Millwood's New Firehouse Plans Moving Along...

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Millwood firehouse hearing planned for Jan. 12

By Elizabeth Ganga • January 6, 2011

MILLWOOD — The Millwood Fire District has completed its environmental studies of a new firehouse for the Millwood hamlet and has planned a hearing for Jan. 12 to hear from the public on any unanswered questions.

http://www.lohud.com/article/20110106/NEWS02/101060359/Millwood-firehouse-hearing-planned-for-Jan-12

[Guest MRK303]

An Email I received a few days ago regarding this issue from the Millwood Board of Fire Commissioners

"Dear Residents,

The Millwood Board of Fire Commissioners is pleased to announce that the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) for the construction of a new 18,000SF firehouse (replacing aging Station #1) is now available. www.millwoodfiredistrict.org The DEIS represents the culmination of 14 months of work, and we believe the project team has developed plans that both minimize environmental impacts and respect taxpayer dollars. In addition to the preferred plan, the environmental impacts of three alternative scenarios are explored: no-build, drive-thru bays and a realigned Allen Ave. (opposite Schulman Ave).

The release of the DEIS marks a milestone. It starts a “clock” in the SEQR (State environmental quality review) process. This process includes a public hearing and written comment period, written responses to those comments, a Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) and a Statement of Findings. All of these steps must be taken before the District can ask the public for funding via a bond issue."

Edited January 6, 2011 by MRK303

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New Millwood firehouse finally moves forward

By Elizabeth Ganga • January 26, 2011

A long-planned new firehouse for the hamlet of Millwood, which bumped along for years stirring controversy over its location, size and cost, is headed toward a bond referendum this spring.

FULL ARTICLE: http://www.lohud.com/article/20110126/NEWS02/101260316/New-Millwood-firehouse-finally-moves-forward

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FULL ARTICLE: http://www.lohud.com/article/20110126/NEWS02/101260316/New-Millwood-firehouse-finally-moves-forward

Planning for the future. 5 yrs?, 10 yrs? Where's the bunk room? The only station re-model I recall seeing recently that addressed a bunk room was Bedford Hills and even that was an add alternate to the project.

Isn't anybody getting tired of sleeping in chairs or on the floor during stand-bys? And, sooner or later, long before the buildings being built and renovated today are obsolete, there will undoubtably be the need for some paid personnel in many of these stations.

In this case, 18,000 Sf and no allowance for a couple 10 x 12 dorm room type bunk rooms to accommodate maybe 4 persons, up to 8 with bunk beds, for an overnite stand-by?

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Planning for the future. 5 yrs?, 10 yrs? Where's the bunk room?

Excellent point!

[Bnechis 3,961]

Planning for the future. 5 yrs?, 10 yrs? Where's the bunk room? The only station re-model I recall seeing recently that addressed a bunk room was Bedford Hills and even that was an add alternate to the project.

Isn't anybody getting tired of sleeping in chairs or on the floor during stand-bys? And, sooner or later, long before the buildings being built and renovated today are obsolete, there will undoubtably be the need for some paid personnel in many of these stations.

In this case, 18,000 Sf and no allowance for a couple 10 x 12 dorm room type bunk rooms to accommodate maybe 4 persons, up to 8 with bunk beds, for an overnite stand-by?

If you build the bunk rooms then some day you might hire personnel. If you don't build them, then you can argee we can't hire because of the building.

[ladder55 26]

If you build the bunk rooms then some day you might hire personnel. If you don't build them, then you can argee we can't hire because of the building.

Typical

[mllax14 18]

Isn't anybody getting tired of sleeping in chairs or on the floor during stand-bys? And, sooner or later, long before the buildings being built and renovated today are obsolete, there will undoubtably be the need for some paid personnel in many of these stations.

In this case, 18,000 Sf and no allowance for a couple 10 x 12 dorm room type bunk rooms to accommodate maybe 4 persons, up to 8 with bunk beds, for an overnite stand-by?

If you build the bunk rooms then some day you might hire personnel. If you don't build them, then you can argee we can't hire because of the building.

Bunk rooms don’t have to just be for the stand-by or the 1 way street to career staff. They can be used to ensure adequate volunteer staffing for the future. Live-In programs which are quite popular in Maryland, PA, and Virginia have been around for years and have been proven successful time and time again keeping some of the busiest Volunteer Fire Departments in the Country with reliable staffing day in and day out. I never understood why nobody in the area has a program like this the only two I can think of is Purchase and Moyers corners.

Check out this site for more information about live-in programs and the departments that utilize them.

www.fdlivein.com

[Monty 35]

The department I was with in Albany county had two stations, one built in the early 90's and the other was remodeled prior to that. Both had bunk rooms with fold up beds. The rooms doubled as training / meeting rooms. About 13 years ago the department started an optional overnight duty crew program (counts to the departments requirements for active membership) to supplement staffing. With that foresight, the crew could bunk at either (or both) stations.

As others have said - a small investment up front that can have a massive payback down the road.

[helicopper 1,050]

It isn't as simply as just throwing in a 10x12 bunk room, is it? Don't you run into ADA issues, facilities requirements for men and women, bathroom/shower requirements, etc.?

I don't know the code requirements but maybe someone can clarify this wiht the actual regs.

It is a great point that not putting in facilities now greatly limits your options in the future.