Berkeley County Fire Board

Audited Financial Statement ending June 30, 2007

BERKELEY COUNTY FIRE SERVICE BOARD, INC.

The Berkeley County Fire Service Board’s Administrative Office is located at
400 WEST STEPHEN ST. Suite 206 , Martinsburg 25401

Office business hours are: 9 AM to 5 PM - Monday - Friday

Mailing Address: Berkeley County Fire Service Board

400 West Stephen St. -- Suite 206

Martinsburg, WV 25401

Office telephone numbers:

304-264-1945

Email to Fire Board

Board Members as of July 1, 2007

Name Title Service Term Representative of

Roger Williams	Chairman	12/08/2005 - 03/01/2008	Fire Service
Rodney Crowell	Vice Chairman	08/01/2007 – 03/01/2010	Fire Service
David Ditto	Board Member	03/06/2006 – 03/01/2009	Citizen
Mike Beddow	Board Member	03/09/2006 – 03/01/2009	Fire Service
Tom Bowers	Board Member	02/02/2007 – 03/01/2008	Citizen
Tim Feltner	Board Member	08/01/2007 – 03/07/2009	Citizen
Steven Teufel	Board Member	Commissioner Representative	Citizens of Berkeley County

The Berkeley County Fire Service Board of Directors consists of three fire service personnel selected from one of the five fire districts, three citizens from different voting districts, and one Berkeley County Commissioner. Each Citizen or Fire Service representative is appointed for a three year term not to exceed two terms, approved by the Berkeley County Commission and sworn in by the Berkeley County Clerk.

The Berkeley County Fire Service Board of Directors meets monthly on the second Thursday at 7:00 PM to conduct regular business. These meetings are conducted in the Commissions’ Chambers, 2^nd floor, The Dunn Building 400 West Stephens Street.

"Fire Board Office Administrator: Donna Cross"

304-264-1945 Office

Current Fire Fees for Berkeley County Residences and Businesses is based upon a graduated scale related to the square footage of occupied structures in Berkeley County.

Those rates are as follows:

Square Footage	Residential	Fee Amount
0 - 2500		$30.00
2500 and Up		$40.00

Square Footage	Commercial	Fee Amount
0 - 2500		$80.00
2501 - 7500		$162.50
7501 - 20,000		$400.00
20,001 and Up		$975.00

Please click below for the current Berkeley County Fire Fee Ordinance

Current Fire Service Fee Ordinance

Fire Board History

Object and Findings of Organization

“Berkeley County Fire Service Board, Inc.”

Constitution and By-laws

“Article II

Object:

The Berkeley County Commission hereby states that the object of the board is to provide for the improvement, advancement and development of the fire services within Berkeley County, to establish funding priorities and mechanisms and to do any and all necessary business for the fire service and citizenry of Berkeley County in accordance with any and all existing State, Federal, and local laws and ordinances.” As created on 3/15/1986.

Berkeley County Fire Service Fee Ordinance

Revised August 24, 1995

“Section IX

Use of Funds for Fire Protection Only

The revenues received for the collection of Fire Protection User Fess shall be used only to defray the cost of the continuance, maintenance, or improvement of fire protection service within the county, and no part of such revenues shall be used for any other county purposes. Any fees imposed under this article are dedicated to the county fire board of the purpose provided in this article” As revised on August 24, 1995

WEST VIRGINIA FOREST FIRE LAWS

http://www.wvforestry.com/firelaws.cfm

It is still your responsibility to actively tend to any controlled outside burning. You are to never leave these fires unattended. Remember, if you initiate a controlled outside burning, you may be responsible for any damages or services rendered by the fire service in the event the controlled burn gets ‘out of control’

Happenings at the Berkeley County
Fire Service Board

Berkeley County West Virginia Volunteer Firefighters Utilize
Personal Protective Equipment during Routine and Emergency Ope

