Stop Fire Station Closing

March 15, 2002

The following is a copy of a letter sent to [First Selectwoman] Diane Farrell in regard to the proposed closing of the Green's Farms Fire House.

I unfortunately was unable to attend the recent meeting to discuss the closing of the Green's Farms Fire Station. I have read the account of the meeting in the local papers. I am puzzled by even the mere suggestion of closing a fire station anywhere in town.

As reported in the local papers, Chief [Richard] Gough defended his plan to close Green's Farms Fire Station as a compromise between firefighter safety and maintaining a high level of service to the town. He further was quoted that three people on a vehicle are a nationally recognized standard.

Westport has been able to provide an excellent level of service regarding fire protection with two firefighters on a truck. I have been a resident of Green's Farms since 1984 and I cannot recall since that time when the level of service or firefighter safety has been inadequate.

I believe that there must be careful consideration made before moving ahead with closing this fire station. Green's Farms is home to several schools as well as nursery schools. Besides the residents, the Green's Farms train station, Burying Hill Beach, Sherwood Island State Park, I-95 as well as to mention the new construction of estate-like homes, are all serviced by this fine fire house and firefighters. All these groups in Green's Farms will severely suffer by the closing of this fire station, even if it is temporary. Furthermore, the constant threat of a drought this summer is further reason to maintain this fire station. Can anyone imagine closing any fire station with an expected drought just a few months away?

Recent tax reassessment increased everyone's real estate taxes. Are the residents of Green's Farms expected to pay more in taxes and receive fewer services from the town especially something so critical as fire protection?

I suggest that you and Chief Gough reconsider this risky proposal. The fact that Green's Farms Fire Station received the highest call volumes of all the stations in town speaks for itself. The assistant fire chief and his driver (a firefighter) have been adequate backup for the two-man engine out on a call. Yes, I agree that it does not meet the national standard of a three-man engine but this backup has been successful. Perhaps the national standard is for cities and towns larger than Westport.

Is it worth placing an entire area of town at such a high risk particularly with an ongoing threat of a drought this summer? Is it worth an increase in town fire insurance rates if indeed there is an increase response time to cover the Green's Farms area? Is it so imperative to Fire Chief Gough to institute the national standard of a three-man engine when the status quo of a two-man engine has been able to maintain a high level of fire protection service and firefighter safety all along?

The answers are obvious. Surely, you must reconsider. The closing of the Green's Farms Fire Station will not only be a grave disservice to all the residents of Green's Farms but to everyone in Westport.

MaryAnn Meyer, Green's Farms