Emergency Service Capital Requests Unfeasible, Mayor Says

Emergency services presented their proposed budgets to the township committee at a budget workshop meeting.

For the most part, the figures were maintained from the previous year. But the fire departments and EMS did request capital budgets that Mayor Gary Quinn does not see as feasible for this year.

Quinn said items requested related to safety will be looked at and considered but the major items are unrealistic at this time.

The township would have to bond for necessary items like a new ambulance for Lacey EMS and a power stretcher for Lanoka Harbor EMS, which some of the committee members would be opposed to, Quinn said. Four out of five committee members would have to vote in favor of the bond.

The fire trucks and vehicles that other departments are requesting will not be considered because trucks have been purchased over the last couple of years, Quinn said.

“We know we have enough trucks on the road between the three departments,” Quinn said. “Those items will be on hold until the economy is better or they apply for grant money."

As for some of the equipment and supplies squads are requesting, Quinn hopes the departments will help each other out.

Forked River Fire Company

The Forked River Fire Company requested a new pumper tanker (fire truck) for $625,000 as well as a new vehicle to replace the chief’s car costing $40,000.

“As far as trucks go, I could tell you economically, we’re not in the climate to be buying trucks,” Quinn said.

They need to replace two trucks — the 1968 tanker and the 1986 pumper — for a combination tanker-pumper with the capacity of 3,000 gallons, Chief Kevin Flynn said.

“To get 43 years out of a fire truck, we can’t hold onto it forever. It has to be replaced,” Flynn said.

Quinn said the township might be able to reconsider the truck request in a few years.

He also requested $68,136 for 12 Scott Pacs and $35,400 in turnout gear.

The Forked River Fire Company received a grant amounting to more than $127,733 for 11 sets of turnout gear, 10 new pacs and to upgrade the rest of their pacs, Flynn said.

The department asked for more than $160,000 but a portion was cut out.

They did receive a grant for $2,000 for a laptop to put in one of the fire trucks. Click to read more about the Forked River Fire Department’s grants.

The department has gotten busier in the past year as they were up 100 calls.

“Things aren’t getting any quieter. They’re getting busy. That’s why there’s more wear and tear on everything we use,” Flynn said.

Bamber Lake Fire Company

The Bamber Lake Fire Company is the only emergency service that increased their budget primarily because of an aging fleet, Chief Mike Eden said.

“We have run into some problems. Unfortunately we’re going to run into some problems as the fleet ages, and we don’t want to be caught shorthanded,” Eden said.

They also have a shortage in supplies.

“We’re in serious need of supplies. We’ve been just using what we had, trying to get by, and trying to cross our fingers and hope we make it,” Eden said.

The Bamber Lake Fire Company requested multiple items including a pickup truck for $35,000.

The chief’s truck has more than 135,000 miles on it.

In addition to the truck, they asked for three sets of turnout gear at $9,300, three portable radios at $67,000, two carbon cylinders at $10,000, a 1,000 foot supply hose at $12,000, two different attack hoses at $4,200 and $3,000, and extrication equipment at $25,950.

Lanoka Harbor Fire Company

The Lanoka Harbor Fire Company requested a rescue pumper truck at $600,000.

Their newest truck is going on 8 years old. The fire department had to increase maintenance cost because they are running old trucks, Chief Jack Amrozewicz said.

Lacey EMS

Lacey EMS requested a new ambulance at $128,865.

“We need to replace one of our ambulances. One way or another we need to replace it,” Captain Joe Gough said.

The ambulance is 15 years old and has 135,000 miles on it. The squad has paid approximately $30,000 in maintenance on the ambulance.

If a patient has a back injury, the squad is unable to use that ambulance, Gough said.

The squad looked into getting it covered by Oyster Creek Generating Station or grants, but it does not look like that will be possible.

In 2009, the squad had 1,900 calls and handled 1,900 patients. In 2010, they handled approximately 2,000 calls, with over 2,100 patients. The average cost per patient is around $6.

“The only way we manage is through your yearly donations, and what we get through our fund drives, all our members doing what we need to do for our benefits and everything else,” Gough said.

The Lacey EMS has two other aging ambulances- one from 2002 and 2003. The average life of an ambulance is generally five to eight years, Gough said.

They average around 11,000 to 12,000 per year, per ambulance. Because of this factor, the EMS stays away from using their older ambulance.

“It’s really getting to the point of being unsafe. So we do have to do something or we’re going to be going down to two ambulances very soon,” Golf said.

Three ambulances are considered the minimum for the Lacey EMS with the call volume that they have to handle. At any given time, they could have four or five ambulances out.

In the past, they have had to borrow an ambulance from Lanoka Harbor EMS.

To get the ambulance without assistance, the squad would have to take out a loan but with a fluctuating income based on income, it is difficult to make such a commitment.

“I don’t know how many more band aids you want us to put on this ambulance before it becomes detrimental,” Serpe said. “Right at the moment, I think we would be open to any discussion possible to get that ambulance.”

Lanoka Harbor EMS

Lanoka Harbor EMS requested a power stretcher at $12,500.

In the past the EMS asked for three and they were turned down, Chief Bob Resetar said.

Since they bought a new power stretcher, they haven’t had any back injuries in the past two years. They used to have two to three injuries from lifting the stretchers.

The squad only has one power stretcher and three ambulances.

“That stretcher is now running 24 hours a day because I move it based on the ambulance going out on the call,” Resetar said.

If that stretcher is on the road and the squad receives another call, they have to lift manually and run the risk of injury, Resetar said.

One injury could pay for each ambulance to have a stretcher, Resetar said.

Below are the total yearly budgets proposed by each emergency service.

Emergency Squad

Proposed Year Total 2011

Proposed Year Total 2010

Forked River Fire Company

39,800

39,000

Lanoka Harbor Fire Company

24,300

24,500

Bamber Lake Fire Company

21,675

17,975

Lacey First Aid

90,000

70,000

Lanoka Harbor First Aid

90,000

70,000

*Each fire department receives an $11,000 donation from the township while each EMS receives $35,000. The first aid squads are required to give $5,000 towards county dispatch. These numbers are not included in their figures.