Friday, October 02, 2009
New Square residents will train as firefighters, officials say
Village residents will train to become firefighters and then work under the auspices of the Hillcrest Fire Department, officials announced today.
The training agreement came to eventually end New Square operation of an illegal, untrained fire force, which led to confrontations with Hillcrest volunteer firefighters who are legally responsible for responding to fires in the Hasidic Jewish village.
The state Labor Department has supposedly been investigating the community's firefighting operations.
Ramapo Supervisor Christopher St. Lawrence and Hillcrest Fire Chief Kim Weppler said today that their hope is a trained New Square fire brigade would ease tensions, improve communications, increase fire prevention education and lessen fires set to brush and large trash cans in the village.
New Square Deputy Mayor Israel Spitzer has said dozens of village emergency service volunteers would train for the fire brigade.
The training would take place at the Rockland Training Center and the graduates would be certified by the state.
New Square residents have trained before but dropped out of the Hillcrest Fire Department.
Starting soon, New Square residents would train for exterior firefighting because interior fire work requires wearing air masks. The masks can't be worn with beards.
Weppler said he wants to see New Square volunteers involved with crowd control at scenes, educating young people not to set fires and preaching fire safety in homes and businesses.
As part of the agreement with New Square, the village will inventory buildings that also house businesses and hazardous materials. The law requires notifying the fire department of hazardous materials so firefighters know what's inside when they respond to a fire.
While past agreements with the community have led to only temporary improvements, St. Lawrence is confident this time will different.
"We're going to - no pun intended - hold their feet to the fire," St. Lawrence said.
Weppler was cautiously hopeful, saying, "This is going to be a challenge."
St. Lawrence, who is seeking re-election next month, also said the town will help New Square acquire federal and state grants to retrofit residential buildings with sprinkler systems.
The newer buildings were built with sprinkler systems mandated by state law.
Until a few years ago, New Square didn't require those emergency systems but changed its rules after Hillcrest and county fire officials brought down state pressure on the community.
http://www.lohud.com/article/20091002/NEWS03/910020389/-1/SPORTS/New-Square-residents-will-train-as-firefighters--officials-say
The training agreement came to eventually end New Square operation of an illegal, untrained fire force, which led to confrontations with Hillcrest volunteer firefighters who are legally responsible for responding to fires in the Hasidic Jewish village.
The state Labor Department has supposedly been investigating the community's firefighting operations.
Ramapo Supervisor Christopher St. Lawrence and Hillcrest Fire Chief Kim Weppler said today that their hope is a trained New Square fire brigade would ease tensions, improve communications, increase fire prevention education and lessen fires set to brush and large trash cans in the village.
New Square Deputy Mayor Israel Spitzer has said dozens of village emergency service volunteers would train for the fire brigade.
The training would take place at the Rockland Training Center and the graduates would be certified by the state.
New Square residents have trained before but dropped out of the Hillcrest Fire Department.
Starting soon, New Square residents would train for exterior firefighting because interior fire work requires wearing air masks. The masks can't be worn with beards.
Weppler said he wants to see New Square volunteers involved with crowd control at scenes, educating young people not to set fires and preaching fire safety in homes and businesses.
As part of the agreement with New Square, the village will inventory buildings that also house businesses and hazardous materials. The law requires notifying the fire department of hazardous materials so firefighters know what's inside when they respond to a fire.
While past agreements with the community have led to only temporary improvements, St. Lawrence is confident this time will different.
"We're going to - no pun intended - hold their feet to the fire," St. Lawrence said.
Weppler was cautiously hopeful, saying, "This is going to be a challenge."
St. Lawrence, who is seeking re-election next month, also said the town will help New Square acquire federal and state grants to retrofit residential buildings with sprinkler systems.
The newer buildings were built with sprinkler systems mandated by state law.
Until a few years ago, New Square didn't require those emergency systems but changed its rules after Hillcrest and county fire officials brought down state pressure on the community.
http://www.lohud.com/article/20091002/NEWS03/910020389/-1/SPORTS/New-Square-residents-will-train-as-firefighters--officials-say
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