(Jan. 19, 2017) More than three-dozen affected citizens, town residents and local officials attended an information session hosted by the Snow Hill Fire Company last Wednesday concerning the addition of another station north of town.
“The big thing we’re looking for is to get the ball rolling. We’re looking for land anyone is willing to sell or lease to us,” Fire Chief Trey Heiser said.
The fire company had a list of 10 properties Heiser said they were already interested in, in the Nassawango Hills area — preferably between Iron Furnace and Millville roads.
Fire Co. member Jeff Page said the department envisioned a two-bay station featuring a pull-through design with a small bunk room and living quarters. The plan calls for a 4,800-square-foot footprint.
Heiser said he expects the new facility to cost about $335,000 plus the cost of the land, site work and associated fees, and the company would seek donations and perhaps a loan to finance the development of the station.
The company would not be seeking a contribution from the town, Heiser said.
Responding to an audience question, the current design does not call for a fire whistle, and the reason for the pull-through design is to reduce noise from back-up alarms as equipment returns to the station.
Heiser said his fire company has one of the largest service areas in the state at 138 square miles. As most of it is rural, there are a limited number of routes available to certain places.
In 2014 the National Fire Protection Agency released an updated standard for the organization and deployment of fire suppression, emergency medical and special operations by volunteer fire departments. According to that standard, volunteer fire departments should be able to respond with six emergency-personnel within 14 minutes to a rural area, which is defined as less than 500 people per square mile. The goal should be met 80 percent of the time, according to the standard.
The distance from the current and only station to some of the farthest points in its district, Heiser said, is 15 miles, creating a virtual lock on failing the standard for that call.
A new station at the north end, and closer to some personnel who already live in the area, would help the company meet the standards. Heiser hoped it would also aid in recruitment.
“There used to be a waiting list for membership,” he said. “We currently have 17 openings.”
The additional station would also come in handy during weather events, like the flooding last fall.
During the flooding, call volume doubled while access to the response area was halved because of the washout at Snow Hill Road, which took about a month to reopen to traffic. The fire company used an unorthodox, but all-too-familiar tactic for members to serve the area, despite limited access.
“We stationed a truck and an ambulance at my parents’ house and had personnel there,” Heiser said.
“The big thing we’re looking for is to get the ball rolling. We’re looking for land anyone is willing to sell or lease to us,” Fire Chief Trey Heiser said.
The fire company had a list of 10 properties Heiser said they were already interested in, in the Nassawango Hills area — preferably between Iron Furnace and Millville roads.
Fire Co. member Jeff Page said the department envisioned a two-bay station featuring a pull-through design with a small bunk room and living quarters. The plan calls for a 4,800-square-foot footprint.
Heiser said he expects the new facility to cost about $335,000 plus the cost of the land, site work and associated fees, and the company would seek donations and perhaps a loan to finance the development of the station.
The company would not be seeking a contribution from the town, Heiser said.
Responding to an audience question, the current design does not call for a fire whistle, and the reason for the pull-through design is to reduce noise from back-up alarms as equipment returns to the station.
Heiser said his fire company has one of the largest service areas in the state at 138 square miles. As most of it is rural, there are a limited number of routes available to certain places.
In 2014 the National Fire Protection Agency released an updated standard for the organization and deployment of fire suppression, emergency medical and special operations by volunteer fire departments. According to that standard, volunteer fire departments should be able to respond with six emergency-personnel within 14 minutes to a rural area, which is defined as less than 500 people per square mile. The goal should be met 80 percent of the time, according to the standard.
The distance from the current and only station to some of the farthest points in its district, Heiser said, is 15 miles, creating a virtual lock on failing the standard for that call.
A new station at the north end, and closer to some personnel who already live in the area, would help the company meet the standards. Heiser hoped it would also aid in recruitment.
“There used to be a waiting list for membership,” he said. “We currently have 17 openings.”
The additional station would also come in handy during weather events, like the flooding last fall.
During the flooding, call volume doubled while access to the response area was halved because of the washout at Snow Hill Road, which took about a month to reopen to traffic. The fire company used an unorthodox, but all-too-familiar tactic for members to serve the area, despite limited access.
“We stationed a truck and an ambulance at my parents’ house and had personnel there,” Heiser said.