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Rockland County, NY - New Square Mulls its Own Fire Department |
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Either way, residents can't cut ties to the Hillcrest Fire Department, which is responsible for protecting the Hasidic Jewish village, and must be fully trained in firefighting before they can lift a hose.
The potential change comes as New Square volunteers have been dousing fires with a makeshift firetruck in violation of state laws mandating they must be trained.
The firefighting has increased simmering tensions between the village and Hillcrest firefighters and its Moleston Fire District.
Firefighters have complained about community members interfering at fire scenes, arsons set in Dumpsters and unsafe and congested housing conditions that makes the community a potential tinder box.
New Square Deputy Mayor Israel Spitzer said Friday that he and other village leaders want to maintain good relations with Hillcrest and county fire officials.
At the same time, he said, village leaders believe community firefighters can only improve safety for residents.
"We feel if we had our own fire department, we can respond quicker and have a better chance of saving a house," Spitzer said. "This is not to say we're not satisfied with the response time of the Hillcrest Fire Department. Our other option is to join Hillcrest Fire Department."
The cost of purchasing firefighting equipment could run as high as $1 million, Rockland Fire and Emergency Services Coordinator Gordon Wren Jr. said. He added that an older firetruck could be provided for trained New Square firefighters who become part of Hillcrest.
Spitzer said New Square residents who choose to become firefighters will take all the required training and follow all the regulations.
In the meantime, Rockland firefighters say New Square volunteers must stop fighting blazes.
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Read Comments (11) — Post Yours »
1
Jul 25, 2009 at 09:56 PM meni Says:
Who cares about them the look for action every few weeks
2
Jul 25, 2009 at 09:58 PM Anonymous Says:
Spitzer said New Square residents who choose to become firefighters will take all the required training and follow all the regulations."
Anyone who reads the newpapers or VIN over the past several months would find it hard to believe that these people really intend to "follow all the regulations". That seems to be against their most fundamental beliefs..
3
Jul 25, 2009 at 10:15 PM meni Says:
“ Spitzer said New Square residents who choose to become firefighters will take all the required training and follow all the regulations."
Anyone who reads the newpapers or VIN over the past several months would find it hard to believe that these people really intend to "follow all the regulations". That seems to be against their most fundamental beliefs..
”
The have the jeeps and lights and the shvitzers
4
Jul 25, 2009 at 11:11 PM Anonymous Says:
“ Spitzer said New Square residents who choose to become firefighters will take all the required training and follow all the regulations."
Anyone who reads the newpapers or VIN over the past several months would find it hard to believe that these people really intend to "follow all the regulations". That seems to be against their most fundamental beliefs..
”
Quite on the mark
5
Jul 25, 2009 at 11:16 PM Anonymous Says:
If they implement the same safety codes they did in their girls camp upstate they sure will have lots of fires to fight! I hope they learn fire PREVENTION as well.
6
Jul 26, 2009 at 12:22 AM the truth Says:
The only thing NSFD is guilty of .is that they saved many lives and many buildings.. Most of the time when the official licensed trained and so called experienced FD came the whole structure burned to the ground. Or now they come when everything is put out.. So go NS FD go unofficial and save officially more
7
Jul 26, 2009 at 02:58 AM Anonymous Says:
NSFD you can do it. BUT do it right.
Look @ KJFD
8
Jul 26, 2009 at 02:58 AM Anonymous Says:
NSFD you can do it. BUT do it right.
Look @ KJFD
9
Jul 26, 2009 at 09:13 AM midwood Says:
way to go Izzy
10
Jul 26, 2009 at 11:05 PM yokel Says:
NSFD keep up your good work. as long you have fighters you know you are doing the right thing, KOL HAMATZIL NAFESH ACHAS MYISROEL...........
even if you not doing any thing just this that you help a yid is every thing worthed
11
Jul 26, 2009 at 11:14 PM me Says:
"Rockland firefighters say New Square volunteers must stop fighting blazes"
yeah, that what the fire foghters say. Did anyone look and see what the law says? If my neighbors house has a kitchen fire, the law says I can't try to put it out? I highly doubt it. I can't wait for the next journal news headline. "New Square for fighters sentenced for saving house and 14 lives." Highly improbable. I'm sure it's illegal to interfere with fire fighters, but to do your best until they get there, i can't see that being illegal please quote section and verse of NYS§ if you care to say otherwise.
12
Jul 28, 2009 at 05:19 PM Anonymous Says:
Anonymous is %1,000 correct! If they want to do it themselvs thats fine but do the whole thing including training and equipment. LOOK AT KJFD, they formed an actual FD with proper equipment.