Rochester, Vermont

…is looking for a new member for a 5 year term. Please contact Joanne at the town office.

Rochester Volunteer Fire Department (RVFD)
February 21, 2012

The Mission
The Town of Rochester and the RVFD must upgrade to a modern facility to effectively provide services to the residents of Rochester and the surrounding area.

The Problem
The RVFD currently resides in a cramped, claustrophobic, outmoded, flat-roofed, cinder-blocked firehouse built almost 50 years ago. The structure has only two bays,  designed to accommodate just two trucks. The RVFD currently has three trucks, and must squeeze the third truck in diagonally. With three trucks in a two-bay garage, there is a lack of space to adequately and efficiently maneuver within the firehouse. Loading and unloading equipment onto the trucks is a hindrance. Trucks must be jockeyed around to open doors. Practice and training is impossible. Trucks must be moved outside to provide a space for meetings and they end up too close to RT. 100.

The firehouse provides little storage space for equipment, which is tightly and highly stacked against the walls, in the tiny office, and even in the bathroom. The small driveway area has poor visibility, and is  too small to park, clean, and maintain trucks outside.

It’s flat roof leaks, creating mold and general dampness. It is an unhealthy and unpleasant environment to work, which may deter people from volunteering in the future.

The building generally extends to the property lines, so room for growth is not an option. There is no practical way to add the needed garage bay or storage space.

In all, the current firehouse represents a facility of the past, and it offers little or no way to modernize, build, extend, or upgrade from within. The only true solution, when looking ahead toward the future is finding an alternative site.

A Perfect Opportunity
The RVFD has been investigating possible sites for years now, and most prospects have been frustrating and less than ideal for one reason or another. This new opportunity offers by far the best situation for a possible new firehouse that we have seen:

Advanced Illumination Inc. has moved out of a property across the street from the current firehouse, and is offering it to the town free of charge. The size and location of the property are ideal for the needs of the RVFD. It offers enough building space for a four-bay garage and enough driveway space to adequately and safely pull out for emergencies, and to maintain and clean the trucks. It’s in a centralized location which enhances service for the entire area. It is also near the town garage.The site will have pressurized water taps which can efficiently fill water trucks. (Currently the RVFD refills water trucks from outside hydrants.) And best of all, the new site is FREE.

Benefits of a New Firehouse
The RVFD proposes a simple yet aesthetically pleasing design.  The size of the footprint will be about 48’ x 84’.

The building will meet all  building codes , unlike the current building. It will be  energy-efficient with radiant heat .

The new facility will provide badly needed storage and record-keeping space, training space, a place to have meetings, and an overall better atmosphere for the volunteers, and  potential recruits.

In Summary
The RVFD has been looking a long time for a suitable site. At least 11 other sites have been investigated. We now have the opportunity to build an excellent facility at a reasonable price.   This is will be big step in making Rochester a better and safer place to live.