Westhampton Fire Department Informational presentation May 2016

Department Overview Public Safety Complex Police/Fire/EMS Original structure built in 1948 with additions completed over the year

Personnel 35 Volunteer members 12 EMT’s Emergency Response House numbers School Education Smoke/CO detectors Fire Extinguisher training Inspections Car seat installations Trainings Chimney Cleanings

Apparatus

Engine 1 2004 Engine Carries 1000 gallons water Compressed air foam system Carries extrication equipment Ground ladders Supply hose Self contained breathing apparatus

Engine 2 1987 Engine (29 years old) 500 Gallons of water Self contained breathing apparatus Supply hose Refurbished this vehicle this year New seals and packings around the pump and valves Upgraded all lights Added some lights for safety of personnel Improved compartment space and carrying capacity Prolong life of unit for 8-10 yrs.

Rescue 1 2009 Custom made and designed Rescue equipment Water rescue equipment Hazardous materials response EMS supplies Chain saws Spare air cylinders Ancillary equipment $74,000 appropriation-valued and insured at $125,000

Brush 1 2004 Brush truck Forestry unit 300 gallons water 4X4 Used as Utility vehicle

Tanker 1 1990 Vehicle Converted vehicle- Garbage truck/milk truck 3000 gallons water Portable pump added to vehicle 2015 Grant award $226,000 Delivery Fall 2016

Air Unit Air supply Generator Light tower 2009 unit that was obtained free from a federal grant for $80,000

Ambulance 1996 Ambulance FF Association purchased from Easthampton for $3,000 and sold to Town for $1 Licensed at the Basic Life Support level

Other Capital Items

Self Contained Breathing Apparatus New units in 2014 15 Units & 5 spare training units Facepieces FF Safety Used in area IDLH Purchased with $124,000 grant

Thermal Imaging Camera Grant funded in 2008 $15,000 Used for increasing safety of FF’s and finding victims in smoke filled buildings Department has 1 kept on Engine 1

Fire Hose Approximately 13,000 feet of assorted hose sizes Some in reserves Required on apparatus Service tested every year per NFPA standard Standard states any hose older than 1987 needs to be replaced

Vehicle extrication equipment Grant funded in 2008 for about $35,000 Service tested every years Motor vehicle accidents Rescues Carried on Engine 1 & Rescue

Communications Pagers Portables Mobiles Primary means of emergency notifications Every members has portable radio-FF safety Pagers- $400, portable $900, mobiles $1,500 Upgrades made from $6,000 grant in 2014

Protective Equipment Grant funded for 30 sets in 2008 Total amount $110,000 Each member has two sets NFPA standard states cannot have gear more than ten years old

Stretcher 2014 – obtained through a $13,000 grant Annual service required Required in ambulance

Stair Chair 2014- obtained through a grant for $4,000 Annual service required Required on ambulance

FY 16 Appropriations

Competitive Federal Grants Year Equipment Federal award town match   2006 communications equipment, extrication eqipment, TIC $90,050.00 $4,500.00 2007 CPR equipment, training $4,351.00 $220.00 2008 turn out gear, washer extractor, grid gear $67,878.00 $3,393.00 2009 mobile air compressor, EMS equip., alarm system $153,693.00 $7,684.00 2013 SCBA, facepieces $115,416.00 $5,800.00 2014 turn out gear $15,429.00 $5,000.00 tanker truck $226,667.00 $84,333 TOTALS $673,484.00 $110,930.00

Ambulance Service

Public Private Partnership Previous history with ambulance services Pioneer Valley Ambulance primary provider midnight thru 1600 hours Westhampton ambulance primary provider 1600-midnight EMT’s response 24/7 with personal vehicles and/or Rescue or fire apparatus This system provides for 24/7 paramedic coverage FY 16 budget for EMS- $17,000

Benefits of our EMS system Provides increased level of service to community Improved transport times from time of incident to arrival of patient at a health care facility Provides for improved continuity of care Allows us to take care of our own & knowledge of our community Provides for motivation and recruitment of additional personnel Enable personnel to increase skill level Eliminates community from continually being a bargaining piece for other services Eliminates potential retainer fees from other services that will continually go up each year Will provide revenue stream to help offset costs for providing expected services to the community

What does it mean having a volunteer Department? The potential of not having anyone from our organization show up Addition need for automatic aid / mutual aid Longer response times Reduced flexibility for services (brush burning, inspections, etc.) Unknown of how many people will show up to perform operations Need for greater preventative efforts (smoke detectors, public education, residential sprinklers) Need for community support to help maintain morale

Challenges………. No municipal water supply Ongoing training requirements to maintain safety Recruitment of personnel Retention of personnel

Town Population Fire Budget EMS budget Fire Chief Salary Fire Chief Vehicle Total Cost   Leverett 1,851 $65,689.00 $27,200.00 $19,904.00 Yes $112,793.00 Pelham 1,321 $64,278.68 $26,000.00 $25,017.54 $115,296.22 Shutesbury 1,756 $53,299.00 $28,300.00 $53,000.00 $134,599.00 Russell 1,769 $107,197.00 $33,892.00 In negotiations $141,089.00 Chesterfield 1,247 $33,000.00 $46,940.00 $6,000.00 $85,940.00 Westhampton 1,586 $42,200.00 $17,000.00 $11,500.00 No- personal vehicle has to be used $70,700.00 Average 1,588 $60,943.95 $29,888.67 $23,084.31 Westhampton only Town in data set with no Chief vehicle $110,069.54 *No revenue collections for any of these other communities due to no ambulance transports* *Towns with Fire Chief vehicles- Goshen, Williamsburg, Southampton, Huntington, Worthington*

Closing thoughts…… We will continue to do the best we can We will continue to be fiscally responsible and good stewards of the taxpayers money We will continue to provide the best possible resources for our personnel and community Each community must determine the level of service they want