Fire Chief: 'You're Putting Us at Risk'

Much of the Paramus fire department's equipment and gear is in need of replacement immediately, according to Chief John Smith and other officials on the volunteer force.

The borough has not kept up with the department's capital requests, Smith said, leaving the department with engines and trucks more than two decades old and gear due to expire in 2012. 

"The requests of this department are not wish items," Smith told the Mayor and Council in October.

Three pieces of equipment are due for replacement immediately. Engine 4 is 22 years old, Engine 22 is 27 years old and Truck 4 is 26 years old.

Smith said the Paramus fire department has some of the oldest vehicles in the county.

"These are front-line pieces and you're putting us at risk with the things that we're not able to require," he said.

The department's gear is also in need of replacement soon. The department currently has 125 usable sets of gear, said Craig Hopkins, deputy chief of Company 3.

Almost all that gear, 83 sets, expires in 2012.

Smith applauded the governing body for keeping tax rates stable, but asked them to consider the lives and property the fire department helps protect. Smith said business costs and taxes are lower in part because of the work of the department.

He also warned that the borough could fall short of federal and state guidelines if the Fire Department's equipment and gear aren't updated.

The borough has applied for a federal grant for a new truck, administrator Joseph D'Arco said, but hasn't heard back. The cost of a fire truck can reach six figures.

Smith's biggest complaint was that the department's budget, which included requests for the new equipment and gear, was cut without his knowledge.

"I'd like to know who took it upon themselves to say 'You don't need this, you don't need that,'" he said.

D'Arco said he believed it was former Chief Financial Officer Joseph Citro's practice to send department heads their budgets. D'Arco said he recommended that in the future, department heads should meet with the CFO and himself in person to review any cuts.

Mayor Richard LaBarbiera asked Smith to present the governing body with a list of its most pressing requests. He also asked public works superintendent Guy Picone to evaluate the fire department's equipment to identify the most dire needs.

Councilwoman Maureen O'Brien, who also serves as fire commissioner, said the council took Smith's requests seriously, especially regarding the gear.

"The gear has to be purchased in my opinion," she said. "You don't fool around with that."