	Helmet Protective Hood Gloves Coat & Pants Suspenders Boots/Footwear	$ 176.00 $ 17.00 $ 30.00 $ 1,113.00 $ 17.00 $ 199.00 $ 1,552.00
	TOTAL INITIAL COST TO OUTFIT ONE FIREFIGHTER - THROUGH OCTOBER, 2004 (WITHOUT SELF-CONTAINED BREATHING APPARATUS

The above photos show some initial site work earlier in 2007 at the new location for the Hedgesville Fire Station. Triad Engineering, Inc. of Winchester, Virginia is the Engineering firm used for this portion of the building project. www.triadeng.com (Photos taken by David E. Hibbs – Staff Engineer)

The current Hedgesville Fire & Rescue Station #30 on Main Street in Hedgesville is being replaced by a newly designed multi-purpose fire & rescue station approximately 1 mile east of Hedgesville. This new station will be situated on property that was purchased by the Hedgesville Volunteer Fire & Rescue Company. The Berkeley County Fire Service Board, the Berkeley County Commission, and the Hedgesville Volunteer Fire & Rescue Company have partnered in this multi-million dollar project. The ground breaking ceremonies were conducted on August 25, 2007 at the new site. Site preparation work began in September, 2007.

Berkeley County, West Virginia Volunteer Fire & Rescue Company Fire Stations

There are eight (8) Volunteer Fire stations and substations in Berkeley County, West Virginia. These stations are managed and maintained by the five (5) Volunteer Fire & Rescue Companies in Berkeley County.

Company Name	Company #
South Berkeley	Co. 20
Hedgesville	Co. 30
Bedington	Co. 40
Back Creek Valley	Co. 50
Baker Heights	Co. 60

These stations are dispersed throughout Berkeley County so that vital pieces of emergency equipment are ready for service when an emergency arises. These emergencies include fires, vehicle accidents, industrial and commercial accidents, special rescues, emergency medical services, and other vital services to the community and citizens of Berkeley County too numerous to list. These stations are maintained and managed by the respective Volunteer Fire & Rescue Company.

The South Berkeley Volunteer Fire And Rescue Company (Company 20)

Website for South Berkeley Volunteer Fire Co.

The Main Station of the South Berkeley Volunteer Fire & Rescue Company (Company 20) is located at 8009 Winchester Avenue, Inwood, WV 25428. Two first line fire engine/pumpers, a special rescue truck, two brush trucks, and an ambulance are housed at this location. Additionally, the administrative offices and meeting rooms for the Department are located at this station.

The South Berkeley Volunteer Fire & Rescue Company also maintains a sub-station (Station 29) located at 4127 Winchester Avenue (Pike side), Martinsburg, West Virginia 25401. A first line Engine/Pumper, two tankers (one carries 8,000 gallons and the other 1,500 gallons of water), an air craft crash rescue truck and a Berkeley County Reserve Engine/Pumper are housed at this station.

The South Berkeley Volunteer Fire & Rescue Company’s fire and rescue responsibility includes a large geographic area in the southern part Berkeley County West Virginia. The South Berkeley Volunteer Fire & Rescue Company is challenged daily with a very diverse emergency response area. Their “1^st due area” includes: mixed residential (single occupancy, multi story apartments and townhouses), schools, large and small commercial venues, large and small industrial venues, farms, woodlands, water hazards (quarries & creeks), an airport and airplane manufacturing facility, major truck transit points and warehouses, over 10 miles of interstate highways (I-81 north and south) and numerous miles of heavily traveled primary and secondary roadways.

South Berkeley VFC Engine 22

Engine 22 (A 2002 Pierce Dash manufactured in Wisconsin) was purchased by the Berkeley County Fire Service Board and the South Berkeley Volunteer Fire Company in 2001.

This fire apparatus was designed by members of the Berkeley County Fire Service, the Berkeley County Fire Service Board and members of South Berkeley Volunteer Fire Company.

Total Cost of this apparatus was over $215,000.00 and was delivered to the Department in 2002.

