Fire department needs equipment to do its job well

To the editor:

I get a sick feeling in my stomach each time I hear another story about our fire department not having the equipment needed to service our city. Who has let the department get in this shape?

I was a firefighter for many years in other communities, so I know where they are coming from. There are thousands of volunteer fire departments all over this country that have much more modern equipment than we have here.

People of Cape Girardeau, you had better wake up. We have plenty of parks. I see garbage trucks that appear to be in better shape than the equipment at our fire and police departments.

The next time a fire happens in your home or you are trapped in a tangled mess of metal, you will be depending on a trained group of great men and women using outdated equipment to come to your rescue.

One way of updating the jaws of life could be a fund raiser. Business leaders, doctors, lawyers and citizens could contribute to this cause. One old-timer used to say, "If you ever get bitten by a snake, that's not the time to find out that your snake bite kit is outdated."

SAM KELLEY

Cape Girardeau