Media coverage: rural firefighters' fuel costs and the SAVE Act

KEYC-TV reports Walz Urges Federal Help for Firefighters Burned by High Fuel Prices (video available via KEYC  ). The clip begins:

High fuel prices aren't just a problem for the people trying to get to work and school, but our local emergency responders.Fire trucks get only about 4 miles per gallon on the road, they use up even more pumping water used to fight the fires.

The Mankato Free Press's Mark Fischenich has more on the Supporting America's Volunteer Emergency Services, or SAVES Act in Fuel realities burden fire departments:

Those chiefs and others were gathered in St. Peter Wednesday to support federal legislation co-sponsored by Congressman Tim Walz that would allow volunteer fire departments to seek reimbursement for 75 percent of the increase in fuel expenditures compared to 2007.

Walz said the legislation is getting strong support from lawmakers representing rural districts, and there’s a companion bill in the Senate, making him hopeful it will pass before the end of the year.

The legislation is not a long-term solution, Walz said, but it will at least help departments avoid having to choose between fuel and training or equipment firefighters need to do their jobs.

“That is simply the wrong choice. We can’t make that choice,” he said. “The safety of the firefighter is at risk.”

Walz said it’s also wrong to force volunteer firefighters, who are already making personal sacrifices to serve their communities, to spend more of their spare time fundraising to generate revenue to pay for record-high diesel fuel costs.

One of the fire chiefs recalled the impact that the massive July 2 in Green Isle (image above) had on firefighters' fuel budgets:

Tom Phillips, the retired chief of the Henderson Fire Department, said multiple departments responding to a large fire in Green Isle this summer used 6,000 gallons of fuel. And firefighters don’t have the same options that other energy consumers have in the face of rising fuel budgets — walk more, drive less, switch to a scooter.

“When people dial 911, they want us there,” Block said. “And we can’t just be there with one truck.”

The New Ulm Journal covered the announcement in Walz promotes SAVES Act:

First District Congressman Tim Walz chose the St. Peter Fire Station to drum up support for HR 6461, the Supporting America's Volunteer Emergency Services Act of 2008, which promises reimbursement to volunteer fire departments like St. Peter's for at least part of their fuel costs.

Walz' supporting cast of volunteer fire chiefs included Paul Macho of the New Ulm Volunteer Fire Department; Windy Block of the St. Peter Fire Department; Gary Conrath of the Waseca Fire Department, and Tom Phillips, retired fire chief, Henderson Fire Department.

"In rural areas like Nicollet, Brown and Waseca Counties, emergency response is very fuel-intensive and expensive. We cannot continue to expect local firefighters to absorb the costs of increasing gas and diesel," Walz said.

"Our first responders are better off spending their time on training and emergency preparedness than on additional fundraising to cover skyrocketing the cost of fuel. That's why I support the SAVES Act which helps volunteer fire companies pay for the fuel to run their trucks."

Reporter  Ron Larson adds that Walz views the SAVE Act as an emergency measure and vows to pass more comprehensive legislation:

. . .However, Walz noted, in answer to a question, that it hasn't been determined as to exactly how much money will be made available to fund the act.

That's why it's important that Congress address passage of HR 6709, the National Conservation, Environment, and Energy Independence Act, a comprehensive energy bill put forward by Walz and members of the House Bipartisan Energy Working Group, into law, Walz said.

"The biggest issue is that it's the energy bill that has to solve the [volunteer fire departments' fuel] issue."

The Congressman spoke to the Los Angeles Times about the bill:

Rep. Tim Walz (D-Minn.), who supports the bill sponsored by Abercrombie and Rep. John E. Peterson (R-Pa.), called it a good compromise.

Not only does the measure "show the public that we're going to do something" about gas prices, he said, but it includes elements meant to win the support of lawmakers, like him, who are outside the oil patch and want to develop alternative energy sources in their districts.

Minnesota's First Congressional district is a leader in the nation's wind industry, as well as being a center for biofuels production and biomass research.

Walz has some surprising allies in his quest to get H.R. 6709 passed. Vote for Business, for instance, a project of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, has put out Tell Congress To Do Something About Energy Prices, an action alert urging its members to contact their representatives and urge support for the bill. Yesterday, the National Association of Manufacturers' Shopfloor blog looked at the Senate "Gang of Ten" proposals, and concluded by reminding readers of NAM President John Engler's statement in support of H.R. 6709.

Photo: Aerial view of Green Isle fire from KTSP.