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Greenburgh Fire Districts Answered 5,000 Calls In 2012

GREENBURGH, N.Y. — It was another busy year for the Fairview, Hartsdale and Greenville fire districts, which combined to respond to about 5,120 calls in Greenburgh last year.

The Fairview Fire District responds to about 2,500 calls in Greenburgh every year, according to its website.

The Fairview Fire District responds to about 2,500 calls in Greenburgh every year, according to its website.

Photo Credit: File/Samantha Kramer

The Hartsdale Fire District, which serves a 4.5-square-mile area in Greenburgh, responded to 1,405 alarms in 2012, which is consistent with the previous couple of years, according to Fire Chief Ed Rush.

Only about 50 of the calls were actual fires, Rush said.

About 25 to 30 percent of the calls are EMS-related, and 20 percent were false alarms, Rush said. An additional 20 percent are what the district calls service alarms — when people have water leaks, are locked out of their houses or cars, or, as in a Dec. 19 incident, to rescue a Greenburgh Department of Public Works employee stuck in a 60-foot-high bucket on a truck.

Rush said his team is used to performing a number of different tasks in the town.

"If they don't know who else to call, they'll call the Fire Department," he said.

The Greenville Fire District totaled 1,215 calls in 2012, according to Fire District Secretary Lisa Dinon. That also is on par with the previous couple of years. Dinon said the district, which serves the Edgemont community, usually gets 1,200 to 1,300 calls a year.

Greenville firefighters had an especially busy time in the days after Hurricane Sandy in late October, when they responded to 87 calls in just a 60-hour period beginning on Oct. 29, according to their website. The calls consisted mainly of downed trees and wires.

The Hartsdale Fire District has 37 career members and 15 volunteers, while Greenville has 30 career members and 20 volunteers, according to each of the districts' websites.

The Fairview Fire District, which serves a 5.5-square-mile area in Greenburgh, responds to about 2,500 calls per year, according to its website. Composed of 45 career members and 16 volunteers, the fire district responds to hazardous materials incidents and provides EMT services in addition to fire suppression.

In addition, all three fire districts have members who participate in the Greenburgh Technical Rescue Team.

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