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ANNUAL REPORT
CAYUGA HEIGHTS FIRE DEPARTMENT
1972
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 Robert F. Bensin
Lieutenant Robert D. Day
Lieutenant Harlin R. McEwen
CAYUGA HEIGHTS FIRE COMPANY #1 INC.
Captain Nelson E. Greer
• Assistant Captain Rane F. Randolph
Secretary George R. Hanselman
Treasurer Carl H. Nelson
* Warden Eugene J. Dymek
* Warden Ronald E. Anderson
*Denotes member of Fire Council
RESIDENT DRIVER
Robert D. Day
RESIDENT BUNKER
Samuel B. Lewis
•
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CAYUGA HEIGHTS FIRE DEPARTMENT
194 Pleasant Grove Road
Ithaca, New York
February 27, 1973
Hon. Frederick G. Marcham, Mayor
Members of the Board 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, 1972.
The year was mostly routine for the department with little or no change in the
number of fire alarms or amount of fire loss from 1971. Our responses to incidents
not classified as alarms of fire increased from 49 in 1971 to 72 in 1972. About 15
of these were flood related and the rest are indicative of the growing national
trend to call on the fire department for non -fire emergencies.
The department's most critical need is for manpower. Particularly manpower to
respond during "working hours ". The acceptable response to structural alarms for
our area is about 20 men. Our "working hour" response averages about 10 men.
Initial response, those first critical few minutes at any fire, is sometimes as
low as 2 or 3 men during "working hours ". Nights, weekends and holidays response
is usually well above the 20 men minimum indicating willingness on the part of the
• volunteers to respond when available. Unfortunately, the need is for more than
"warm bodies" to appear on the fire scene, the men responding must be trained
firemen if they are to be of any use. It is becoming more and more difficult to
recruit and retain volunteers who are willing to spend the necessary time to train,
learning and practicing the skills required of the modern firefighter.
40
Since it is just a matter of time until our luck runs out and we suffer a major
loss of property and /or life simply because our initial response during "working
hours" was only 2 or 3 men when we needed more, I take this opportunity to spread
the word throughout the Village and Town of Ithaca Fire Protection District that
the Fire Company NEEDS enough new members to more than double its present active
membership of 56 men. It stands to reason that if we can turn out 10 men to "working
hour" alarms with a membership of 56 we should turn out the needed 20 with twice as
many members.
On behalf of the volunteers I wish to thank you for your continuing support and
understanding of our needs and hope that 1973 will be as safe in the terms of fire
safety as was the year 1972.
Respectfully submitted,
Ned G. Boice
Fire Chief
A11 figures in parenthesis are.1971 figures.
TOTAL EMERGENCY RESPONSES IN 1972 - 132 (114).
Classification and number of alarms of fire: Total 6o (65)
• Classification Village Town of Ithaca
Schools, Churches and
Multiple Residences 4 (3) 7 (4)
Dwellings
Commercial
Vehicles
Outdoor
Malicious False
Accidental False
Good Intent False
Mutual Aid
2 (9)
2
(2)
1 (1)
X
(X)
3 (11)
2
(3)
7 (9)
4
(5)
1 (1)
1
(X)
9 7
1 (5)
9 (12)
37 (51)
X (X)
X (X)
23 (14)
• Responses to incidents not classified as alarms of fire: Total 72 (49)
Classification
Village
Town
Mutual Aid
Appliance Malfunctions
2 (2)
X
1
Smoke in Area
8 (13)
4
1
Flammable Liquid Spills
4 (3)
1
1
Flooding
8 (3)
7
X
Wires Down
3 (1)
2
X
Fire Alarm Malfunctions
6 (2)
1
X
Assist Village DEW
3 (2)
X
X
Assist Police
3 (4)
X
X
Lockouts
X (5)
X
X
Medical Emergency
1 (4)
3
X
Trapped Animal
1 (5)
2
X
• Lost Person
1 (X)
2
1
Miscellaneous
3 (5)
2
1
Total
43 (49)
24
5
Total 72
Mutual Aid:
To Lansing Fire Department 9 (10).
To other departments X (2)
Received by our department: From Ithaca Fire Department 1
From Varna Fire Department 1
2 (X)
Assessed Valuation of area protected: 74 million dollars plus contents and
possessions.
Population of area protected: 64o9
Estimated fire losses: Vill a Town of Ithaca Total
3,1 0 35 $3,795
(31000) (1,290) (4,290)
Response of Volunteers:
Average turnout per alarm: 15 men (17.5)
Smallest response: 4 men (8)
Largest response: 30 men (36)
Manhours:
On Fire Ground 433 (508)
Training 1050 (1225)
Incidents 120 (133)
Standby 346 (347)
1949 2213
Injuries sustained: Civilians X (1)
Firemen 1 (X)
The department also assisted at 2 fatal incidents both of which were medical
emergencies.
