In 2001 Ernie Wetzel, First Selectman along with Selectmen, Melissa Weinand and Roger Gale, funded the Firehouses in the annual budget for the first time as a line item. I believe that this was a good decision for the Town’s use of Taxpayers’ money. We have a fire department and EMT system to be proud of. The EMTs also respond to health emergencies like my mother’s hemorrhagic stroke 12 days before she passed away. JL
From Rich Dempsey
Thanks for the warning DBrownie, but I’ve already had a few run-ins with a few of them. I do however think open facts will bring some people around. The others, well, you know…
The three departments combined handled 543 calls in 2011, or nearly 1.5 calls per day. Not all the calls we respond to are shown below, just the easily classified one.
Note, these calls do not reflect Woodstock EMS ambulance runs but calls for the station to respond. Muddy Brook and Bungay do not have ambulances stationed in quarters, so they respond with a non-transport rescue vehicle to begin treatment and stabilization. There are times when WVFA sends only the ambulance because it is staffed.
Here are the 2011 State of CT fire reports, by departments.
I’ve also included the link to each departments report.
WVFA
http://www.dir.ct.gov/dps/cfirs/pdfs/Summary%20by%20Incident%20Type%20WOODSTOCK%20VOLUNTEER%20FIRE%20ASSN.%20for%2001-2011%20to%2012-2011.pdf
Muddy Brook
http://www.dir.ct.gov/dps/cfirs/pdfs/Summary%20by%20Incident%20Type%20MUDDY%20BROOK%20FIRE%20DEPT.%20for%2001-2011%20to%2012-2011.pdf
Bungay
http://www.dir.ct.gov/dps/cfirs/pdfs/Summary%20by%20Incident%20Type%20BUNGAY%20FIRE%20BRIGADE%20for%2001-2011%20to%2012-2011.pdf
Rich Dempsey EMT
Captain EMS-Rescue
Bungay Fire Brigade
West Woodstock, CT 06281
www.bungay.com
This will, to use a bad metaphor, throw gasoline on the fire, but why if Muddy Brook dealt with one structure and three other fires do we need to pay for all that redundant equipment? Wouldn’t it make more sense, and use resources more effectively, to consolidate on the fire equipment if not EMS?
Good question. All departments rely on mutual aid. A Structure fire in any area will bring equipment and manpower from Woodstock and even beyond. The quicker the response, the less the spector of loss of life and property. IF you’ve ever been at a fire you’ll quickly see that there is no redundant equipment. Trucks carry more than hose and water, they carry manpower to relieve the first attacking crew,open the roof,pull ceilings, etc. Those trucks also carry the tools we need to accomplish these tasks safely.
The folks that developed the three department plan knew what they were doing.
I’ve been on the first arriving truck and have seen the faces of the homeowners. I also know what it’s like starting an attack and knowing there are more people on the way quickly.
Time is the issue Doubtful, If you’ve never needed us, you might not understand.
Doubtful,
When there is a structure fire, in any district, all 3 Departments respond. I believe that the structure fires are listed under the district in which they occurred. i.e. The Bungay District had 6 structure fires but all 3 departments would respond. Rich can confirm. BTW, I think all citizens would appreciate having “redundant” tankers show up to fight a fire in their home vs. having one tanker show up, empty, and leave again to fill up. Wouldn’t you?
Frankincensed is right. Woodstock had 15 structure fires in 2011, more than one structure fire a month on avg. We are all the same department basically, (WFPA) with satellite stations. Woodstock is 62 Square miles, roughly 8 miles across in either direction (2nd largest town in the state). Take out any of the stations and you might be adding ten minutes to the response time. The three station plan allows for the nearest department to get a truck there quickly.
I hope this discussion helped the readers understand a bit more about how the fire departments in town work.
Thanks. We can resume our partisan bickering….
My last post,I promise.
Worth a look while considering response time and redundancy.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9JU59Nsv2vg