Hedgesville Volunteer Fire & Rescue Company (Company 30)

The Main Station of the Hedgesville Volunteer Fire & Rescue Company (Company 30) is located on Hedgesville Road (Main Street) in Hedgesville, West Virginia 25427. A first line fire engine/pumper, a combination tanker-pumper, a rescue/mini-pumper, a brush truck, two ambulances and an auxiliary vehicle are housed at this location. Additionally, the administrative offices and meeting rooms for the Department are located at this station.

The Hedgesville Volunteer Fire & Rescue Co. also maintains a sub-station (Station 70) located at 3676 Mountain Lake Road, Hedgesville, West Virginia 25427. A Pumper/tanker, a tanker and brush truck are housed at this station.

The Hedgesville Volunteer Fire & Rescue Company’s fire and rescue responsibility includes a large geographic area in the northwest and central part of Berkeley County West Virginia. The Hedgesville Volunteer Fire & Rescue Company’s is challenged daily with a very diverse emergency response area. Their “1^st due area” includes: mixed residential (single occupancy, multi story apartments and townhouses), schools, large and small commercial venues, large and small industrial venues, farms, woodlands, water hazards (quarries & creeks), major rail transit points and industrial sidings (CSX Railroad), and many miles of heavily traveled primary and secondary roadways.

Engine 30, a 2004 Pierce Fire Truck, was placed in service at the Hedgesville VFC in the summer of 2004. This Fire Truck was one of three purchased by the Berkeley County Fire Service Board in 2003-2004. This "engine" has carries 1,000 gallons of water, hundreds of feet of hose and all of the necessary equipment for a structural fire fighting vehicle. The cost of this fire fruck was approximately $300,000.00 (not including the equipment) and replaced a 1970's era tanker truck.

Hedgesville VFC Rescue/Engine 31

Rescue/Engine 31 (A 2001/2002 Pierce Contender Series Fire Truck manufactured in Wisconsin) was purchased by the Berkeley County Fire Service Board and the Hedgesville Volunteer Fire Company in 2002 and placed in service in early 2003.

Rescue/Engine 31 was purchased to replace two older pieces of apparatus, one of which had been severely damaged in a non-vehicular accident. Rescue/engine 31 was modified slightly to enable the Hedgesville VFC to transport rescue and extrication equipment as well as an air cascade system. All of this equipment had been transported on at least two different vehicles that were taken out of service.

This apparatus had built by Pierce Fire Apparatus and then donated, at no cost, to be used at the 2002 Winter Olympics held in Salt Lake City, Utah. After being used at the 2002 Winter Olympics, this vehicle went on tour throughout the United States to various fire and rescue shows. The Hedgesville VFC membership found this unique fire apparatus and presented a proposal to the Berkeley County Fire Service Board in October, 2002 to purchase the fire truck. The Berkeley County Fire Service Board agreed with the proposal and entered into a financial agreement with Hedgesville VFC to purchase Rescue/Engine 31.

Total Cost of Rescue/Engine 31 was over $185,000.00 and was delivered to the Department in 2002.

Bedington Volunteer Fire Department (Company 40)

Station 40 is the Main Station of the Bedington Volunteer Fire Department (Company 40). It is located at 775 Bedington Road, Martinsburg, West Virginia 25401. A first line fire engine/pumper, a combination tanker-pumper, an ambulance and two auxiliary vehicles are housed at this location

Station 49 is a sub-station of the Bedington Volunteer Fire and Rescue Company. It is located at 1036 Mid-Atlantic Parkway, Martinsburg, West Virginia 25401. A first line engine/pumper and an ambulance are housed at this location

The Bedington Volunteer Fire & Rescue Company’s fire and rescue responsibility includes a large geographic area in the northern and eastern part of Berkeley County West Virginia. The Bedington Volunteer Fire & Rescue Company is challenged daily with a very diverse emergency response area. Their “1^st due area” includes: mixed residential (single occupancy, multi story apartments and townhouses), schools, government facilities, large and small commercial venues, large and small industrial venues, farms, woodlands, water hazards, over 10 miles of interstate highway (I-81) north and south and many miles of primary and secondary roads.

