Dear Editor,
This is an open letter to the Apalachin Fire District taxpayers. As January closes behind us we are quickly approaching groundbreaking for the new Fire Station #1 on Pennsylvania Avenue. Your volunteers are already acting on our mobilization plan to relocate operations to our two satellite stations: Station 2 at 8924 State Route 434 and Station 3 at 4283 Pennsylvania Ave. effective March 1, 2017.
There have been many questions from our constituents and we welcome them all, big and small. A lot of analysis and preparation has been done to ensure continuity of services given the importance of our mission. Local residents will see Emergency Medical Services (EMS) operations headquartered out of Station 2 starting March 1. Our analysis indicates that statistically more calls and more EMS volunteers are located closer to this station than Station 3, ensuring a rapid response to your call for assistance. Fire apparatus will be split amongst both stations with operational plans for personnel to know their new response station prior to mobilization.
Clearly not all of our apparatus will fit inside each station (thus one of the needs for a new one). There will be apparatus stored outside of the stations and security of these assets is our number one concern. We have taken proactive measures to protect these assets but certainly ask our residents to keep a watchful eye and report any concerns to the authorities once aware.
So what’s next? Effective March 1 we will have vacated Station 1 in preparation for asbestos abatement and demolition. The abatement exercise is anticipated to last three weeks with demolition to quickly follow. It is likely the building will be demolished and site development initiated in early April. Working hours for all contractors are limited to 6 a.m. to 6 p.m., with normal operations expected from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. We anticipate “substantial completion” on the new station on Oct. 1, 2017 and plan to be back on Pennsylvania Avenue in 2017.
Another update is sure to come next month. In the interim, please feel free to reach out at any time with questions, concerns or compliments. Finally, we’d like to thank the Owego Pennysaver for their generosity of publishing these monthly updates to keep you all informed.
Sincerely,
Brian Rieber
Chairman, Board of Fire Commissioners
(607) 765-2974
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