HINESBURG VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT

In order to ascertain our strengths, weaknesses, threats and opportunities to build our strategic plan, we have done an intensive study of our equipment, facilities, level of training, personnel and our community. We also used data from Vermont Housing reports, the U.S. Census Bureau, town planning and DRB, years of firefighting experience, and local knowledge.

8. Efficient delivery of EMS is provided by a highly capable first response organization, making the addition of an ambulance not required at this time.

2. Increasing number of structures that are beyond the reach of current equipment.

3. The static water levels in town storage system run the risk of being diminished when needed as construction continues in water service area.

4. Fire station capacity exceeded. Inadequate room for equipment storage requires use of off site storage facilities.

5. Available seating in classroom and meeting area is insufficient for current needs.

7. Although volunteerism is strong, retention of highly trained personnel may become an issue in the future.

2. Inability to provide life saving actions due to lack of proper equipment for multi-story buildings.

3. Increased demand from regulatory agencies regarding the minimum training levels required.

4. Rapid construction in town without capital funding program dedicated to purchase of needed equipment.

4. Provide alternative to property tax to supplement purchase of capital equipment.

The Hinesburg Fire Department was officially organized in 1943 by a small group of volunteers. The first truck was an old Chevrolet with a 55-gallon drum and a container of baking soda. When the baking soda was inverted into the tank, it created pressure for the single small hose. The department and equipment have come a long way.

Because of good forethought and action by the Firemen's Association and tremendous support by the Town of Hinesburg, the department has grown to meet our expanding needs by adding equipment and services as required.

We wish to continue this trend. After careful thought and consideration, in order to maintain our first rate department, we have adopted this strategic plan as a road map.

We see our town continuing its growth due to our location in southern Chittenden County. Because of Hinesburg’s desirable quality of life, people will continue to migrate here.

We can expect housing projects to be more of the high-density configuration we are now experiencing. This type of housing requires fire fighting equipment that we do not have at this time. Most important will be an aerial device. This apparatus is not only required for evacuation of high rise buildings,[1] but also for fire suppression and exposure protection when ground attack is not possible due to obstructions such as fences, buildings, or land terrain. The aerial device is also required when building depth is such that an outside attack is not possible and an aerial attack is required.

Our plan and goal is to assure the citizens of Hinesburg that fire, rescue, and medical services provided by the Hinesburg Fire Department will continue to be of the highest quality in order to meet our community’s expectations of the greatest level of protection and care at a reasonable expense.

As first responders to fires, medical emergencies, disasters, and other public safety issues, Hinesburg Fire Department protects the lives and property of Hinesburg residents and visitors. The department promotes public safety through its fire prevention and health care education programs. The timely delivery of these services enables Hinesburg Fire Department to make significant contributions to the safety of Hinesburg and surrounding communities.

1. Provide an adequate facility for the needs of the Hinesburg Fire and Community Police Departments.

5. Implement a revenue-generating program dedicated to the fire department’s reserve fund.

OBJECTIVE: PROVIDE AN ADEQUATE FACILITY FOR THE NEEDS OF THE HINESBURG FIRE AND COMMUNITY POLICE DEPARTMENTS.

STRATEGY: One of the greatest assets of the Hinesburg Fire Department is its central location. Being located in the center of town with immediate access to Route 116 allows a quick and effective response to all areas of our town. This enhances our insurance rating for the entire community.

However, while the location of the fire station can be seen as an asset, the facility has exceeded its capacity. We currently need additional space to store medical as well as firefighting supplies and equipment. Also needed is a larger area for training and classroom space and additional bays to consolidate all equipment in one location. Currently, our medical response vehicle is housed at a remote location, and a new bay will be required for an aerial apparatus.

In the future, we will need additional space for men’s and women's showers and sleeping quarters. As our service demands increase and special circumstances warrant (such as natural and man-made disasters), overnight staffing of the station may be necessary.

It is our intention to build an addition to our station to meet the future needs of fire and police services at one consolidated facility. This could potentially be accomplished by exchanging the current police station property for the construction of the addition to the current fire station with minimal financial impact to taxpayers.

STRATEGY: We currently have buildings in town that present significant challenges if not impossibilities to life safety and fire suppression. Our present ground ladders would not reach the upper portions of the structures in question should rescue be necessary. Our capabilities for fire suppression would also prove ineffective should fire exist in the upper reaches of a building.

In order to meet the challenges currently presented by large structures, we require an aerial apparatus. This vehicle should be designed and prepared for bid in the next two years. In 2009, it would be ready for a bond vote. After bond approval we would order the truck and expect delivery in late 2010.

STRATEGY: The current training strategy of the Hinesburg Fire Department consists of in-house trainings conducted by senior members of the Hinesburg Fire Department and occasional contracted trainings with independent professionals. Due to the fact that Hinesburg Fire Department is a completely volunteer service, all trainings must take place on evenings or weekends to accommodate most of the volunteers’ schedules.

Requirements and standards on training are issued by the State of Vermont, Vermont Fire Academy, and the National Fire Protection Agency. The Hinesburg Fire Department is currently maintaining our level of training, however, it is becoming increasingly difficult as new requirements are instituted. In the coming years, to maintain the current level of training and meet current requirements, the Hinesburg Fire Department's strategy will need to rely on more contracted professional training services. The benefits of these contracted professional services are numerous. Outside professionals bring new information, new technology, and new ideas, which further improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the work done by the fire department. Also, it relieves the burden that falls on the shoulders of senior members of the fire department to constantly prepare realistic and beneficial trainings. Due to personal obligations, members do not have the time required to prepare such classes. To continue to require them to do so would lead to attrition of these experienced members.

STRATEGY: The department believes that if we are unable to offer greater incentives to our members we will need to begin planning for paid personnel during daytime, weekday hours. Possible incentives may include, but are not limited to, property tax relief and stipends. We will enlist community and selectboard members to help us review the possibilities. We will continue a strong recruiting effort for members and hope that the Hinesburg Community Police Department will continue their commitment to EMS involvement.

OBJECTIVE: IMPLEMENT A REVNUE-GENERATING PROGRAM DEDICATED TO THE FIRE DEPARTMENT’S RESERVE FUND.

STRATEGY: It is the desire of the fire department not to overburden the tax payers of Hinesburg while still providing the services they request. To that end, we feel a program must be developed to provide funds directly to the fire department’s reserve fund. We estimate that if the expansion of the fire station and needed capital equipment purchases were to be made outright over the next 5 years, the cost would well exceed $1.7 million. This is not a burden we wish to put on our town’s residents through taxation. It has been suggested that a direct fee on property sales or development be enacted. We feel that it should be a selecboard priority to implement a funding mechanism.

The Hinesburg Fire Department Strategic Plan is the result of many meetings and long hours of research. It has been compiled and written by fire and rescue personnel with many years of experience in this field. We have used U. S. Census data, Vermont housing data, historical data from our last 15 years of calls, as well as input from the police department, highway department, community members, and comments from our entire membership of firefighting and medical professionals.

With this data, we have constructed our plan, exposing our strengths, weaknesses, threats, and opportunities. We have looked at our vision for the future, and put forth objectives as well as strategies on how to achieve them while being fiscally responsible. We know if our plan is followed, our department will continue to provide our citizens with the finest protection which they expect and deserve.

[1] A high-rise building is defined as any structure that is beyond the reach of a fire department’s current ground ladders. For Hinesburg Fire Department, this includes any building above 2 stories.