The Back Creek Vallrey Volunteer Fire Company (Company 50)

The Back Creek Valley Volunteer Fire Company (Company 50) is located at 1922 Back Creek Valley Road, Hedgesville, WV 25427. A first line fire engine/pumper, a combination tanker-pumper, a tanker, a brush truck, an ambulance and an auxiliary vehicle are housed at this location. Additionally, the administrative offices and meeting rooms for the Department are located at this station.

The Back Creek Valley Volunteer Fire Company’s fire and rescue responsibility includes a large geographic area in the southwestern and western part of Berkeley County West Virginia. The Back Creek Valley Volunteer Fire Company is challenged daily with a very diverse emergency response area. Their “1^st due area” includes: mixed single occupancy residential areas, schools, farms, light industry, woodlands, water hazards, and many miles of primary and secondary roadways. Additionally, they are challenged with the fact that city water supplies (fire hydrants) do not exist in much of their “1^st due area.” They rely heavily the on water they must transport to the scene of any emergency they encountered.

Back Creek Valley VFC Engine/Tanker 50

Engine/Tanker 50 (A 2002 Ferrara Inferno manufactured in Holden, Louisiana) was purchased by the Berkeley County Fire Service Board and the Back Creek Volunteer Fire Company in 2001.

This fire apparatus was designed by members of the Berkeley County Fire Service, the Berkeley County Fire Service Board and members of Back Creek Volunteer Fire Company.

Total Cost of this apparatus was over $210,000.00 and was delivered to the Department in 2001.

Baker Heights Volunteer Fire Department (Company 60)

he Main Station of the Baker Heights Volunteer Fire Department (Company 60) is located at 2229 Charlestown Road, Martinsburg, West Virginia 25401. A first line fire engine/pumper, a combination tanker-pumper, a combination rescue/pumper, two ambulances and a mini-pumper are housed at this location. Additionally, the administrative offices and meeting rooms for the Department are located at this station.

The Baker Heights Volunteer Fire Department’s fire and rescue responsibility includes a large geographic area in the eastern and central part of Berkeley County West Virginia. The Baker Heights Volunteer Fire Department is challenged daily with a very diverse emergency response area. Their “1^st due area” includes: mixed residential (single occupancy, multi story apartments and townhouses), schools, medical facilities, several key federal and state government facilities, large and small commercial venues, large and small industrial venues, farms, woodlands, water hazards (quarries & creeks), major rail transit points and industrial sidings (CSX Railroad), a portion of an interstate highway (I-81), and many miles of heavily traveled primary and secondary roadways.

"Engine 62, a 2004 Pierce Fire Truck, was placed in service at the Baker Heights VFC in the summer of 2004. The cost of this Fire Truck was approximately $298,000.00 and replaced a 1980's era American Lafrance Fire Truck. This Fire Truck was one of three purchased by the Berkeley County Fire Service Board in 2003-2004."

Baker Heights VFC Attack-60

Attack 60 replaced a mid-1980’s model fire attack vehicle that had fallen into disrepair. A decision to “refurbish” this vehicle was made through the Berkeley County Fire Service Board (BCFSB) during the summer of 2002. Refurbishing bids were requested through the BCFSB and awarded to All Safe Fire Trucks, Inc. for over $88,000.00. The vehicle was designed by the officers and members of the Baker Heights VFC with concurrence of the Berkeley County Firemen’s Association and the BCFSB. This 4-Wheel Drive vehicle is considered to be a “mini-pumper” with a 300 GPM power take-off pump, a fire fighting foam system, rescue winch system, and powerful lights. This is the only 4-Wheel Drive emergency vehicle in the Baker Heights VFC response area.

This apparatus has already been pressed into service due to the snow and ice conditions experience in the area since January, 2004. Attack 60 will be placed into full service sometime in February, 2004.