HomeMy WebLinkAboutfire house evfc8 ITHACA JOURNAL • Thursday, Dec. 3, 1981
Erk"ifileld looks
By RICHARD WEIZEL
Journal SIGN
ENFIELD — Town board mem-
bers and Enfield firefighters met in
special session Wednesday to dis-
cuss plans for building a new fire-
house and buying a new pumper,
projects that could cost a total of
nearly a half -million dollars.
Enfield Fire Co. officials took
Town Supervisor Roger Hubbell and
town board members on a tour of the
firehouse, which officials say must
be either refurbished or replaced
While no specific date has been
discussed, Hubbell indicated today
that there is a strong likelihood that
a new firehouse will be built within
five years. He said, however, that
rising costs could delay conslrue-
o new E'rehinuse an pumper
lion, as a minimum of $"U,OOOwould due to age, must also be replaced.
be required for the firehouse alone. He estimates a new pumper could
Larry Saulsgiver, a member of the cost as much as $150,000.
fire company's board of directors, Hubbell, who is a lifetime mem-
said five years is a "practical long- ber of the fire copmany, said this
term goal," for a new firehouse and morning that "I agree with the fire
pumper in the town. company, but they are looking to the
Saulsgiver said the present fire- future.' Hubbell said that while
house, built in 1949, was constructed these needs do require attention,
with eight -foot high doors, while all "we are still in good shape to pro -
new hue equipment exceeds 10 feet vide town residents with fire protec-
in height He said that second -story hon." He said the town meets all
room space prevents possible ex- necessary fire protection standards
pansion of the height of the doors. for its size, and that the two fire
The rear wall of the firehouse has trucks presently used are operating
also begun to buckle, Saulsgiver at top efficiency. He said, however,
said, with many other small prob- that one of the trucks been used
lems beginning to develop. He also since 1949.
indicated that the 1967 model fire While acknowledging that a new
truck, which begins to lose its insur- firehouse will probably be built
once classification status next year within five years. Hubbell said he
wouldn't "dare speculate" on
whether it might be constructed
sooner.
"The way the economy is today, I
wouldn't say when we'll be able to
go ahead with these plans," he said.
"But the lines of communication
with the fire company are open, and
we'll be talking to them each
month."
Saulsgiver said today that he is
"satisfied" that the town board on -
derstands the situation. "They
seemed very receptive, though not
able ,yet to give us any firm ideas
about when we may proceed."
Saulsgiver said the fire company
has appointed a committee to re-
view specifications for a new fire
truck.