TO RESIDENTS OF THE BORODINO FIRE DISTRICT 

Members of the Borodino Fire Department (BFD) thank you for supporting your fire department.

In this document we present some facts regarding the volunteer fire service, the classes of fire department membership, equipment available to volunteers, response history and what occurs during a typical response.

Minimizing the department’s response time is extremely important. Please help us by knowing things each of you can do to help us assist you quickly.

Our purpose in preparing this document is to make you, the community, aware of issues discussed and to begin a dialogue which will lead to solutions.

MINIMIZING RESPONSE TIME AND ASSURING ACCESS

It is very difficult to identify house numbers of various properties during daylight hours let alone at 2:00 in the morning. Remember time is critical during medical emergencies and time should not be lost trying to find you. The department is offering a house numbering system that is easily identifiable at night. Please take a look at your current numbering system in the dark and see how difficult it is to find you.

You have seen the size of the various pieces of equipment employed by the department. In order to provide rapid and safe response to rescue and fire calls your fire department personnel need open, unimpeded access to all residences and buildings in our district. Many of your properties are located on narrow driveways, private individual and private association roads overgrown with trees and brush both from sides and overhead. While this gives a picturesque approach to your properties it means we can’t get to your place with our trucks to put out your fire, or get you in an ambulance. Other conditions hampering our timely response to emergency calls include narrow roads, deep ditches, sharp turns and parked cars blocking passage. In many cases it is difficult if not impossible to turn a fire truck around at the scene.

Our volunteers need your help to improve emergency response time and effective aid in times of trouble. We request that you survey the roads and driveways that we would use to reach you with our emergency equipment. We need at least a 12’ by 12’ clearance to negotiate these roads without damaging our vehicles. If you would like assistance in determining the safety of your access road or driveway please contact the fire department at 673-3735. If there is no answer leave a message and you will be contacted by a fire chief to arrange a meeting and possibly bring a fire truck to your property.

HISTORY OF VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENTS

Based upon a recent census conducted by the U.S. Fire Administration there are currently 23,240 fire departments in the U.S. Volunteer departments represent 71% while career departments are 8%. The remaining departments are a mix of both.

Volunteer fire departments have been around for a long time. Where did they originate and who started them?

The man who established the first volunteer fire department also invented bifocals, wrote and printed Poor Richard’s Almanac, studied electricity and helped draft the Declaration of Independence. His name was Benjamin Franklin. The first volunteer fire department began in Philadelphia in 1736.

After an extensive fire in Philadelphia in 1736, Franklin created a fire brigade called The Union Fire Company with 30 volunteers. The idea of volunteer fire brigades gained popularity. Not wanting more than 30-40 men per company, additional companies were formed in Philadelphia. Each of the companies paid for their own equipment and located it throughout town at strategic places. Most early fire companies in Philadelphia and other cities had professionals, wealthier merchants and trades people serving in the volunteer fire department. These citizens were able to afford to purchase equipment and pay fines for missing meetings and fires.

Some famous Americans who served as volunteer firefighters were: George Washington,

Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Franklin, Samuel Adams, John Hancock, Paul Revere,

Alexander Hamilton, John Jay, John Barry, Aaron Burr, Benedict Arnold, James

Buchanan and Millard Fillmore also served as volunteer firemen.

Before 1850 no city in the United States had paid full-time firefighters. Volunteer firefighters played and continue to play an invaluable role in protecting lives and property.

BORODINO FIRE DEPARTMENT

CLASSES OF MEMBERSHIP

Active members respond to actual emergencies and must be trained accordingly. Typical training involves 50 - 60 hours of preliminary training and 4 hours per month thereafter. In addition, the County, State and Federal authorities offer many specialized classes. The majority of the department calls are medical in nature. There are currently five active members trained and certified as Basic Emergency Medical Technicians. Several of the members held that certification or higher in the past and can assist certified members in an emergency.

Associate members do not participate in responses or undergo specialized training. These dedicated individuals help the department with fundraising activities and those with specialized training, e.g. computer skills, marketing and publicity, etc. assist in ways commensurate with their experience. We have recently installed a computerized system which provides responding members with a printout listing the call location and facts regarding the type of emergency. Installation of the system was handled exclusively by Joyce Green, an associate member.

RUN HISTORY

The BFD typically responds to 100 calls in a year. About 20 of those calls are related to some type of fire emergency with the remainder being medical in nature. We provide mutual aid to neighboring departments in Spafford, Amber, Skaneateles and Marcellus when requested. Ambulance support for the department is provided by SAVES in Skaneateles as the primary provider with Marcellus and Amber as back ups.

SUPPORTING THE COMMUNITY

In the past the BFD has provided Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) classes to the community at minimal cost. Community events are always supported in any way possible. The department sponsors a special Halloween party and Breakfast with Santa Claus. In January and February the firehouse is opened on Saturday morning as a meeting place for the community and a place to get a tasty breakfast at minimal cost. In 2005, an automated external defibrillator (AED) was purchased and installed at the Town Hall. Town employees were trained in its use by the department at no charge.

EQUIPMENT DESCRIPTION

The Rescue truck is the workhorse of the department typically responding to the majority of calls regardless of type. The rescue carries the primary medical equipment utilized for trauma, cardiac and others. EMTs and other first responders have monitors, oxygen, splints, extrication equipment and defibrillators at their fingertips. Heavy rescue equipment such as the Jaws of Life, air bags, chain saws and all sorts of additional materials reside on the rescue. First responding chief’s vehicles are also equipped with AEDs.

The Tanker-Pumper (TP) is the main tool utilized to provide water to fireman at a fire. It is possible to charge multiple hoses in support of operations on the fire scene.

There are no water mains in Borodino. The tanker is our only fire plug. It can carry 3500 gallons of water which is dumped into a portable pond supplying the TP. Used in conjunction with tankers from neighboring departments there is never a shortage of water.

The Mini pumper is used to access emergencies not accessible by the larger TP. It is four wheel drive and can be used off road for field fires. It is also the vehicle that will refill the tankers from water sources located throughout the District.

The Medical Car is a two seat electric vehicle which is used when providing medical support for community events at the Grange Hall or park. Staffed by medical personnel it carries medical equipment which may be needed during events. The fire department also provides traffic control for these events.

TYPICAL RESPONSE

When you have a medical emergency and call 911 a series of events are put into motion. The 911 center energizes the BFD “tones” which activate the familiar siren and also each member’s individual pager. In addition, SAVES, our primary ambulance, is notified and begins responding from Skaneateles. Available chiefs immediately respond directly to the scene along with department EMTs carrying individual response bags and oxygen. Other department personnel respond to the firehouse where they put on turn out gear and respond to the scene with the rescue truck and other vehicles as necessary. You will normally see the first department presence at your house within five minutes of the 911 call. The full response will take an additional few minutes. Depending upon where in Borodino you are located the ambulance will arrive in 10 — 15 minutes.

In the case of fire, the chiefs will again respond directly to the scene. All other personnel respond to the fire house to staff the TP as first out vehicle and then the tanker, mini and rescue with manpower. Response times will depend upon the time of day and day of the week. In addition to BFD equipment there will be a response by Spafford and Amber, Marcellus or Skaneateles.

THANKS

Thank you for reading this message from concerned members of your fire department. Please do make it easier for all of us — The BFD, Ambulance Service, Sheriffs, and State Police — to find you quickly during your emergency.