Be aware of hidden costs

Submitted by

PATRICK J. WEBB

Member, LVFD since 2005

Several people have asked what would happen if the Landaff Vol. Fire Dept. was eliminated and service was taken over by Lisbon. What would they charge us and are there other unforeseen expenses?

I’m glad to provide some information, and I’m prepared to state it again at Town Meeting.

I represent Landaff at the monthly Twin State Mutual Aid Fire Association meeting, and hold a term on their Executive Board, which guides policy.  At present Twin State has 27 members in both New Hampshire and Vermont, which includes fire departments from towns, both paid and volunteer, ambulance services, and “Associate” towns – Benton and Lyman, who have no fire departments and contract with others.

At last week’s Twin State meeting, there was considerable discussion about what would happen if Landaff’s department were dissolved, and how other nearby fire departments would have to pick up the slack. Several fire chiefs voiced concern that an “Associate town” can get almost free services (they each pay $2000 annually; Landaff’s dues would jump by $1450 if the fire dept, is dissolved) by not having fire apparatus, supplying manpower, or participating in mutual aid situations at fires and other emergencies.

Therefore, the Twin State by-laws have a provision whereby fire departments coming into a non-mutual aid town can charge for their services and Landaff would be adversely affected.

Let me give you a scenario:  Some Sunday afternoon, two guys in Landaff are working on a pickup truck in a garage. The truck catches fire, and the garage sits between a house and large old barn.  They call 911 as the fire spreads in the garage.

Grafton County Dispatch, after hearing that smoke and flame are present, tones out a first alarm – structure fire with exposure. Lisbon Fire prepares to respond with their engine ($300), their aerial ladder ($325), a tanker ($150), and 8 firefighters ($15 each).  The exact rate Lisbon would charge Landaff is yet undetermined, but I’m using the existing Twin State reimbursement rates.  Lisbon arrives on scene 11 minutes after the 911 call.

Because it is a first alarm, the dispatch instructions (run cards) call for Bath and Sugar Hill to respond also. Bath sends an engine ($300), a tanker ($150), and 6 persons ($15 each). Sugar Hill sends an engine ($300), a tanker ($150), a rescue ($100), and 8 personnel ($15 each). 

The responding communities need fire coverage, so the coverage assignments kick in (Littleton to Lisbon) ($150, 4 personnel $15 each), Woodsville to Bath ($150, 4 personnel, $15 each), and Franconia to Sugar Hill ($150, 4 personnel, $15 each).

The fire is handled, but there’s overhaul, and clean up, so all but the first-in fire companies are released after 90 minutes. Lisbon stays on another hour to make sure the fire is completely out.

So what did this possible scenario cost Landaff? 

For Lisbon’s response: $2685 ($895 x 3 hours on scene). For the other Twin State Response - Bath charges $1080 (2 hours at $540); Sugar Hill charges $1340 ($670 per hour; while the 3 cover companies stationed elsewhere charge $1260 for two hours.

The total for this one incident comes to $6365 at current rates. No matter how many times they have to come to Landaff, Lisbon could assess $895 each time.  

By comparison, at the large fire on Main St. in Lisbon last October, where 8 towns (including Landaff) responded and provided 8 engines, 3 aerial ladders, 3 tankers, and over 40 personnel participating, and who worked for over 6 hours, Lisbon wasn’t charged anything, because of their Mutual Aid standing. The system is set up so that towns will keep their departments for the benefit of all.

I suppose the bottom line is that:  a) “it’s complicated”, and b) citizens don’t always understand how your local fire protection system works - with everyone cooperating (in mutual aid response and coverage assignments), along with the availability of a variety of needed equipment operated by trained personnel.

It’s always easy to suggest quick and cheaper solutions without knowing pertinent facts, but it’s also important to consider the known and unknown consequences.

For me, the existing arrangement works well, and we should preserve what we have.

Feel free to contact me if you have questions or concerns.