To the editor:
I am writing to express my support for the volunteers of the Cicero Fire Department.
Like many fire departments which have existed for decades, our Cicero Fire Department building, built in 1953, with the addition built in 1983, can no longer sustain the needs of a modern fire department. This is obvious to everyone. Think back to the four corners intersection of Routes 11 and 31 in 1953 and 1983, and the four corners today. The average fire truck is 35 feet long, and the current building is 25 feet from the road. And anybody from Cicero knows the terrible traffic congestion in this area on a daily basis.
I am also a volunteer firefighter, and I know firsthand the dedication, sacrifice, training and hard work that all of our volunteer firefighters put into serving the residents of the town of Cicero. The Cicero Fire Department responds to an average of 1,000 calls per year, including motor vehicle accidents, fires and medical emergencies.
In addition to the above, the Cicero Fire Department provides mutual aid assistance to the other departments outside of the Cicero Fire District, including Brewerton, South Bay, Bridgeport and North Syracuse.
Our fire departments provide a service where seconds can literally mean the difference between life, death or serious injury. When a fire occurs, a house can be consumed in flames in the span of five minutes, and getting our firefighters, vehicles and equipment to the scene as quickly and safely as possible is critical. Our firefighters are trained to enter a burning structure to save lives, knowingly putting their own safety at risk. The duty of our firefighters is do this job well and free of charge.
But our firefighters do more than fight fires. If a loved one has a heart attack or other medical problem, getting our personnel and apparatus to a home as quickly as possible is critical. Seconds matter during an emergency, and being even 30 seconds too late can have disastrous, even deadly, consequences.
The priority issue at this time is finding the best solution to construct a new fire station that will meet the needs of a modern fire department, protect our volunteer firefighters, fire vehicles and apparatus and will serve the residents of Cicero for the next 50 years, but is still financially feasible and responsible to everyone involved. I believe as this process continues, an open dialogue with the Cicero Town Board is a must, and that open communication between the town board and Cicero Fire Department will eventually result in a decision that everybody will support.
It is important that this process not turn into a political or personal issue. All parties must remember that, first and foremost, this is a safety issue, and that Cicero residents and taxpayers have the right to decide to build this station without delay, or endangering the safety of our fellow citizens.
I pledge to continue working with the parties involved to resolve this issue to the benefit of all.
Mike Becallo
Cicero Town Councilor
