NOvember 14, 2023
By Kriste Gerhard
Since the Hartsville’s Board meeting regarding the fire contract for 2024-2026 being awarded to South Hornell Tension has continued to rise between Hartsville and Canisteo. Immediately following the meeting on October 25, 2023 Chief Lewis has made bold and unnecessary changes to the emergency services 911 call boxes and is attempting to make even more changes. (Editors note: First Box refers to which Fire Dept is called to respond first, and what order the fire departments are called.)
Starting with: Oct 26, 2023 he has spitefully removed South Hornell from all Canisteo calls. Canisteo Town and Village and Hartsville will no longer be supported by South Hornell via automatic mutual aid. This has been a long standing arrangement for both Fire Departments for decades. Teaming up using the two most active volunteer fire departments to support one another to provide the best possible coverage for our area.
In a phone call with Chief Lewis I confirmed Chief Lewis has requested changes for all the call boxes for our areas to be reprogrammed permanently. Removing South Hornell from ALL FIRST box alarms and replacing them with other volunteer fire departments that are over 10 miles away and sometimes even farther depending on where you are. We are terrified at the potential risk this poses for Hartsville including our Volunteers and residents. We have researched 911 reports for several years and have found no basis for the request for change other than the bruised ego of the Fire Chief. If these changes are implemented we are very concerned about the risk to the school children and faculty should an emergency arise at one of the schools.
Example of one of the proposed changes: If a call for Canisteo comes in for Hartsville and Canisteo can not respond, we could be waiting for North Hornell to respond and travel across Hornell to assist or possibly be the first to respond. This would be bypassing all of Hornell City and South Hornell. This is precious time a fire fighter could be trapped, a person trapped … This would be the same potential risk for the schools permanently.
We have determined that the FIRE CHIEF has legal authority to make the proposed changes . Chief Lewis has made accusations about South Hornell Fire Department equipment and personnel that we have researched and proven to be completely false. South Hornell has been assisting and sometimes responding in place of Canisteo for decades without complaint or financial gain. Now that the roles are reversed Chief Lewis has decided to remove his fire house from the team claiming superior services.
Hartsville is working with area fire departments to try to ensure temporary coverage is in place until our new contract takes affect. We appreciate all the volunteers and the continued support to our community . We continue to be concerned for our volunteers, children and staff members at the school as well as our area neighbors. Hartsville will be discussing this at our board meeting Wednesday November 15, at 7p.m
I have spoken to Steuben County Emergency Management , Mayor Recktenwald, as well as area fire chiefs to try to avoid these knee jerk decisions that could have catastrophic consequences. Canisteo Board meeting is Tuesday, we urge you to go voice your concerns.