Manpower: Active Members 56 (60)
Standbys called (Snow emergency, Halloween): 2 (3)
Department Vehicles:
Responses
Miles
Fuel
Repairs
Tires
Car 1 . 96
(93)
1,286
,(1 ,825
295.7
(344)
79.60
X
Engine 1 32
(27)
1,731
(2,086;
563.2
(800)
266.46
446.76
Engine 2 27
(34)
12224
(13153)
331.2
(336)
352.31
X
Engine 3 22
( 8)
566
(1,173)
1. 63.3
27
146.10
257.24
177
(162)
4,807
(6,237)
12353.4
(1759)
844.47
7o4.00
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Method of Extinguishment:
8 Out on arrival
* 11 Fire extinguishers
• 5 Other (brooms, shovels, etc.)
19 Booster lines
2 One and one -half inch hose
2 Two and one -half inch hose
3 Three inch hose
On five of these alarms someone had successfully used a hand portable
fire extinguisher to extinguish or control the fire prior to the
arrival of the fire department.
Fire Causes:
Unattended children
2
(4)
Improper use, maintenance or
condition of appliances,
heating plants, etc.
8
(9)
No fire
22
13)
Known accidental
4
�14)
Arson or suspected arson
2
(1)
Vehicle fuel system
2
(2)
Motor vehicle accident
1
(3)
Storm damage
5
(3)
Undetermined
1
(3)
Unattended or out of control
• intentional burning
X
1)
Electrical
4
X)
Mutual Aid
9
(12)
Departmental Training:
Number of Drills 23 (46)
There were 650 man hours in regular company training at drills. This is a
reduction from prior years since the drill frequency was reduced from four company
drills each month to two regularly scheduled drills. This action was taken because
attendance was poor at each drill when four were scheduled and there were never
enough volunteers in attendance at drills to execute planned evolutions.
In addition to regular drills 3 men completed the 36 hour course in Essentials
of Firemanship, 7 men completed the Pump Operators Course and 5 men completed the
Arson Investigation Course as they were offered during the year by the New York State
Office for Local Government.
Two men attended a two -day Training Officers Workshop at the N.Y.S. Fire
Training Academy and the Chief attended a two day school sponsored by Niagara
Mohawk on haw to handle emergencies involving gas and electric installations of
utilities.
Fire Police trained under the direction of Police Chief Mcfiwen for an additional
88 hours, this included a 9 hour course and two drill sessions.
In addition to the scheduled training events many of the volunteers spent
unrecorded hours training in small groups or as individuals using the facilities
of the department.
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Fire Prevention:
Fire prevention activity for 1972 consisted of 47 inspections during which
184 separate fire hazards were discovered. About half of these hazards or violations
. of good practice as concerns fire safety have been corrected by the responsible
persons, the rest are either in the process of being corrected or the owner has
chosen to ignore the recommendations of the inspector. The Fire Prevention Code
which is scheduled to be approved by the Board of Trustees early in 1973 should
enable us to insist on corrections of hazards when the owner chooses to ignore
good safety practices.
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There were 8 tours of the fire station by various groups such as scouts, school
classes, etc. A total of 572 persons took part in these tours. There were 4
lecture demonstrations given by the fire chief to a total audience of 116 persons.
These lecture- demonstrations dealt with fire safety and use of hand portable fire
extinguishers.
Fire Chief manhours: (does not include volunteered time)
Alarms and Standbys 94
Drills and Training 122
Inspection 235
Fire Prevention 24
Investigation 10
Administration 687
1,172 hours total
Fire Council:
The Fire Council met on nine occasions in 1972. The primary items of business
being equipment purchases, the Town of Ithaca Fire Protection Contract, scheduling
of apparatus purchases, fire hydrants in the Village, and making a final recommen-
dation to the Board of Trustees for a ladder truck.
Equipment purchased during 1972:
Air Alerting Horn and Compressor (replaces old sirens)
A set of Training Manuals
New Encoder for monitor alerting system
New Resuscitator (replaces 12 year old model)
Heavy Duty Bolt Cutters
2 Spare Air Tanks for Air Paks
3800 Watt Generator for emergency power at the fire station
New refrigerator for resident driver's apartment
Parts to convert 2 non - approved Air Paks to approved Air Paks
Flagpole (materials only - construction by volunteers)
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