CANTON – Fire Chief Wayne Dube told selectmen Thursday night that the cost to the department for negligence on the part of citizens was on the rise. His department has set up a cost list that he said was long overdue.
The rates will apply when the Canton Volunteer Fire Department is called into service for arson fires, fires started by equipment, non attended, non permitted or permitted fires and recreation fires that get out of control.
Added to the bill will be the cost of food, Gatorade, drinking water, firefighting Class A foam and any equipment lost or damaged. The rates will start as soon as the department is called and run until the equipment has been cleaned and ready for service.
If the incident commander calls for heavy equipment, a $300 fee will be added for the round-trip transportation of each piece of equipment.
The rates per hour as accepted by the Board of Selectmen are as follows: pumpers and tankers $125, brush truck $95, squad truck $80, Gatorade $50, ATV $50, air boat $125, motor boat $50, skidder/bulldozer $100, chain saw $25, generator $25, fire department officers $13 and firefighters $11.
Dube referred to the cost of the recent rash of fires before the rains began. Many of these were caused by carelessness. He also spoke of the snowmobile rescues in Sumner lakes at the end of the ice season.
The board approved the list as submitted by Dube.
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