Jamestown Fire Station Expansion Project

NEW: May 13th Powerpoint presentation on the Fire Station Expansion Project 

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Why an addition/renovation?

• SAFETY – Bigger Trucks = more water;  TRAINING – Larger training facilities (EMS & Fire)

• Fire Station and Ambulance Barn are not ADA compliant. Currently used by public.

• If funding is not approved both structures will still require renovation (approx... $750,000 ea.)

• Get all members “under one roof” for enhanced training and consolidation= Better public safety.

• The existing Fire station size requires smaller, more costly custom trucks that carry less water. The addition will allow future purchase of stock trucks with maximum water capacity.

• $300,000 for standard truck vs. $550,000 for a custom truck

Why not a new station?

• Cost – New station approx. $5-7 million with property purchase and new Town wide fire alarm system

• What happens to existing station? – Town owns building; Fire Department owns the land (complicated)

Why not a second station on the north end?

• Still in planning process with current council on building for equipment and possible future use

• Not everyone “under same roof”

• Statistics show that most members are “in Town” between 6am and 6pm

• Another building to maintain.

What happens to Ambulance Barn at Knowles Court?

• Parking, re-use, sell (estimated worth $750,000) or?

What if no addition or renovation?

• Still need to renovate station and ambulance barn – approx. $750,000 each

• Still need to purchase custom trucks – 1 immediate and 1 in 3 years - $1.1 million total

Who is the Jamestown Fire Department?

• Volunteers – 120 current membership

• Friends, neighbors, and family

What do we do?

• Provide volunteer fire and Emergency medical services to Jamestown residents
• Approximately 900 calls per year

What does Fire/EMS cost the Town?

• 2015/2016 Budget - $798,376 minus $186,000 in ambulance billing = $612,376 or .61c/day/household

What would a paid department cost?

• Approximately $3 – $5 million per year
• Work would still need to be done on Fire Station to accommodate 24 hour shifts for Fire and EMS

Schematics: