HomeMy WebLinkAboutFire Department Annual Report Feb 1974IL
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CAYUGA HEIGHTS FIRE DEPARTMENT
194 Pleasant Grove Road
Ithaca, New York
February 26, 1974
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,
1973.
There was practically no change in the number of emergency responses during 1973.
The department responded to 99 alarms of fire and 26 other requests for assistance.
Fire loss stayed at the same low level of the past few years, less than $5,000.
Some of the major improvements within the department during 1973 were:
Signing of a long term fire protection contract with the Town of Ithaca for
fire protection in the Northeast portion of the Town.
Preplanning of major apparatus purchases so that modern apparatus will be
purchased on a regular basis without the expense of bonding such purchases. This
• program in part is made possible by contracting with the Town of Ithaca to protect
the Northeast area.
Our telephone number for reporting of fires was intergraded with the new
county system so that a person may dial 273 -8000 from any place in the county and
reach the proper fire department.
A fire prevention code was adopted by the Village of Cayuga Heights.
A program of fire inspection of all commercial and multiple residences was
instituted.
Plans and specifications for a special ladder truck, designed to fill our
special needs, were bid and the new truck will be delivered in 1974 at the moderate
cost of $502000.
The year did not pass without problems. The major problem was the accident which
severely damaged our first run pumper. Very fortunately, no fireman was injured
but the pumper was out of service for about four months. During the interim our
reserve pumper was placed in first line service.
The most immediate and chronic problem facing the department is the severe shortage
of daytime manpower. Since we are a bedroom community most of our manpower is
at work during daytime hours.
The only practical solution to the problem is to increase the number of active
• members in our department. This means a firm commitment from all qualified
residents in the community. It simply is not fair for the rest of the community
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• to expect that the very few available volunteers during working hours are capable
of handling all incidents which may occur. We desperately need daytime manpower.
On behalf of the volunteers I wish to thank you for your continuing support and
understanding of our needs and hope that 1974 will be as safe in the terms of
fire safety as was the year 1973.
Respectfully submitted,
Ned G. Boice
Fire Chief
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