Dear Property Owner:
Those of us who are fortunate enough to call the Finger Lakes area – Home – are surely blessed. Over the years modern designs and better means of transportation, have allowed us to move our homes, camps and other buildings deeper into the natural settings of our area. We are lucky to be able to get closer to the native beauty.
This movement away from the road frontage of our properties has created a new set of potential problems for the emergency services. First and foremost is our ability to locate all structures in times of an emergency. To this end, we urge everyone to properly mark their address at the road edge with 3 inch reflective numbers. These postings should be near your driveway so there is no mistake which path leads to your property.
The second problem for the fire department is that the buildings are located in such a manner that the conventional fire apparatus is not able to reach them in case of fire or other emergency. We refer to these properties as having “Limited Access”. There are a few such cases where we are unable to get even an ambulance to the house.
In an effort to better protect all persons and buildings within the Trumansburg Fire District, we are undertaking the task of identifying as many of the “limited access” structures as we can. In order to do this we come to you and ask for your input. Please read the below list of factors that “limit access”. If you find your location is limited,
please fill out the online
survey for inclusion in our file.
We respect the privacy of all residents and understand that this is part of the equation that leads us back away from the road front. In filling out this form, you are free to tell us as much or as little as you wish. The form has many extras on it but the three things we really want to know are:
1. Proper street address of the building
2. Last name of family residing there
3. Factors that limit access
If you are unsure about your location’s accessibility, feel free to request a visit by one of our officers. There is a simple line you can
fill out that authorizes a TFD officer to visit your site. We would be happy to set up an appointment to meet with you, if you so desire. You can direct any questions you might
have to Lieutenant Mark Vann at 387-5238.
The Trumansburg Fire Department already has specially sized equipment to reach the limited access sites. With your help, we will have a proper file of such properties. We can then better direct our special units to your location, should the need arise.
The Trumansburg Fire Department has a proud history of service to the community. We want to make sure that we are doing all that we can to protect our neighbors. Please take the time to help us towards that end and help protect your family and property too.
Sincerely,
Officers and Members
Trumansburg Fire Department
FACTORS THAT CREATE LIMITED ACCESS:
1. DRIVEWAY or PRIVATE ROAD that;
a. Can not support at least 18 tons
b. Are greater than 300 feet in length
c. Have tight turns included
d. Are not maintained year round
e. Have steep inclines
2. CULVERTS AND BRIDGES that:
a. Can not support at least 18 tons
b. Have driving surface less than 10 feet in width
c. Are prone to washout or flooding over
d. Present abrupt elevation changes to the driving surface
e. Are not examined yearly for defects
3. TREES AND BRUSH that:
a. Create a passage less than 10 feet in width
b. Overhang the driveway at less than 12 feet above ground
c. Are prone to storm damage
d. Obscure view of other driveway access factors (turns, inclines etc.)
4. OTHER OBSTRUCTIONS such as:
a. Low hanging wires less than 12 feet above ground
b. Gates less than 10 feet wide when fully open
c. Overhead arches, signs or arbors less than 12 feet above ground
d. Fences or rails that create passages less than 10 feet wide
Please click here to fill out
the Online Limited
Access Survey. Thank you for your time.
