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Three trucks to be used as quick response vehicles
Gov. Ralph DLG. Torres, Lt. Gov. Victor Hocog, and Rep. Ivan Blanco join Department of Fire and Emergency Medical Services Commissioner Claudio K. Norita and other DFEMS personnel in a group photo before the newly purchased three pickup trucks in front of the governor’s office on Capital Hill yesterday. The trucks, all worth $94,892, will be used by DFEMS as its quick response vehicles for Saipan, Tinian, and Rota. (Ferdie De La Torre)
The Department of Fire and Emergency Medical Services has purchased three four-wheel-drive pickup trucks totaling $74,892 that would be used as quick response vehicles on the three islands.
Each 2017 Dodge Ram 1500 truck was worth $24,964, said DFEMS Commissioner Claudio K. Norita. The funds came from federal Compact Impact payments that were given to the department from the Office of the Governor. The vehicles were purchased directly from the factory in the U.S. mainland.
Norita said one truck each will be assigned to Saipan, Tinian, and Rota.
He said it took awhile for them to process the order, but finally they got the trucks to Saipan.
With the limited funding that was given to DFEMS, Norita said they were able to secure the vehicles through the General Services Administration at $24,000 each, or about $75,000 for the three vehicles.
Gov. Ralph DLG Torres thanked Norita and the DFEMS personnel for all their hard work in purchasing the quality trucks and turning them them into quick response vehicles.
Torres said it’s an extra vehicle for each island as the government is working on a new 911 system that will result in have faster emergency response time.
“It’s awesome. It’s another good news for the department and for the community, having additional vehicles, and having a quicker response to the scene,” Torres said.
The governor said he and Norita are working to acquire more ambulances for the emergency medical services fleet.
Fire Capt. Jesse Mesa said the trucks would give them the opportunity to perform what they call the “first arrival reckon of the area” so that when they show up they have an idea of what they will be doing.
Mesa said the trucks are capable of taking responders to the Cross Station on Rota, Mt. Tapochau on Saipan, and Suicide Cliff on Tinian.
