Fire chief warns tight laneways and brush risk emergency response delays; town planning and outreach proposed

Block Island Fire Chief (identified in the meeting as Chief Obi) told the New Shoreham work session he has “deep concerns” about narrow laneways, private driveways and accumulated brush that limit emergency access and increase wildfire risk.

“There are some lane ways and driveways… we can’t get in there with an emergency vehicle, an ambulance, fire trucks, etcetera,” Chief Obi said. He asked the town to consider targeted outreach and education to property owners and the rental community and proposed ways to identify and prioritize the worst access locations.

Why it matters: Chief and other participants said limited access could slow firefighting and rescue responses, damage emergency vehicles and increase the chance of property loss in wildland or structural fires. They discussed options to increase resident awareness, protect renters and link clearance requirements to municipal processes.

Proposals discussed

Speakers offered several practical steps: a mailed informational insert with tax bills explaining clearance expectations; distributing flyers and postcards through rental agencies and the town’s short‑term rental database; asking delivery drivers and other commercial visitors to flag problematic driveways; and using town staff to inventory and prioritize trouble spots.

Town staff and residents suggested a phased approach: first a sustained education campaign and a low‑cost reporting mechanism (drivers or town staff mark problem spots), then, after a year of notification and outreach, consider regulatory steps such as requiring proof of cleared access for building permits or short‑term rental licenses.

Technical details and clarifications

Fire personnel suggested a 14-by-14-foot cleared passage as a commonly referenced target for vehicle access; Chief Obi and several speakers acknowledged that older lanes and private rights-of-way may predate those standards and present enforcement challenges. Discussion also noted insurer guidance — reported in the meeting as some companies seeking as much as a 100-foot cleared area around houses in high-risk regions — and that controlled burns are a historical practice but are not a DIY recommendation.

Next steps

Council members and staff proposed placing the laneway/access issue on an upcoming agenda, convening stakeholders (fire, rescue, roads, rental agencies, realtors) and using a mix of postcards, short‑term rental notices and face‑to‑face outreach. Staff also discussed the limits of municipal enforcement on private ways and the need to balance education with any future regulatory approach.

Ending note: Fire officials stressed the problem is long-standing and called for sustained town effort to identify priority locations, notify property owners and build a durable outreach and inspection program rather than a one‑off campaign.