Jersey Journal
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BAYONNE, N.J. — Using municipal fire volunteers isn’t a financially sound option because it would likely push up local fire insurance rates, Bayonne’s Acting Fire Chief Patrick Boyle said yesterday.
Boyle was responding to a proposal by Councilman Anthony Chiappone that the city consider using a combination of paid and volunteer firefighters as one way to economize on city expenses.
The city is trying to plug a $25 million hole in the budget for its current fiscal year that expires June 30. So far, the City Council has been unable to come to an agreement on how to end the year with a balanced budget.
In any event, Boyle - named acting chief by Mayor Joseph V. Doria Jr. to replace the retiring Chief Thomas Lynch - said that replacing part of the paid department with volunteers “would risk raising property insurance rates in Bayonne,” based on ratings of a community’s fire protection by the Insurance Services Office.
“Currently, Bayonne has a rating of 2 (based on 1 as best to 10 as worst),” Boyle said. “If we switched to a combination fire department that included volunteers and professionals, that rating would be endangered,” he said.
Perth Amboy, for example, which has such a combination, has a rating of 6, he said.
Boyle said many insurance companies use ISO’s ratings - which also factor in a community’s water supply and types of property in a community - to help set the premiums they charge for property insurance.
“When firefighters are volunteers, the initial response time can increase, especially if firefighters are at their civilian jobs at the time the alarm goes off,” Boyle said.
“Bayonne can maintain its high rating from ISO by maintaining its professional fire department staff, investing in equipment and training, and keeping its commitment to our residents’ safety,” Boyle said.
“When firefighters are volunteers, the initial response time can increase, especially if firefighters are at their civilian jobs at the time the alarm goes off.”