New Paltz fire chief Cory Wirthmann is facing an issue that has hit volunteer fire departments around the country: volunteer hours are dropping off. Even in the village, where the recruitment rate is higher than in some surrounding areas, the amount of time that each member commits to extinguishing fires and saving lives has been on the decline. As Wirthmann told trustees at their November 6 meeting, the challenges of work and family commitments have changed over the years, and as a result there are simply fewer volunteers nearby and available at any given time.
One of the ways that the chief hopes to adapt to these shifting circumstances is by securing a “quick-response” vehicle. This will be a work truck similar to the ones used in the public works department, but customized to carry a variety of gear appropriate to the firefighting mission. Its quickness would be in the fact that it won’t take a special certification to drive, meaning that members who otherwise might have to wait for the appropriate firetruck to be ready to move could be on the scene much quicker. The truck would be parked in the fifth bay of the firehouse, and Wirthmann believes it would allow for a more nimble response by the volunteers.
The culture of frugality and planning that infuses village government will make it possible to pay for this truck without tapping taxes, and trustees approved the purchase right away. Wirthmann has already come up with a plan to keep the cost down to around $170,000 by purchasing the appropriate chassis only, and then having the department’s outfitter and mechanic install the lights and sirens, as well as the custom body for moving emergency gear into the field. Mayor Tim Rogers praised the work of Nancy Branco, who as the village’s treasurer has been setting aside money in a reserve fund for fire equipment for many years. That fund now stands at close to $1.5 million, thanks to Branco’s efforts being bolstered by grants awarded by the current state senator, Michelle Hinchey, as well as Jen Metzger when Metzger held that office of a term. This helped make this purchase an easy sell for the chief…