Five Fire Districts’ Statistics Listed

 

By Andrew Gorosko

In response to charges from Botsford Fire Rescue Company Chief Wayne Ciaccia that the two larger local volunteer fire companies get preferred funding treatment over the three smaller fire companies, a Board of Fire Commissioners (BFC) member has submitted some graphics describing the statistical differences among the five fire companies that translate into funding differences.

Board member Michael Burton of Sandy Hook, who also is the BFC’s purchasing agent, presented the information to the board on March 26.

By volume, as measured across a three-year span when there were 5,407 fire calls overall, the percentage of calls handled were: Hook & Ladder, 33 percent; Sandy Hook, 29 percent; Botsford, 17 percent; Hawleyville, 11 percent; and Dodgingtown, 10 percent.  

Physically, the largest fire district is Sandy Hook at 18 square miles, with Hook & Ladder at 13 square miles, Dodgingtown at 11, Botsford at 10, and Hawleyville at 7.

The number of residences in the districts is: Sandy Hook, 3,500; Hook & Ladder, 2,090; Botsford, 1,516; Dodgingtown, 1,358; and Hawleyville, 1,205.

Also, the statistics list the number of existing occupied business parcels in each district. They are: Hook & Ladder, 94; Botsford, 37; Sandy Hook, 32; Hawleyville, 22; and Dodgingtown, 6.

Each fire district has one firehouse, except Sandy Hook, which has two. All firehouses are owned by their respective fire companies, except the Hook & Ladder Firehouse, which is owned by the town.

Also, the number of town-owned/fire company-owned fire vehicles in use in each district is: Sandy Hook, 6/4; Hook & Ladder, 4/2; Botsford, 2/5; Hawleyville, 2/2; and Dodgingtown, 2/2.

In terms of active fire company members there are: Sandy Hook, 60; Hook & Ladder, 40; Dodgingtown, 36; Botsford, 33; and Hawleyville, 28.

Fire companies responsible for covering calls on Interstate 84 are: Hook & Ladder, Sandy Hook, and Hawleyville.

The information provided by Mr Burton also includes map data on the five fire districts and the potentially developable land that remains within each districts. It describes the numerical potential for more dwellings within each of the districts.