HomeMy WebLinkAboutbuilding evfc new building_0001 (2)ENFIELD VOLUNTEER FIRE COMPANY
The Enfield Vol. Fire Co. would first like to thank all the town residents who turned out to support our recent Field
Days. We would like to extend our special thanks to those who 'pitched in' to help by working or donating material.
All of this support was needed and made the event a success, and h is very much appreciated.
For the last seven years this department has been working on plans for a new fire station. It has become very obvious
that many residents either don't understand the need for as new fire station, or are being mislead as to the new plans
The original station was built in 1948. If consisted of two truck bays with 8 ft. high overhead doors, and a small hall
upstairs. An addition was later added sometime in the 50's, expanding the station to 4 truck bays and an additional h:
area. In the early 70's lt was again expanded, which consisted of two large truck bays with 12 ft. high overhead doors
However this last expansion consumed the last of the property owned by the Fire Dept. This was only one of the
many problems that would begin hampering the Fire depts. efforts to expand to needs of the community.
The 8ft. high overhead doors in the original fire station, were now too small to socomodate the larger and more
modern fire apparatuses. k wasn't until 1977 when both spaces in large addition became occupied, that the
Department was confronted with the problem. We knew that by 1983 we would have to purchase a pumper to
replace the 1948 Chevrolet Pumper that was begining to show signs of its age. In 1980 a building committee was
formed to investigate plans for renovating the present station and plans for building a new one. After meeting with
town officials and several building contractors h was decided by all the involved parties that renovations would be too
expensive and that new construction would be a more permanent solution. Many plans and cost estimates have
been proposed since then, but we continue to fail to gain support from the Town Board as to the cost.
During all this deliberation, the 1948 Chevrolet Pumper finally failed us, forcing us to purchase a replacement. The
only apparatus that our 8ft. door would be able to accomodate, is one that was built prior to 1968. We were lucky
enough to find a 1967 American LaFrance Pumper , and that the members totally refurbished the apparatus in order
to make it reliable. However, this apparatus is 20 years old and cannot be expected to last forever. How many 1967
Chevrolets or Fords do you see on the road today? The membership remained optimistic that a new station would bf
built and purchased 7 acres of land behind the present station from fund raising monies.
Recently we have seen a rapid increase in the need for rescue services. Even though we have been able to keep
up with the basic life support equipment needed to provide our community with the best medical services possible,
there is a need for many more lice support items. this has become impossible because our rescue truck also doubles
as a fire truck and is extremely overloaded at the present time. We have had many opportunities to purchase late
model used rescue vehicles at very reasonable costs, but have had to turn them down because of height problems.
We have also been confonted with the problem of not having a facility to train our members. These problems once
again forced us to the drawing boards to device yet another plan. The plan was to construct a pole barn type structur
that would be done by Morton Buildings. The building was to have a 66 ft. by 7011. apparatus room, 24 ft. by 42 ft.
maintenance shop, and a 52 ft. by 48 ft. area for training, meetings, bathrooms, offices ect... The total cost would
have been $325,000. After meeting with the membership if was decided that we could reduce costs by about
$100,000 if we donated our labor and provide materials from fund raising monies. This was presented to the Town
Board and was again met with opposition.
Feeling that we were once again at a dead end the building committee fell that a temporary renovation to the present
station would have to be done. Two plans were drawn up, but both plans would eliminate the present hall area. At
that time many organizations were using the hall area, including the Enfield Community Council, which provide
excellent youth programs for our children. These organizations were forced into finding other facilities. After a
couple of months in trying to find alternative housing, it was realized that there is no available space in this area. In
attempt to solve this problem the Enfield Community Council, Fire Department, and town officials met together. The
end result was a plan that was very favorable to the ECC, Fire Department, and some of the own officials. The plan
was to construct a new fire station at a maximum cost of $225,000, and after the construction was completed the
present fire station would be donated to the Town of Enfield to be used for community needs. All plans are pretty
much in place. The only thing needed is the approval of the Fire budget. This plan would increase the annual budgr
by approximately $16,500. It will show as an increase in the Fire budget but in reality it will be benefiting both the Fire
Department and the entire Enfield Community. The construction of a new fire station in Enfield is inevitable.
However, I feel that this latest plan is the best plan possible. The Enfield Volunteer Fire Company and the Enfield
community Council are asking for your support in this very important pint veAture. Call the Town Supervisor or any
Town Board member and voice your support. Better yet attend the next Town Board Meeting to show your support.
Denny Hubbell
Fire Chief