Austin Daily Herald

"Trust" seemed to be a central theme during Monday's Austin City Council fire committee meeting.

It was decided that Fire Chief Dan Wilson will submit a list of approved educational activities that would allow fire department vehicles to be used.

Committee chair Jeanne Poppe then will review the list, which Wilson said he will submit by the end of the month.

Also, the committee reviewed a list in which emergency response vehicles can be used for official department business. They would include:

n response to department emergencies

n maintenance of the vehicles

n training activities

n approved fire safety education activities

n meals at restaurants for on-duty crew

n during severe winter weather, an on-duty crew may use a vehicle to pick up an employee coming on duty if the employee is unable to make it because of weather conditions

n emergency calls to employee's home, in which two different vehicles could be used for short-term usage

n scheduled breaks, in which department personnel could take the vehicles to a convenience store or restaurant

n civic parades and special events, including funerals of current or former firefighters.

Dan Fields can be reached at 434-2230 or by e-mail at :mailto:dan.fields@austindailyherald.com