By Scott Stafford
Updated: 09/17/2009 11:51:53 PM EDT
Berkshire Eagle Staff
HINSDALE -- A state grant for $11,900 will allow the local fire department to upgrade its radio transmitter and antenna to call volunteer firefighters to the scene of emergencies more quickly.
According to Larry Turner, Chief of the Hinsdale Volunteer Fire Department, the taller antenna and new Motorola radio will eliminate delays they are experiencing because of outdated equipment.
The current 36-watt system isn’t powerful enough to get through to some of the firefighters’ homes or workplaces.
When a call comes in, an automated system pages the firefighters and volunteer EMTs, which then gives them a voice message on the nature of the call and a location.
"Some fellows have trouble listening to the voice message depending on where they’re standing in the house," Turner said. "So they’d have to call around to find out where to go."
The new 100-watt system won’t have any trouble punching the signal through, he said.
"That will take care of all the problems we’ve had," Turner noted.
He said the town was notified of the grant on Monday and expects to have the new system working within two months.
"This is a big step for us -- the voice message after the tones is real important," Turner said. "It will help us immensely."
According to Ray Bolduc, Hinsdale’s director of emergency management and volunteer firefighter, the grant comes from the Massachusetts
Security Trust Fund Grant Program administered by the Executive Office of Public Safety and Security.
"We’ve been using this old system for about 10 years," Bolduc said. "The problem is we live all through the community. But we’ve done a test and 100 watts should hit everywhere."
There are about 30 members of the Hinsdale volunteer fire department and ambulance corps.
To reach Scott Stafford:
sstafford@berkshireeagle.com.
