Letters

It has come to light rather suddenly that the Southampton Fire District proposes to build an additional firehouse in a quiet neighborhood of Water Mill. As a local resident with extensive experience as an active volunteer firefighter (five departments) and a background in firefighting engineering consulting appended to my career in aerospace and energy research, I wish to comment on this bad idea.

The Southampton Fire Department is a quality department with fine apparatus, thorough training and good officers. Probably they have given thought to making the architecture and logistics as aesthetic and nondisruptive as possible.

The above being said, it is a certainty that the fire station would destroy the character and environment of a very pleasant area that is an important part of Water Mill history. (Per design, this would not be a small “substation” but a full-blown, tall firehouse with 40-car parking.)

An added leading detriment would be the need for speeding vehicles of volunteers on their way to the firehouse in a residential neighborhood where people (with children/dogs) walk and bike without sidewalks. From experience, even when careful, the adrenaline pumps you to go fast and hedge on stop signs, while going slow negates the purpose of a closer station.

The apparatus will go relatively fast in a neighborhood with narrow streets, sharp bends and poor lines of sight, and the design indicates large rigs. Entering Montauk Highway from Old Mill would be dicey (plus backups and railroad tracks on Old Mill). Going the other way, via Head of Pond Road, presents a bridge with load limits. At night, with little traffic, the noise would awaken the vicinity.

Coupled with the above is the questionable actual need for a station in the area. The Hampton Road firehouse is not that far, with a straight shot. Typically, any rescues are by the police or fire chiefs/officers. Bridgehampton’s needs for mutual aid come from Hampton Road. Mutual aid is often for an RIT, not likely to come from the satellite station.

There is a question of whether there are enough members, especially chauffeurs, who live close (and are available; e.g. not at work). While there are a substantial number of calls, a large fraction are handled by the chiefs/officers and don’t require apparatus.

There are other ways to spend money on fire/rescue response — but if absolutely necessary, the best location for the “substation” would be on Montauk Highway, where sites exist.

It is ironic, just as we are getting a beautiful park that will enhance Water Mill and Southampton Town, that a disruptive proposal like this would arise so nearby.

Edward Kush, Ph.D.

Water Mill