HomeMy WebLinkAboutFire Department Annual Report 1971X1971
CAYUGA HEIGHTS FIRE DEPARTMENT
VILLAGE OF CAYUGA HEIGHTS
ITHACA, NEW YORK
C
ANNUAL
REPORT
• ANNUAL REPORT
CAYUGA HEIGHTS FIRE DEPARTMENT
1971
FIRE DEPARTMENT OFFICERS
• Chief Ned G. Boice
• Assistant Chief Richard A. Vorhis
• Assistant Chief Edward C. Collins
• Assistant Chief Samuel B. Lewis
Lieutenant Gary R. Moravec
Lieutenant G. David Blampied
Lieutenant Robert D. Day
Lieutenant Harlin R. McEwen
CAYUGA HEIGHTS FIRE COMPANY #1 INC.
Captain Eugene J. Dymek
Assistant Captain Kenneth Parkinson
Secretary George R. Hanselman
Treasurer Carl H. Nelson
Warden Eugene J. Dymek
. Warden Orval C. French
*Denotes member of Fire Council
Robert D. Day
Cover photo of the communications console.
Printing of cover donated by Ithaco.
CAYUGA HEIGHTS FIRE DEPARTMENT
• 194 Pleasant Grove Road
Ithaca, New York 14850
February 9, 1972
Hon. Frederick G. Marcham, Mayor
Members of the Hoard of Trustees
Village of Cayuga Heights
Gentlemen:
In accordance with the laws governing the Fire Department I have the honor
to submit the annual report of the Fire Department for the year ending
December 31, 1971.
There has been no alarming change in our statistics for 1971. There was a
reduction of 7% in the total number of emergency responses but this can be
attributed to the fact that we no longer contract with the Town of Lansing to
protect the southern portion of that Township. We should take note of the
fact that our response to non -fire emergency calls increased by 16%. This
seems to be a general trend in the fire service but at the present level there
is no cause for alarm or changes.
• The most apparent and important improvement made during the year was the
construction of two additional bays for apparatus, a work and storage area,
and anoffice- communications room. This resulted in doubling the area of the
fire station at a total cost of about $71,000. We are happy to report that
we were able to stay within 1% of the original amount budgeted for this
improvement.
The increased area has resulted in general increased efficiency with the
department. Especially in faster response, better apparatus maintenance and
better utilization of our apparatus. An unforeseen fringe benefit of the
construction program has been an increase in use of the fire station by the
volunteers. Most any evening you can find a group of volunteers at the station,
sometimes for social purposes but most often to train or work on the apparatus.
On several occasions this has resulted in a fully manned response by the
department.
Second only to the improved building facility is the improvement in our
communications, alarm and dispatching system, three of the volunteers spent
several hundred hours in designing and constructing a console which incorporates
all of our radio, alarm and dispatching equipment into one unit and station in
the communications room. This enables one man from this location to simul-
taneously operate doors, lights, radios, siren, telephones and other alarm
equipment.
Communications with our own apparatus, other fire departments and the County
• Fire Control Center were greatly improved with the purchase and installation
of a new base radio.
• -2
A system for receiving fire alarms via leased telephone lines was installed
in cooperation with the Ithaca City School District and BOCBS. This unit will
receive alarms automatically from area schools at any time the school alarm
system is activated. It is possible to connect anyone interested to this system
via leased telephone line, any individual, church, business or other organization
interested should contact the fire chief.
•
The tremendous contribution of our volunteers often goes unnoticed. Our statistics
show that the minimum response to any alarm during the year was eight men to a
car fire. This is the equivalent of a paid department of 32 men. If we had
replaced our volunteers with paid melt in 1971 our payroll costs for equivalent
minimum response would have been about $320,000. The statistics show that our
average response was over 17 men each time the alerting devices were used.
Payroll costs to provide this response with paid men would be astronomical.
Our department is always in need of more active volunteers. If you know of
anyone interested in becoming a volunteer fireman, please have them contact any
member of our company.
On behalf of the volunteers I wish to thank you for your continued support and
understanding of our needs and hope that 1972 will be as safe in the terms of
fire safety as was the year 1971.
Respectfully submitted,
Ned G. Boice
Fire Chief
All figures in parenthesis are 1970
figures.
Total emergency responses in 1971 -
114 (123)
•
Classification and number of alarms
of fire:
Total
65 (82)
Classification Village
Fire Contract Area
Schools, churches
and multiple residences 3
(1)
4
(5)
Dwellings 9
(7)
2
(5)
Commercial 1
(6)
X
(4)
Vehicles 11
(6)
3
(5)
Outdoor 9
(5)
5
(15)
Malicious false bomb threats 1
(3)
X
X
Mutual aid 12
(5)
X
X
Good intent false 5
(15)
X
X
51
(48)
14
(34)
During 1970 fire contract area also
included
Lansing
area. 1971 is for Town
of Ithaca only.
