The Turkey Creek fire board Monday, May 9, unanimously approved a $27,000 allotment to purchase nine new overhead doors for Fire Station 1 in Syracuse.

“The current doors and openers are more than 30 years old with parts no longer available,” said Fire Chief Mickey Scott.

“We are having issues with getting the doors to close with the remote controls when we leave on emergency runs,” he said. “This results in an unsecured building and the loss of heat during cool weather conditions.

“We have checked into improving this condition and we are unable to accomplish this due to the age of the doors and openers,” said Scott.

The new door system will come equipped with remote controls and automatic timers.

“The remote controls will be utilized to open the doors when leaving on an emergency call,” Scott said. “The automatic timers will close the doors after the apparatus is gone.”

The money will come from the department’s 2016 equipment replacement fund.

Scott also announced the department is accepting applications for full-time employees.

Applications may be picked up at Station 1, 402 N. Huntington St., Syracuse, or Station 2, 8138 E. McClintic Road, Syracuse, or may be downloaded from the department’s website, www.syracusefd.com.

Eligibility requirements, application procedures and timetable are available on the website. Applications must be submitted by 3:30 p.m. Friday, June 10, at Station 2.

The board introduced Andrea Reed, the recently hired executive director of the Syracuse-Wawasee Chamber of Commerce. Reed said, “I am excited to learn everything I can about Syracuse,” and announced she is compiling a calendar of community events. “We can also advertise job listings,” she told the board.

Board President Kim Cates noted Reed urged the fire department to submit its activities for timely inclusion.
Scott reported he met with Megan McClellan of the Syracuse-Wawasee Trails committee to discuss a numbering system “in order to have location points along the trails so we can quickly locate the proper area along the trail should an emergency occur,” he said.

“During an emergency situation, time is crucial and it is vitally important we respond to the appropriate location along the trail.

“Utilizing the address of nearby residents will not always be efficient as citizens using the trail may not be from our area and may be unaware of the name of the road or street they are on,” he said, also noting “there are sections along the trail where there is not a residence nearby.”

In other business, Scott reported:

• The department responded to 10 fire calls and 112 EMS calls in April.

• Department personnel completed 393.5 hours of fire and EMS training in April on topics including establishing water supply and pumping operations, ground ladder placement, proper knot tying, emergency preplans for buildings, scene sizeup and kids safety.

• This year’s annual pork chop and chicken barbecue fundraiser will take place from 10 a.m. until the product is sold out (“usually 1:30 p.m. to 2 p.m.,” said Scott) Saturday, July 2, at Station 1. Pork chops or chicken halves are $6; corn on the cob is $1.

• The department has spent approximately 21 percent of its budget with 33 percent of the year elapsed.

The board will next meet at 6:45 p.m. Monday, June 13, at Syracuse Town Hall.