LONG EDDY – Long Eddy Hose Co. Chief Pam Wayne and Long Eddy Fire District Commissioner James Eaton showed up last Thursday for the second ‘reorganizational’ meeting since the company shut down last summer. 

But a winter storm seemed to keep any volunteers from showing up. 

“A day like this really slows you down,” Eaton said, referring to the lack of attendance. “It [reviving the Fire Co.] is a very slow process, especially after a day like this.

“Once the weather came in I knew it would be a low turnout,” Eaton said. “We need members, trained members are good. We are trying to get back our trained members.”

Eaton said that he and Wayne worked until about 8:30 p.m. the night before to get all the SCBA [Self Contained Breathing Apparatus] Packs out and ready for inspection. “We have Haig coming on Monday to certify our packs,” Wayne said. 

The duo said it was imperative that the packs were certified.

“We can’t have someone taking a pack off a truck that is not certified,” Eaton said.

Looking back… and ahead

The Long Eddy Hose Co. suspended service last September, at the request of Sullivan County and State Fire Officials.

Hankins-Fremont Center Fire Company and Hancock Fire Company have been responding to fires and emergency calls in the Long Eddy Fire District to provide protection.

Last year, the Hancock Fire Dept. responded to approximately 28 calls in the Long Eddy Fire District.

Hankins-Fremont Center has been on automatic response to building and brush fires in the Long Eddy District for nearly two years.

The next meeting of the fire department will be Tuesday, March 11 at 6 p.m. at the firehouse, Hunter Shampine, who is helping with the reorganization, said.

The next meeting of the Long Eddy Fire District Board of Fire Commissioners is March 3.