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Community Corner

Fire Department Undergoes Annual Inspection; What Do the Volunteers Do After?

Tobi Spino pops into Irvington's annul fire department inspection to catch a glimpse of members in uniform.

This past Saturday marked the Irvington Volunteer Fire Department's annual inspection.  I checked it out first hand to see what the fuss was all about and ok, maybe to get a glimpse of some men in uniform.  I met up with Fire Chief Jeff Ruffler and the entire department to learn what exactly inspection is, what it means, and most importantly, did our department pass!

"The inspection gives the Village officials the opportunity to check on the equipment and personnel and verify that we are using our tax dollars to maintain Fire Department equipment—and allowing the Fire Department to continue providing quality service to the community and excellent value," Ruffler explained.

As an Irvington resident, I am eternally grateful to all of our firefighters who volunteer their time to go through rigorous trainings, certifications and make themselves available at all hours of the day should a fire or emergency occur.  They volunteer to spend time away from their friends and families to ensure every safety measure is executed and course of action is planned  should you or your family need to call on them.  Hands down, I believe our local  public service departments are our best dollar for dollar tax money spent.

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Oh, and in case you are reading this with a  tinge of curiosity, rest assured our department passed with flying colors as usual.  And what do a bunch of men in uniform do to celebrate their perfect marks? You might imagine that they take turns sliding down the fire pole and ride around in their shiny trucks with the sirens blaring. Think again. 

They have a formal 'dress uniform mandatory' dinner that includes an awards ceremony, speeches, and accommodations.  I know, not quite as exciting.

Find out what's happening in Rivertownswith free, real-time updates from Patch.

 

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