Are members assigned shifts and do they sleep in the firehouse?
Members have no set hours and respond at the sound of the siren or a voice page. When a storm threatens to block the roads with snow or fallen trees that prevent members from reaching the firehouse, some of us will spend the night in quarters to be available should an alarm be sounded. Otherwise, we respond from our homes, around town or places of business. Most of our active members have jobs in the North Castle area that permit them to respond quickly to an alarm. Last year, we averaged 10 members per call, which was more than sufficient to man the ambulance or get fire trucks on the road within minutes of being dispatched. On the rare occasion that we’re initially unable to field a crew for an alarm, we ask 60 Control to send a second voice page announcing the need for personnel. In 2007, our average response time – from initial dispatch by 60 Control to the departure of our first piece of apparatus from the firehouse – was less than five minutes, well ahead of New York State requir