•
Responses not classified as alarms of fire:
Total 49 - 133 Manhours (41
- 86 Manhours)
Appliance malfunctions
2
(3)
Smoke in area
13
(7)
Flammable liquid spills
3
(3)
Flooding
3
(3)
Wires down
1
(6)
Fire alarm malfunctions
2
(1)
Assist Village work force
2
(4)
Assist police
4
(6)
Lockouts
5
(2)
Medical emergency
4
(X)
•
Trapped animal
5
(X)
Miscellaneous
5
(6)
49
(41)
-4-
Mutual Aid:
To
Lansing Fire Department
10
(3)
To
Ithaca Fire Department
X
(1)
• To
To
Varna Fire Department
Freeville Fire Department
X
2
1
X
12
5
Mutual Aid received by our Department
X
(1)
r, -I
U
Assessed Valuation of area protected: 65 million dollars plus contents and
possessions
Population of area protected: 6409
Estimated fire losses: Villa e Contract area Town of Ithaca only
$3,000 11,000) 1,290 21500
Total fire losses 1971 - $43290 ($539500)
Response:
Average turnout per alarm when all alerting devices used - 17.5 men (17.5)
Smallest response - 8 men
Largest response - 36 men
Manhours:
On fire ground 508 (1095)
Training 1225 (1033)
Other responses 133 (86)
Standby 347 (144)
Injuries sustained: Civilians 1 (2)
Firemen X (2)
The department also assisted at the scene of 5 fatal incidents which were:
Drownings 3
Medical 2
Department manpower:
Active members 60 (75)
Stand -bys called for protection of residents: 3 (2)
-5-
Method of extinguishment: (total will exceed number of alarms, more than
one method is used at some alarms)
12 No fire
22 Out on arrival
13 Fire extinguishers
5 False alarms
5 Other (brooms, shovels, etc.)
15 Booster lines
2 One and one half inch hose
3 Two and one half inch hose
Fire causes:
Unattended children
4
(1)
Improper use, maintenance or
condition of appliances,
heating plants, etc.
9
(11)
No fire
13
(18)
Known accidental
14
(8)
Suspicious or under
investigation
1
(5)
Faulty fuel system on vehicle
2
(4)
Motor vehicle accident
3
(4
Storm damage
3
6
Undetermined
3
3
Unattended or out of control
intentional burning
1
(11)
Miscellaneous
Mutual aid
X
12
(6)
(5
-'G5
.
(u2)
Departmental Training:
Number of drills 46 (45)
Six men completed the N.Y.S. course in Essentials of Firemanship.
Nine men attended an 8 hour seminar on Fire Fighting Tactics at Montour Falls
Fire Training Academy. Fees paid by the fire company.
Several men also attended a bomb school sponsored by U.S. Army Ordinance.
Fire Police received special training in two lessons held at our fire station,
which were sponsored by the N.Y.S. Division of Fire Safety and instructed by
Sgt. H. McEwen.
Several firemen attended one or more of the lessons of a 12 lesson course in
Essentials of Firemanship held in our new fire station and sponsored by the
N.Y.S. Division of Fire Safety.
• The fire chief attended a 3 -day seminar for chief officers in command and
tactics at Middletown, N.Y. Registration fees and expenses of $150 were paid
.by the fire company.
In addition to the above scheduled training events many of the volunteers train
in small groups or as individuals at various times during each month.
-6-
Department Vehicles:
Responses Engine Miles Fuel
Oar 1 93 (75 12825 344 gallons
• Engine 1 27 (30 2,086 800 "
Engine 2 34 (51 1)153 336 "
Engine 3 8 5 1 1733 279 "
1=2 (1 1 6537 11759 gallons
Repairs and maintenance:
Mostly routine preventative maintenance. The most costly individual
items being a transmission repair on E -1 and new batteries for E -1 and E-2.
Use of a local service man (Phil Mente) seems to be more satisfactory and
more economical than our former arrangement with American LaFrance.
We are required by the NYFPRO to have two 1,000 GPM pumpers and one
fully equipped ladder truck. All pumpers are considered as reserve units
after a maximum of 15 years, We are required to have at least one reserve
unit not over 20 years old.
Present status:
Vehicle 1st line until reserve until
Engine 1,1968 -1,000 GPM pumper 1983 1988
Engine 2, 1960 -750 GPM pumper 1975 1980
• Engine 3, 1954 - 500 GPM pumper Expired 1974
From the above chart it is apparent that we do not meet the NYFPRO
standards for apparatus, being down one pumper of 1,000 GPM capacity and
not having a ladder truck in service. The fire council is considering
this problem and will soon make a recommendation to the Village Board
to bring the department up to standards.
Fire prevention:
Fire prevention activity for 1971 consisted of 21 fire inspections,
7 tours of the fire station by-a total of 680 persons, 3 lecture -
demonstrations attended by 160 persons and the distribution of over 7,000
fire prevention pamphlets and posters.
A new service offered this year is a lecture - demonstration on fire
extinguishers using material acquired for that purpose this year.
Fire Chief manhours:
Alarms and Standby 109 hours
• Drills and Training 130 "
Fire Prevention, inspection 152 "
Investigation 9 "
Administration 883 "
17293 hours
-7-
Fire Council:
The fire council met on nine occasions in 1971. The primary items of
business being the construction program, outside fire protection districts)
• fire alarm systems and apparatus requirements.
New Equipment:
Hose Drier
Fire Alarm System
5 Home Monitors
Page Boy Pocket Monitor
Smoke Ejector
Hose Jacket
500' 12 inch hose
Office Equipment
Siameze
Wye
Quick Action Hose
Rescue Saw
Battery Charger
2 Foam Nozzles
Pitot Gage
Communications Console
•
15 Turnout Coats
15 Helmets
15 Pair Boots
Fire Police Equipment
Radio Base Unit
Radio Scanner
Portable Generator
Fire Extinguishers for Station
-8-