Bethel Fire and EMS have released their report on calls for service from January. There were a total of 43 calls for the fire department, including 6 for assistance at car accidents. There was one electrical fire, 1 kitchen fire, 1 animal rescue and 1 call about broken pipes. Bethel firefighters responded to 8 automatic alarms, 4 calls to investigate the smell of smoke and 4 about carbon monoxide or a gas leak.
There were a total of 144 EMS calls in January.
Bethel Fire and EMS is testing out some new equipment options to find the so-called bail out kit that best fits the department needs. Assistant Chief Brendan Ryan wrote on Facebook that the gear is critical to overall safety, but something they hope never to need. The bailout kit is a harness-like device that can help a firefighter safely evacuate a building in low visibility, high heat situations. Flash Fire industries recently brought a two story training prop to the Bethel Fire Department for members to try out two different systems.
The gear became mandatory in all New York State departments after an FDNY member was trapped in an illegally altered apartment and forced out a window, falling over 40 feet to the pavement below.
