Fire Rescue News- RESIDENTS VOICE THEIR OPINION ABOUT FIRE HOUSE CLOSURE
FOLSOM - News spread quickly in the small town of Folsom on Thursday after the mayor abruptly shut down the local volunteer fire department and residents are not happy.
"You were comfortable when you knew the fire company was close to your house and......Continue Reading
that you had men in town that were concerned with the town and were willing to go out and come out in the middle of the night and fight fires," said Margo Veneziani
Folsom residents voiced their concerns at a meeting in the now empty fire house where chief Larry Smith and captain Kyle Smith stood before a local crowd asking for support.
"Currently we're not only covering the town of Folsom. We're covering parts of Winslow Township because they closed one of their stations and we're also covering parts of Hamilton Township," said Kyle Smith.
A concern of many locals is forest fires and who will be there to put them out.
"This is the pine lands. There are a lot of pines around here. There is a lot of woods," said Veneziani.
"One big question to me. I was here in '63 when we had a severe forest fire. Should that happen in this town again where do you think the other towns fire trucks are going to be? Because I can assure you, you won't find them in this town," said Larry Smith.
Mayor Thomas Ballistreri, who was not present at the meeting, said he has outsourced the fire department services to neighboring Collings Lakes in an effort to save money and because of what he calls, a lack of involvement in the volunteer department.
Company members now hope to sit with council members and Mayor Ballistreri in hopes of resolving the issue and restoring services.
This story was taken from the news source stated above. It's content and comments are not necessarily the opinion of The Elwood Vol. Fire Company or it's members.
