Yesterday morning LMTS took a break to head over to our neighboring Milton NH on an open invitation by several Milton friends to come and tour their Milton Fire-Rescue station.
As we arrived, the department's main ambulance went out on a medical call.
Entering the building, I was greeted warmly by a Milton responder who was kind enough to take me on a tour of the Fire-Rescue building.
It LOOKS tiny from the street, but there is a lot more to the station than what meets the eye, with a complete lower level exiting out of the rear of the station.
Milton voters will be faced with a Spring 2016 decision on whether or not to fund a brand new Fire Station, and after recent conversations over our own Lebanon Fire Station, I thought I would head over and compare notes.
The first thing I noticed was a horrible vibration. When the ambulance or fire vehicle is started in the station, air handlers automatically turn on. The engagement of only ONE air handler was enough to make me feel as though I were in a earth quake. Really.
The bays are small, much smaller than our own Lebanon station, and the walls and ceilings are cracking and chipping. Continuing downstairs, the responder showed me where the beams that separate the 1st and 2nd floors had been buckling under the weight of the top floor equipment and added steel beams had been added to help support the upper level. Maybe the steel beams would have made me feel a little better if there hadn't been obvious signs of recent building shifts in the back walls.
With many small towns growing in population and demands of services, Milton has moved to part time staffing and is looking at the possibility of adding an overnight shift. And yet there is no place for the crew to shower, no place for them to relax or to have a meeting or training session.
Now I'm not picking on Milton, they, like other small departments and towns all over the country, are doing the best they can with what they have. They make it work. And if Milton voters should decide not to fund the $2.7 million dollar fire house, they will go on doing what they do.
But seeing Milton's fire house in such a shape, it pushed me back into thinking about our own Lebanon Stations.
Milton's voters have prepared themselves for the eventuality of a new fire house. Over the past few years, they have funded the purchase of a piece of property in the central section of town, they have funded over $140,000 in preparation of plans and architectural drawings and studies. Everything is ready for such a time when a new fire and rescue station is needed. All they need is a vote.
I can't help thinking that our town of Lebanon is not so prepared.
With the Code Enforcement Officer sitting on a decision as to whether or not to condemn the Depot Road station, and still no resident interest in seeing the scary conditions that exist there, I wonder if we should be prepared.
Do we need to begin looking for ways to prepare and provide a safe place for equipment storage, and a safe place for our responders to meet, train, and work?
Early preparations will ensure that we are ready.
I have to wonder why there have been no discussions in public forums regarding what was discovered during the Code Enforcement Officer's visit to Station 1.
What plans are there to protect the town if the Fire and EMS Station should collapse in whole, or partially? A collapse could injure, disable, or cause loss of life to town employees (responders) resulting in huge insurance loss. A collapse could put our equipment into unusable condition leaving residents unprotected in the case of a fire or medical emergency.
The damage occurring at the Depot Road Fire and EMS facility in Lebanon is not new. Former Chiefs have done work on the building to assess the amount of damage and to try and discover the scope of the problem and possible repair attempts.
By now, sitting in Milton's Fire Station, I was lost in thought, wondering why Lebanon is not prepared with ideas for acquiring land, architectural plans, or even an agreed upon "Plan B".....
There is no "Plan B".
I'm always encouraging residents to ask questions. Once again, I'm encouraging you to ASK your town officials for an answer.
WHAT is going to be done about the floor (and more importantly UNDER the floor) in Station 1?
What is the condition of Station 2 (Blaisdell Corner on Rt 202)?
What is the TRUTH about the condition of our Fire apparatus and medical response vehicles (Ambulances)?
What might seem very trivial to you while worrying about the antics of Town Boards and Committees, might actually be the one thing that we need to focus on.
Do we have a 5 year plan? Is there a "Plan B"?
Ask the questions, Lebanon!!!
Town Meeting is coming up soon and that's your opportunity to ask questions in a public setting so that everyone will hear the answers.
Start getting ready to attend your Public Meeting.
Arm yourselves with questions, and expect answers.
If you get no answers, get ready for the Town Election that has been scheduled for May 2016.
Your vote shows your town government your concerns, and gives them your answers.
