HISTORY OF THE FIRE DEPARTMENT
Fire protection and ambulance service are provided by the Hastings Volunteer Fire Department, consisting of over 80 members organized into four companies.
The Ambulance Corps maintains a duty roster manned by volunteers from the membership of the four fire companies. A Fire Police unit which maintains fire lanes and directs traffic on the fire ground is also part of the department.
Hastings enjoys one the lowest fire insurance rates possible for a community with a volunteer department. The department responds to an average of 400 fire calls and over 500 ambulance calls per year. The Fire Department also serves The Donald Park area outside the boundaries of Hastings under contract with the Town Of Greenburgh.
Administration and Personnel
Companies are largely self-governing and elect their own officers, as do the Ambulance Corps and the Fire Police. Overall direction is provided by the Board of Fire Wardens, consisting of two representatives of each fire company and the Fire Chief.
The Fire Chief is in command at all fires. In addition to the Chief, there are first, second and third assistant chiefs. Each chief represents one of the companies and is elected for a two-year term. Assistant chiefs advance in rank so that by the time an assistant chief becomes head of the department he has had at least six years experience in command level fire-fighting activities.
All firefighters and EMS members must complete New York State training certifications required for initial first responders. Additional levels of training and certifications are pursued and maintained by all members as well as annual recertifications mandated by federal and state requirements. All members must respomd tp a required number of alarms in order to maintain active status and are covered by a service award program which provides compensation for line of duty injury or death.
Facilities and Equipment
Fire houses, with the exception of the Hook and Ladder building which is village-owned, are owned by the membership of the companies. The village provides some funding to defray operating costs.
The ambulance, firetrucks and other equipment are owned by the village and maintained by the companies. Fire hydrants are owned and maintained by the United Water Company and are rented by the village.
The dispatching facilities for fire and ambulance alarms is located at Police Headquarters which relays alarms to the fire houses and personal alarm alert systems.
Ambulance
Twenty-four hour emergency ambulance and first-aid service are available to Hastings residents without charge. The ambulance is fully equipped with the most modern emergency equipment. Volunteer personnel receive ongoing training courses in first-aid and emergency medical techniques.
Fire Prevention Bureau
The Fire Prevention Bureau, consisting of the Fire Inspector, appointed by the Village Manager, inspects multiple dwellings, public gathering places and industrial property. The bureau conducts an annual inspection of the schools at the request of the School Board.
CALL 911 IN CASE OF EMERGENCY
| 
