Do you have a wood stove or fireplace? Make sure the ashes are cold before removing from the stove/fireplace. Place them in a metal container with a secure metal cover. Never place ashes in an open paper or plastic container on the porch or near your home. Many fires are started when ashes, which are thought to be out, are blown around by the wind.
Monthly Fire Safety Tip
Be sure to call for a permit before burning any brush or leaves.
If you are interested in purchasing a 911 sign please contact us at the station and leave a message 482 2455 or Email us at info@hinesburgfd.org.
PUBLIC SAFETY BUILDING PROJECT
Town of Hinesburg
The Town of Hinesburg will include an article to be voted on Town Meeting Day to fund a public safety facility and community park. The project site is located on Town owned property in the center of the village. The project proposes to expand the Fire Station, co-locate the Police Department under the same roof, build a large community room roughly the size of the Main Hall in the Town Offices, and complete necessary improvements for a Town park, bus stop and park and ride facility on the space commonly referred to as Lot 1. The $2.9 million bond will be voted by Australian ballot on Town Meeting Day, March 6, 2012.
The existing Fire and Police stations are strategically located on Route 116 near the center of Hinesburg. The location is 3.5 miles from all town borders; this distance keeps fire insurance rates reasonable for all property owners in Hinesburg. If that distance were to exceed 5 miles insurance rates would increase for property owners outside the 5 mile radius. The Fire Station
was built in 1972 with additions added in 1976 and 2001 to bring it up to its current size of 4670 square feet. The original construction and subsequent additions were funded by donations and volunteer labor. The Police Station is in a converted single family farmhouse of 1300 square feet with numerous functional and structural issues. For many years, Hinesburg has considered the need for additional Fire and Police facilities. The 2000 Town Report stated: “Both the Hinesburg Community Police Department and Volunteer Fire Department have outgrown their existing facilities.” Twelve years later this is
still valid and both departments are crammed into their existing quarters, storing vehicles off site and renting storage facilities to accommodate their space needs. Both Fire and Police Strategic Plans developed over the last eight years have included objectives to provide expanded, co-located facilities. Beginning in 2005, preliminary plans were developed for an addition to the existing Fire Station to include co-location of the Police Department and provide community meeting room space.
In 2009 preliminary designs were further developed based on this concept and presented at a public meeting on September 16, 2009. Schematic plans were finished; a cost estimate of construction developed and both were presented and discussed at a regularly held Selectboard meeting. In 2010 a committee was formed to determine uses for the rest of the park space (Lot 1). With Selectboard approval, the Lot 1 Committee hired a landscape architect to develop a site plan which was presented at a public meeting in January 2011. The proposed public safety facility totals 14,993 square feet. Emergency vehicles will enter/exit from the eastern side of the building on 116 with main public parking and entrance to the community meeting room on the opposite western side.
Fire Department space will total 8408 square feet and provide for two additional truck bays, one ambulance bay, additional office and storage areas, EMT quarters and a training area. The Police Department area as planned is 4189 square feet and includes a garage/sally port, processing/detention area, squad room, offices, secure storage area and officers’ locker/lavatory areas. The common area will be 2396 square feet and consist of a large meeting room, lobby and bathrooms.
The adjacent Town park has been identified as a possible site for the farmers market, tot playground area and will provide a centrally located green space with gardens and landscaping. A Public Meeting will be held on February 9, 2012 at 7 pm in the Hinesburg Town Hall to explain the project. Additionally the Selectboard will hold a public hearing on the project as part of their regularly scheduled meeting February 27, 2012; time to be determined.
For more information, contact:
Rocky Martin 482-2281 ext. 229 - hinesburgpw@gmavt.net
Al Barber 482-2687 - VT1320@aol.com
Frank Koss 482-3397 - fkoss@dps.state.vt.us
Annual Banquet and
Awards
Joint Extrication
Training
