FONDA,
N.Y. -- After 139 years in service, the fire alarms will no longer be heard at
the Fonda Fire Department one month after a ruling was made to dissolve the department and outsource emergency services.
A three to one ruling was made in February at a Board of Trustees meeting to abolish the local volunteer
fire department.
Firefighters
NEWS10 spoke with say that every time they drive through town, the building that
once housed the department will remain a sore spot, because none of the men who
volunteered wanted to see it dissolved.
For
four minutes, from Fultonville to Mohawk, sirens usually reserved for a death
in the department blared in recognition of the department's final moments.
"In
this case it's the death of the fire department," said former Chief Donald Wagoner
who served at the station for the past 21 years. "After being on call for 365,
24 /7, except for when I go on vacation -- there is nothing."
Now,
all he has left are the pictures from the last few decades.
"It
was really hard to shut the doors," said Wagoner.
"It
leaves you with a sense of emptiness like somethings missing," said Asst. Chief
Gary Barmen.
Mayor William Peeler told NEWS10 in a previous interview that the cost of maintaining the 139-year old
fire department was becoming a burden on the tax payers, citing aging equipment
as a primary reason.
Wagoner
wishes more residents had voiced their opinion during town meetings. Now he
says it's too late as the last gate closes.
NEWS10 ABC
