| Congressman Faleomavaega is pleased to announce that
he has secured another fire truck for American Samoa with no cost to the
Territory.
“For the past seven months, I have been working with the Pacific
Southwest Region of the U.S. Forest Service to address the immediate public
safety needs of our Territory,” Congressman Faleomavaega said. “In
November of last year, I was informed that the entire Western District
of American Samoa was without fire trucks. In January 2001, I learned
that the LBJ Hospital was cited by the U.S. Department of Health and Human
Services for several Life Safety Code Violations because it did not have
the ability to protect its staff and patients from fire. In a letter
to the Governor, the agency pointed out that corrective action could be
accomplished by directing the local fire department to respond in an adequate
manner. However, it was noted that the local fire department would
require additional equipment, manpower, and training to combat a fire in
a structure of this size.”
“Although these matters fall within the purview of the local government,
I am thankful that these public safety issues were brought to my attention
so that I could expedite federal assistance,” Congressman Faleomavaega
said. “I am also pleased that the Department of the Interior has
favorably responded to my request for emergency funding to address our
fire protection needs. Through the assistance of the Pacific Southwest
Region of the U.S. Forest Service, we have been able to secure a refurbished,
750 gallon capacity fire truck. The truck is practically new, with
only 22,000 miles.”
“I’ve been told that it would cost approximately $200,000 to purchase
this truck new,” Congressman Faleomavaega said. “I’ve also been assured
that this fire truck is perfect for the Territory. In fact, Dennis
Orbus and Rusty Witwer of the Fire and Aviation Management Division of
the U.S. Forest Service in the Pacific Southwest Region checked out several
vehicles over the course of the past seven months before informing me of
this one.”
“As I have noted before, the Pacific Southwest Region of the U.S.
Forest Service includes California, Hawaii, American Samoa, the Federated
States of Micronesia, Palau, CNMI, Guam, and the Republic of the Marshall
Islands,” Congressman Faleomavaega said. “Many of these areas are
also in need of fire equipment and vehicles. We are fortunate that
we have been able to obtain three fire trucks in the past several months
that have less than 30,000 miles per vehicle. If we were to fix a
dollar amount to the new purchase price of these vehicles, we could easily
say that the Territory has received more than $400,000 worth of fire trucks
and equipment as a result of this emergency funding initiative.”
“I am pleased that our latest acquisition will be shipped in approximately
two months,” the Congressman said. “The U.S. Forest Service has agreed
to assist with the maintenance and has been generous enough to fit the
truck with some additional equipment that will serve us well.”
The Pacific Southwest Region is also responsible for disbursing
U.S. Forest Service grant funds to qualifying fire departments. Grant
funds can be used for training, salaries, and equipment.
“It is my understanding that our local fire department used its
most recent U.S. Forest Service disbursement to purchase the refurbished
fire truck now housed at the Fagatogo fire station. Now that
the Fagatogo station is equipped, I am hopeful that the 750 gallon truck
I am sending to the Territory, with no cost to ASG, will be placed at the
station in Tafuna,” Congressman Faleomavaega said. “I am also hopeful
that the two model 41s I recently secured can now be placed in the outlying
villages to ensure the safety of those who live in our more rural areas.”
“I want to thank the Pacific Southwest Region and the Department
of the Interior for their assistance in this public safety effort.
I also want to thank our Commissioner of Public Safety, High Chief Tuiteleapaga
Ioane Fue. Despite ASG’s financial difficulties, I firmly believe
that the people of this Territory deserve an immediate infrastructure of
safety,” Congressman Faleomavaega said. “I am hopeful that the three
trucks we have been able to secure with no cost to the Territory will provide
a base of security and safety for our people. If other federal assistance
is needed, I am always available and committed to assisting ASG in its
efforts to address the local needs of this Territory.” |
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