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HomeMy WebLinkAboutFire Department Report for March 1972CAYUGA HEIGHTS FIRE DEPT. REPORT FOR MARCH 1972 . The department responded to four alarms of fire and nine assists during the month. All were of routine nature and fire loss is estimated at 4600 for the month. Inspections made were: 3/17 Cayuga Heights School - Electrical Vault 3/21 BOCES - Flammable liquid storage Fire Prevention Activities were: 3/7 Lecture and demonstration at Northeast School - Kindergarten - Mrs. Schaffner - A.M. 18 children, P.M. 23 children 3/21 Lecture and demonstration at BOCES - the two hour session covered - Safety in Schools, Fire Extinguishers, and School Inspection Requirements. Attending were 50 area school custodians. 3/23 The A.M. and P.M. kindergarten classes (Miss Kelly) toured the fire station. A.M. 24 children, P.M. 21 children. 3/26 Open house at the fire station - it is estimated that between 300 to 400 persons of all ages toured the station. Members of the Fire Council met on March 16 with Mr. A. Douglas of the NYFPRO. At this meeting the following things were determined: A. It is not necessary to replace pumpers because of age alone. The determining factor is being able to pass or be repaired to pass a standard test at rated capacity. As long as a pumper can pass this test it will be rated and credit will be given. It appears we gained several points by placing Engine 3 back in service in 1970. B. Our most critical need at present is for a fully equipped ladder truck. • C. Our present daytime response of 10 or less men (below our average of 17 men) and much less than the required 21 men must be improved at once. D. The improvements made in the Fire Department since the last survey in 1969 will enable us to maintain our present AA -C insurance rating and the proposed change indicated by the 1969 survey will not be placed into effect until such time as we have had a reasonable chance to place a fully equipped ladder truck in service, improve our daytime response and the Village has time to upgrade the water system to standards. The proposed rate was a change to BB -CC -C. E. The drop in rating for the community from class 4 to class 5 and the drop in rating for the Fire Department from class 5 to class 6 was the deter- mination in 1969 that we were deficient in pumper capacity (since corrected by placing Engine 3 back in service), we needed a fully equipped ladder truck, department training and administration was poor (since corrected), we lacked a substantial amount of equipment and hose (being corrected), manpower was seriously deficient (improved but still not good), and the fact that the Village water system was seriously deficient particularly in the Mitchell Street Pressure Zone (hydrants identified as M -- on the hydrant map). The Fire Council has from time to time and will in the future make recommendations to correct the deficiencies in the Fire Department. On May 1, 1972 the County Fire Coordinators Office will take over manning and operation of the County Fire Control Center from the City of Ithaca Fire Department. • At this point the City will no longer be able to fulfill its part of the contract we now have to answer the fire phone extension at Central Fire Headquarters. The County will assume this responsibility at no charge to the Village. As in the past we will still be responsible for charges by the telephone company for the phone service. Ned G. Boice, Fire Chief