Brockport Fire Department logs busy year

Brockport's fire personnel logged more than 1,041 calls during 2002, Fire Chief Greg Wing announced at the February 3 village board meeting.

"We spent 712 hours on the street," he said, adding that none of those hours included training hours. "We responded to 1,041 fire calls."

Of the more than 1,000 calls, Wing said, 24 were structure fires, one arson fire at the college and 32 motor vehicle accidents with people trapped in the vehicles. "That is an unprecedented high for accidents with people trapped," he said. There were also 12 multi car accidents - those involving three or more vehicles, Wing said.

The fire calls were broken down to 25 percent of them in the village, 30 percent to the Town of Clarkson and 33 percent to Sweden. The village was called out to assist in out-of-district calls 3.2 percent of the time, he said.

Ambulance calls totaled 1,605 and accounted for more than 1,490 hours on the road. Calls were broken down to 24.7 percent in the village, 32.3 percent to Clarkson, 35.5 percent to Sweden. Brockport ambulance crews responded to 2.6 percent calls out of the district, he said.

In September and November, there were 149 and 128 calls logged, respectively, and none of the jobs were turned away to commercial agencies, Wing said. "That's thanks to the career staff," he said.

The career staff, Wing reminded the board, is fully funded by third party billing money. "There is no cost to the village for the career staff."

Wing also stressed to board and audience members that residents must get used to dialing 911 for emergencies. "Once we make the switch to 911 we won't be able to trace calls … you have to get used to dialing 911."