Fire station in southwestern Bristol?

BRISTOL – While candidates generally agree that adding more hydrants in the fast-growing southwestern section will help improve fire safety, some are ready to go further.
At least two city councilors, Frank Nicastro and Kevin McCauley, said they favor a new firehouse closer to the area in order to slice response times in a crisis.
Among all the municipal candidates who answered questions from the Press, only Democratic mayoral nominee Ellen Zoppo threw cold water on the idea.
Zoppo, a three-term councilor, said the city has “a good working relationship with Wolcott which was a fire house on the southern side of Cedar Lake and the Terryville station on Fall Mountain.”
Moreover, she said, “I believe response rates to this area from” the central firehouse downtown “is acceptable, and I am not aware of any instance where delayed response has been an issue.”
That runs contrary to what McCauley, a city firefighter, had to say.
He said, as did Zoppo, that a lack of water lines and hydrants doesn’t help. But the Water Department has been extending lines during the last few years and is continuing its efforts to bring municipal water to more of the area.
But McCauley also said that another reason for concern is “the absence of a fire station” close to the neighborhoods in that part of Bristol.
“Past studies have shown a need for coverage based in this region for quicker response times,” he said.
“Simply moving Fire Headquarters to a closer location, while maintaining a downtown presence, would not be enough, especially with more subdivisions being developed,” McCauley said.
A new station for the area “will have a beneficial effect on insurance ratings for the city and homeowners,” he added.
Former Mayor Frank Nicastro, who is seeking a second term as a councilor in the 3rd District, said he has long pushed for a firehouse that could better serve the southwestern area of town with its “massive growth.”
“They should strongly look at putting something up there” on Fall Mountain, Nicastro said.
As it is, he said, it takes as much as seven minutes for a fire truck to reach that section of the city, which is too long.
Nicastro said the firehouses were placed in the right spots decades ago but population shifts need to be taken into account now.
“We could make some moves and shift things around,” Nicastro said.
City Councilor Art Ward, who is challenging Zoppo in the Sept. 11 mayoral primary, said the “the southwestern section of the city needs to have city services of water, sewer and fire safety made available to property owners, as soon as possible, in a timely and affordable manner.”
“The city has recently completed a water pump station to service this area and consideration is being given to the future” location or relocation of a firehouse to provide more coverage there, Ward said.
“While it appears there is a need for a fire station in this portion of the city, we have to proceed carefully,” said Ken Cockayne, a 2nd District Republican council contender. He said the city has to keep the big picture in mind.
Joe Geladino, a 2nd District council hopeful, also said the southwestern part of the city “needs better police and fire protection.”
“We don’t necessarily need a new firehouse, but increasing the infrastructure to include water lines and fire hydrants would certainly bolster the existing fire protection,” he said.
“A long-term plan might include moving the existing fire station from the center of downtown to a location that would better serve this section of town, perhaps to a location on or in the vicinity of Divinity Street,” Geladino said.
Tom Ragaini, a former councilor who is running as an independent for the council in the 2nd District, said a new firehouse may be necessary. He said he would like to see more study.
City Councilor Craig Minor, a Democrat, said he “would hope that the Board of Fire Commissioners is fully aware of this situation and that the commissioners will make a recommendation at the appropriate time.”
“The City Council relies on these boards to provide expert oversight on technical infrastructure issues,” he said.
“At the risk of being overly bureaucratic,” Cockayne said, “I would propose that a study be completed with heavy emphasis the input of our fire personnel. Who in this city knows better the needs of our emergency personnel then the men and women who are doing the job themselves?”
Bob Merrick, a 3rd District GOP council candidate, said he would like to see a forum for residents to ask representatives from the police, fire and emergency medical services questions about public safety and to hear residents’ ideas for change.
Every major mayor and council candidate was given the chance to respond to the question. Some did not answer. Others said they preferred not to comment.


*******
Copyright 2007. All rights reserved.
Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com