To those voting yes, I'm curious to know what your reasoning is. Not saying it's right or wrong, just curious. I'm also curious to know if you're a volunteer firefighter, or just a community member.
*anything posted by me on the Batavian reflects my own personal views, and not necessarily the views of any agency or organization I may be affiliated with*
I don't know about any OTHER fire departments, but the Alabama Volunteer Fire Department is a well-run organization. It's run by dedicated and THRIFTY people who are my neighbors - and who CARE about the community and the people in it. It should be up to THEM - the people who VOLUNTEER their time whether or not to merge with another department. I am ABSOLUTELY SURE that if it would benefit the people in the community, that they would do it. They're my neighbors. I TRUST MY NEIGHBORS.
The question is should "SOME" consolidate, so I voted yes.
But, it should be up to the departments, they are private organizations. If a vol. department can not staff or fund their company, then let them decide what to do.
I would agree with Irene, Alabama does a good job, as does the Town of Batavia. God Bless all volunteers that are willing to risk their lives to save someone else's. They deserve our appreciation and support.
Thinking that you can force two independent organizations to merge just because they are funded by tax money is at best shortsighted. Trying to decrease their funding if they don't is dangerous to the public. Every fire company wether paid or volunteer has to meet certain standards not only for training but for home owners fire insurance. There are four fire company's in the town of Pembroke. Several years ago we met to discuss the idea of merging the districts. The sole intention was for financial reasons. The biggest obstacle is convincing members that they will not loose their identity.
One town, three fire districts (one a former village company). There are many differences in each and every company in the county. Most run EMS, some do not. Some have transporting ambulances,most do not. ALL need to raise extra funds to supplement their budget. Right now my company is trying to replace almost 20 year old accident extraction equipment (jaws of life) It will cost over $20,000 and we are committed to raising the money our selves so NOT ONE PENNY of tax money is used.
A new class A, triple or quad fire engine with 1000 gallons of water and a 1000 gpm pump costs at minimum $250,000. A new ladder truck today will cost upwards of $1,000,000 (yes million) dollars. A new Rescue Truck, any were from $90,000 to $300,000. Almost every fire department has to have a Water Tender (Tanker) ours has 2000 gallons of water and a 1500 gpm pump. Now add on $150,000 in equipment for EACH vehicle. To outfit ONE interior firefighter today is over $5000. Almost every single pice of EMS equipment is disposable. Im not against pooling district funds if it can help out the tax levee. I have to pay them too. In todays world more than ever, all Volunteer Fire Departments need to rely on and help each other out. I am not against the idea but it needs a long, long, look, planning and new ideas before it would ever happen.
Im a 32 year member of the Corfu Rescue Hook & Ladder Company #1 and current assistant chief of the Corfu Fire District and I voted yes to (some)
The funny thing about Fire Department funding whether paid or volunteer, is that it is always an easy target for cost cutting, that is until someone is trapped in a burning house or pinned under an overturned car or when someone wanders out into a fast moving stream.
I voted yes, (Some should merge) but cost is only one reason, avaiable 24/7 volunteers may be another. If we were talking obvious waste of tax payers dollars then sure, funding might be a consideration, but few that I have seen volunteer Fire departments have a lot of money to waste. The real answer might well be find a way to send less money to the Fed or State, so a larger percentage of tax dollars stay home where they should be.
To those voting yes, I'm
To those voting yes, I'm curious to know what your reasoning is. Not saying it's right or wrong, just curious. I'm also curious to know if you're a volunteer firefighter, or just a community member.
*anything posted by me on the Batavian reflects my own personal views, and not necessarily the views of any agency or organization I may be affiliated with*
I don't know about any OTHER
I don't know about any OTHER fire departments, but the Alabama Volunteer Fire Department is a well-run organization. It's run by dedicated and THRIFTY people who are my neighbors - and who CARE about the community and the people in it. It should be up to THEM - the people who VOLUNTEER their time whether or not to merge with another department. I am ABSOLUTELY SURE that if it would benefit the people in the community, that they would do it. They're my neighbors. I TRUST MY NEIGHBORS.
The question is should "SOME"
The question is should "SOME" consolidate, so I voted yes.
But, it should be up to the departments, they are private organizations. If a vol. department can not staff or fund their company, then let them decide what to do.
I would agree with Irene,
I would agree with Irene, Alabama does a good job, as does the Town of Batavia. God Bless all volunteers that are willing to risk their lives to save someone else's. They deserve our appreciation and support.
Thinking that you can force
Thinking that you can force two independent organizations to merge just because they are funded by tax money is at best shortsighted. Trying to decrease their funding if they don't is dangerous to the public. Every fire company wether paid or volunteer has to meet certain standards not only for training but for home owners fire insurance. There are four fire company's in the town of Pembroke. Several years ago we met to discuss the idea of merging the districts. The sole intention was for financial reasons. The biggest obstacle is convincing members that they will not loose their identity.
One town, three fire districts (one a former village company). There are many differences in each and every company in the county. Most run EMS, some do not. Some have transporting ambulances,most do not. ALL need to raise extra funds to supplement their budget. Right now my company is trying to replace almost 20 year old accident extraction equipment (jaws of life) It will cost over $20,000 and we are committed to raising the money our selves so NOT ONE PENNY of tax money is used.
A new class A, triple or quad fire engine with 1000 gallons of water and a 1000 gpm pump costs at minimum $250,000. A new ladder truck today will cost upwards of $1,000,000 (yes million) dollars. A new Rescue Truck, any were from $90,000 to $300,000. Almost every fire department has to have a Water Tender (Tanker) ours has 2000 gallons of water and a 1500 gpm pump. Now add on $150,000 in equipment for EACH vehicle. To outfit ONE interior firefighter today is over $5000. Almost every single pice of EMS equipment is disposable. Im not against pooling district funds if it can help out the tax levee. I have to pay them too. In todays world more than ever, all Volunteer Fire Departments need to rely on and help each other out. I am not against the idea but it needs a long, long, look, planning and new ideas before it would ever happen.
Im a 32 year member of the Corfu Rescue Hook & Ladder Company #1 and current assistant chief of the Corfu Fire District and I voted yes to (some)
The funny thing about Fire
The funny thing about Fire Department funding whether paid or volunteer, is that it is always an easy target for cost cutting, that is until someone is trapped in a burning house or pinned under an overturned car or when someone wanders out into a fast moving stream.
I voted yes, (Some should merge) but cost is only one reason, avaiable 24/7 volunteers may be another. If we were talking obvious waste of tax payers dollars then sure, funding might be a consideration, but few that I have seen volunteer Fire departments have a lot of money to waste. The real answer might well be find a way to send less money to the Fed or State, so a larger percentage of tax dollars stay home where they should be.