Our emergency-response-time leading Carefree Fire Department dedicated their new fire engine on January 26. About 50 residents showed up demonstrating their civic pride. Only three town council members showed up. In recognition of a fire department tradition going back to the days of horse-drawn engines, about 20 residents assisted in the pushing of the new fire engine back into the garage manually. The ceremonial ribbon cutting was done by Mayor Crane flanked by the Vice Mayor and the town administrator (the concept of spontaneous human combustion entered my head for a moment).
Ironically, the ribbon cutting was done by very same people who spent months besmirching our exemplary fire department to pass their ill-conceived property tax scheme. Quite frankly, the ribbon cutting should have been conducted by one of the leaders of the Vote No campaign who saved this exceptional fire department. Did you know that the response report breakout for Rural Metro shows that a good percentage of their trips are for non-emergencies? Rural Metro is here for medical and fire emergencies, and not for personal, non-emergency purposes (like rattlesnake removal or personal medical concierge service). Community safety is a shared responsibility that should not be abused. Congrats to Carefree Fire Department Station 821! This town is very fortunate to have you.
Mike Davitt
Carefree
