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Fire chief says new forestry/minipump vehicle will improve island access; NFPA standards cited
Summary
Fire Chief Ken Jones told the Select Board island residents should not be unduly worried about fire coverage; the department has added a forestry/minipump vehicle funded in part by an AFV grant to reach locations inaccessible to larger engines and cited NFPA 1 Chapter 18 apparatus-access standards.
Fire Chief Ken Jones told the Select Board he understands island residents’ concerns about fire coverage and outlined steps the department has taken to address access challenges.
Jones cited NFPA 1, Chapter 18, for apparatus-access requirements and said the department faces bridge weight limits and narrow driveways that prevent larger engines from reaching some island properties. “This would help access not just the islands, but also the driveways that are inaccessible to their main apparatus,” Jones said of a new forestry/minipump vehicle the department is putting in service after receiving AFV grant funding.
Jones said Meredith also benefits from seasonal fire-boat support shared with Gilford for much of the year, and he noted past damage to apparatus on some island approaches has informed vehicle selection. The board thanked the chief for the detailed briefing and asked staff to continue monitoring specific access points and bridge-load limits as part of preparedness planning.
