Port Henry considers aerial truck

June 20--PORT HENRY -- Adding an aerial ladder truck to the Port Henry Volunteer Fire Department would enable firefighters to tackle blazes in multi-story structures downtown, according to Fire Chief James Hughes.

Having the apparatus would also potentially raise the village's fire protection rating from the Insurance Services Office (ISO), a group that surveys communities and areas.

The rating is currently a 5, which was set in 2010 after it had been 6 since 1996. The best classification is a 1.

The ISO rating is used to set insurance rates, and a change upward in the Port Henry rating could have a positive 5 to 20 percent effect on those rates, Hughes said during a presentation at a recent special Village Board meeting.

"The ISO report says we need two engines, and based on criteria, an aerial. We don't have an aerial."

He said to fight fires in the five-story Lee House, a senior citizens apartment building downtown, or the Abare Block or Fashion Corner building, a ladder truck would be required.

"There are places we can't reach without an aerial (truck)."

QUINT

The best resource would be a specialized truck called a quint, he said, a piece of fire service apparatus that serves the dual purpose of an engine and a ladder truck.

The name quint refers to the five functions that it provides: pump, water tank, fire hose, aerial device and ground ladders.

It could be used for rescues in addition to structure fires, Hughes said, or even to fight a railroad derailment fire safely. The truck has a water cannon atop the ladder that can be remote controlled.

The Village of Port Henry, which owns the Fire Department, would have to finance about $490,000 to get the truck, Hughes said.

The used 2010 E-One 75' Quint is $450,000 from a Long Island fire company, minus $50,000 to trade in a pumper, plus $90,000 to retire the loan on the trade-in fire engine.

Village Board members had several questions, including whether the truck could be housed in the existing fire station and how much annual maintenance would cost.

The Fire Department would pay for an addition to the Church Street firehouse to house the truck, Hughes said, and maintenance would be $400 to $600 a year for pump tests and $1,800 for ladder testing.

"We believe that we made some very valid points, supported by facts, that should be taken into serious consideration by the Village Board at this time," Hughes said after the meeting. "As our history indicates, we have demonstrated that our department is very frugal with the taxpayer dollars that support us. We also understand that there may be other competing priorities."

COST SAVINGS

Hughes said the presentation prepared by firefighters should be viewed as a cost-savings opportunity.

"It also serves as an example of how we may acquire a critical piece of equipment for the protection of our community, with minimal impact to the taxpayers."

The request comes at a time when many village taxpayers are not happy with the 9.28 percent tax levy increase in the 2015-16 budget.

The village exceeds its state tax cap of 1.7 percent by 7.58 percent in the $1.75 million spending plan. The village tax rate went up $1, from $10,78 per $1,000 of assessment to $11.78.

The loan for the purchase of the quint would add another 36 cents per $1,000 of assessment to the tax rate in annual budgets, Hughes explained. The loan would be for 10 years and the first payment would not be due until June 2016, making it part of next year's budget.

The next ISO inspection of Port Henry Fire Department is scheduled for July 27, Hughes said.

Village Trustee Matthew Brassard, who was chairing the meeting in the absence of Mayor Ernest Guerin, said the quint will be discussed at a special Village Board session at 7 p.m. Monday, June 2.

"Hopefully, Monday night we're able to make a decision on the quint."

The meeting at the Village Hall is open to all.

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