LONG EDDY — Can the Long Eddy Hose Co. be rebuilt?

Many residents who attended Monday night’s Fire District meeting at the firehouse hope so. 

But it certainly is going to be a long and difficult process.

With nearly 20 residents filling the seats of Monday’s night’s Fire Commissioners’ meeting, there was fingerpointing and accusations of mismanagement by several residents.

But one thing was clear – the Long Eddy Hose Co. did not get to where it is overnight and it will not get back to full operation without hard work, dedication and lots of volunteers.

Since September of last year, the Long Eddy Hose Co. suspended service and the fire district has been serviced by firemen from the adjoining Hankins-Fremont Volunteer Fire Company and Hancock Fire Dept.

The commissioners, after an hour-long question-and-answer period, approved the following motions:

• The commissioners voted to accept fourteen applications pending each applicant’s positive background check and passing the required physical exam

• The commissioners authorized the inspection of SCOTT packs, which are air supplies used for interior firefighting.

• The commissioners authorized the purchase of eight Indian Fire Pumps used for fighting brush fires and other outdoor fires.

• The commissioners also authorized meeting with the neighboring Hankins-Fremont Fire Dept. to get a mutual aid agreement in place.

For several years the Hankins-Fremont Fire Dept. has been responding to calls in the Long Eddy Fire District to assist the Hose Co. in its response.

The fire district actually covers  part of the Town of Hancock in Delaware County, which is just 1/2 mile from the firehouse.

Residents said they would prefer Long Eddy tried to rebuild its own firefighting capabilities rather than spend money with the Hancock Fire Dept. to have coverage.

But Commissioner James Eaton, who is a past chief of the Long Eddy Hose Co., had some strong words for the community.

“You are either all in or…,” he said. “We could have used you [new volunteers] four or five years ago. I was here for public safety.”

Eaton said that while he was Chief of the Hose Co. the public was sometimes too critical of the fire department, pointing out the grass wasn’t cut or the firetruck was a little dirty.

“It is frutrating dealing with the public,” he said. “Ten years I was here and I tried getting people. All I did was hand out applications. Not one person showed up.”

Eaton said the next challenge in front of the fire department will be training.

“The Interior firefighting class is 120 hours,” he said. “And HazMat first reponders class is six weeks long, three nights a week.

“You have to remember people don’t have time,” Eaton said. ‘We are going to need young kids [to volunteer].”

Residents speak out

During the first portion of the meeting, many residents addressed the Fire Commissioners.

Local resident Ron Burns said, “I live only a mile away from here. If I have to wait [for a firetruck from Hankins-Fremont or Hancock] I’m in a lot of trouble.

“This is what I depend on to get to me in time,” Burns continued. “I do not like the fact that it is closing down.”

Sandy Ross, who lives in Long Eddy, noted that her mother was a commissioner for nearly three decades, and her late father, Walter, and late husband, Ernie, were both involved.

“My huband served as chief and I was also on the auxiliary,” Ross said. “All four of our family members were involved.”

Ross questioned the commissioners’ protocol when it came to meeting schedules, oath of office and training.

Ross also noted that her most recent tax bill had no payment to the fire district and she wondered how it was being funded.

Eaton responded that at the time the budget was submitted, “we had no members.”

Fremont Town Supervisor Brian Brustman, who attended the meeting along with most of the town board, said, “There was a budget submitted to the county for review [but they] would not accept it.”

When asked what the town could do to help the district, Brustman responded, “I have looked at this and until the governing body tells us, there is nothing the town can do. It is up to the commissioners [to move the fire department  forward].”

Ross said, “It’s my conclusion you should resign and let us rebuild the district. I feel there has been a lot of misconduct.”

Fire Commissioner Cheryl Porter then got up from the table and walked out of the meeting.

“I’m done,” she said as she left the meeting room.