, which is approaching 20 years of service. 

To house the new apparatus, KVFD is undertaking an aggressive building program to modernize and relocate two stations and rebuild the fire department administration building which is 20 years old this year.  Station 31 will be moved about ½ mile south of its existing location on Stuebner Airline and expanded it to a 4 bay station.  Station 34 will be relocated from Kleinwood drive to Squires, just south of the Post Office, and expanded it to 4 bays.  The station will remain in the Kleinwood subdivision, which was the desire of the subdivision homeowners.  KVFD administration office will also be built on the new Squires site.  The building program will be completed by the middle of next year at an expected cost of about $1.7 million.

Klein will need to expand the size of their volunteer pool by about 20% to respond the new apparatus to calls. With the new trend of business to “office from home,” the Department will target potential volunteers from the group, helping increase the department manpower during the critical daytime hours.