RUMFORD - Fire Chief John Woulfe provided a view of the fire department and its level of service to selectmen Thursday that showed the area having a higher-than-state-average number of elderly and disabled residents, along with many more multi-unit-apartment buildings in the town than most municipalities of Rumford's size.

The presentation was part of the town's budget building process and in response to some who believe the town spends too much money on the fire and police departments.

"We've been hearing about comparing our town with others of similar populations. The difference is the number of disabled and senior citizens and the apartment buildings that don't meet life and safety codes," Woulfe told the board.

According to demographics Woulfe took from the U.S. Census, 26.3 percent, or 1,582 residents are disabled, and 21.7 percent, or 1,406 are age 65 or older.

He said other challenges face the fire and emergency services, such as the paper mill, hospital, nursing home, and four special needs homes. In addition, he said the town has 243 apartment buildings of three units or more, and 248 business occupancies.

"Although the overall population has diminished in recent years, there has been an escalation of elderly, disabled and special-needs citizens," he said.

Rumford's population is about 6,400. The fire department operates on a budget of just under $1 million with 14 full-time firefighters.

Woulfe was particularly concerned with the number of apartment buildings that have only one exit and recommended that he and the board meet with the Office of the State Marshal to work out how to give time to building owners to bring their buildings into compliance.

"A lot of our apartment buildings are in serious violation," he said.

He also recommended that the pay structure for call force volunteers be changed to reflect the average pay given to area volunteer firefighters. Those with additional training, however, would receive more pay.

He said an ordinance requiring installation of a sprinkler system in all new homes would decrease the needs of the fire department. He also advocated looking into a regional approach for call force members as well as the possibility of building a new fire station that would include Mexico.

Selectmen Chairman Jim Rinaldo said he worked out the cost per year for fire coverage at about $129 on taxes for a home valued at $100,000. For the police department, that figure is $124.

"These are numbers we need to present to the people," he said.

But he also wanted Woulfe to present the potential reduction in services if the budget was decreased by 20 percent.

"Before I do that, you have to understand that this apartment thing is vital," Woulfe said.

Rinaldo and Selectman Greg Buccina also questioned why the fire department appears to respond to some calls with two trucks when some believe that is not necessary, or to most medical calls.

"Better communication is needed. Why are we responding to someone tipped over in a wheelchair with two trucks?" Buccina asked. "We should spend more time on apartment buildings then not hire a code enforcement officer as full-time. You need to make adjustments. You are the chief."

Selectman Jolene Lovejoy said most people view the fire department as a department that fights fires.

"But you are a fire and safety department," she said.

Rinaldo, speaking about the fire department's response to medical calls, told Woulfe that the fire department is not in the ambulance business.

"It's not for the fire department to be at every incident that takes place. Do we go to every ambulance call when we don't need to be there? We need data on that," he said. "We don't want people laying on the floor, but we don't need the whole town there, either."

"We do provide a tremendous amount of service for a department our size. We can try to be much more efficient," Woulfe said.

Woulfe will return to the board with additional data at a later date.