Vischer Ferry Volunteer Fire Company Services Provided to Community

Fire Suppression

Our fire district contains approximately 3900 homes, apartment complexes, small businesses, and one elementary school. Half of the fire district is comprised of housing developments with fire hydrants, while the other half is rural without fire hydrants. We respond to structure fires throughout the fire district. We use our three engine tankers for fire suppression of structures and chimney fires. In hydrant areas we attach to a fire hydrant for a water source. In non-hydrant areas, we use fire ponds and a portable canvas tank carried on ETA-621. The canvas tank is setup for rural fires next to the attack engine. Our fire trucks and possibly other mutual aided fire trucks dump their water tanks into the portable tank to supply water at the scene of a fire.

For Vehicle fires we use the water carried on the attacking engine. Typical vehicle fire response would include one or more engine tankers and our rescue truck.

When dealing with Brush Fires we use our 4-wheel drive brush truck. This truck carries 150 gallons of water. It also contains shovels, rakes, and portable backpack water tanks for firefighters. The truck may be supplied with water at the fire scene from one of our engine tankers.

Motorvehicle Accidents

We use tools found on our rescue truck to perform vehicle extrication at motor vehicle accidents. Cribbing (blocks of wood)are used to stabilize the vehicle. We carry a set of hydraulic spreaders used to open doors, hoods, and trunks. We use a hydraulic cutter for cutting the door posts on vehicles. We also carry a set of inflatable Air Bags. These are used to lift vehicles or other heavy objects. Typical response would include an engine tanker and our rescue truck.

Alarm Activation

We respond to fire alarm activation's. Investigation into the cause of the alarm is carried out in cases where there is no fire condition found.

We respond to Carbon Monoxide Detector Activation's. We have a Carbon Monoxide metering device on our rescue truck. This truck responds to the call location. Firefighters wearing self-contained breathing apparatus enter the location to obtain meter readings. The readings are recorded and the heating fuel service provider is contacted to respond to the building for further evaluation. Individuals needing medical assistance due to a CO problem are given treatment until the ambulance arrives.

Rescue Calls

Ice/Cold Water Rescue

The Fire District borders on approximately 5 miles of the Mohawk River and the old Erie Barge Canal. The district contains the Stoney Creek Reservoir as well as small ponds and creeks. We respond to situations where someone has fallen through the ice or into the water. Currently we have 6 Ice/Cold Water Rescue suits. The suits are made of Neoprene and provide buoyancy in the water and insulation from the cold. There are several ways in which a victim is reached that has fallen through the ice. A ladder can be extended across the ice for the victim to grab or to distribute the weight of the rescuer that will rescue the victim. A rope bag can be thrown to the victim and then the person can be pulled from the water. Using the Ice Rescue suits a rescuer is sent out onto the ice or into the water to rescue the individual needing assistance.

Search and Rescue

Some of our members have received training by the Department of Environmental Conservation in Search and Rescue Techniques. These members are part of the Southern Saratoga County Search and Rescue Team. They are called in to search forests and other areas for lost individuals. They use a variety of search techniques and work closely with a New York State Forest Ranger on searches.

Emergency Medical Services

Some of our membership are Certified New York State First Responders and Emergency Medical Technicians. Our department is dispatched for emergency medical assistance with the Clifton Park-Halfmoon Ambulance Corps to provide emergency medical services to the community. We have a defibrillation device in service for use when a patient has collapsed and requires CPR and defibrillation.

Hazardous Materials

Our members are trained to a minimum level of Hazardous Materials Awareness. A majority of our membership has received and maintains a level of Hazardous Materials Operations. Several of our members are trained to a level of Hazardous Materials Technician.

Service Calls

We respond to reports of Natural Gas leaks. We evaluate the situation with an explosion meter and at the same time contact Niagara Mohawk to respond to the scene. If a Gas Leak is found then any individuals in immediate danger are evacuated from the area.

We respond to downed power lines on the road. The area around the power line is blocked off and the power company is notified to respond. Once the appropriate representative from the power company has arrived the scene is turned over to them.

We also respond to cases of flooding where basements are extremely flooded. We setup portable pumps to pump out the basement water. This is done to prevent problems associated with gas leaks from the pilot lights going out on the furnace or hot water heater.

Fire Prevention Education

Each year during National Fire Prevention week some of our members coordinate and participate in a joint teaching effort of Fire Prevention to the children in Grades K-5 of the Shenendehowa School District. This effort is carried out over several days. Kindergarten students are introduced to a firefighter and are taught not to play with matches, stop drop and roll if clothing is on fire, and how to call 911 in an emergency. In grades 1 and 2 the themes taught in Kindergarten are reviewed in more detail.
In grade 3 the students are taught about home escape plans. They are given a home work assignment to design and practice a home escape plan with their families. Each plan is picked up and reviewed by the fire departments. The plans are returned to the students with a certificate and any comments about the plan.

In grade 4 the students are taught about fire safety and how to recognize potential fire hazards; how to deal with certain fire conditions; and they are given a brief demonstration on fire hazards. They are then given a homework assignment to create a fire safety poster for a poster contest. The posters are reviewed and a winner of the contest for each classroom is selected. These students are then picked up and driven to the school on a fire truck on a designated morning.

For grade 5 the students are given a "Scared Straight" talk. They are treated as adults during the lecture. The definition of arsonist is discussed in detail. The dangers of fire, and the types of damage that fire does to property and lives are also discussed.

Roadside Cleanup

We have adopted a portion of Crescent Road from Moe Road to our Station #1. Each Fall and Spring we perform a roadside cleanup detail. Picking up debris and garbage that has gathered along side the road each year.

Santa Claus Community Visit

Each year, on one Saturday in the month of December, we take our fire trucks into the community with Santa Claus on the back of the truck. The Fire District children come out to greet Santa. They are each given a Candy Cane and Santa poses for photographs upon request.