PLEASANT VIEW – Rumors that this city’s volunteer fire department was inefficient at a recent house fire were refuted Thursday night by officials and residents.

To the contrary, testified Fire Chief Terry Call, volunteer firemen did an “outstanding job” at the scene of the blaze.

The fire gutted the home of Harold Ross at 975 W. 3800 N., Friday night. It also destroyed a boat before being brought under control. The family was gone at the time.

BACKS MEN

Chief Call was backed by a group of residents appearing before the City Council on other matters.

Two residents, Don Amidan and George Sant questioned actions of the volunteers and requested information about their training and skills.

They also questioned purchase and installation of a pool table in the fire station saying they did not feel firemen “have time to play pool during training sessions.”

Chief Call said the department has the finest equipment in the county and that he would match his volunteers with any in the state.

He said the pool table is not used during training sessions and pointed out that its purpose is to encourage volunteer firemen to spend time at the station during off-duty hours.

PLAYING POOL

“There have been a number of occasions when two, three or four volunteers have been at the station playing pool when an alarm has come in,” he said.

“As a result, it has been only a matter of seconds before the equipment is rolling and firemen are on their way to the fire,” he added.

Chief Call, supported by several residents, said firemen and equipment were on the scene in almost record time.

He said records showed the alarm was called in at 10:18 p.m. and fire crews were at the scene and in operation nine minutes later at 10:27 p.m.

THAT FAST

“I doubt if any other department in the country could respond as fast, even those manned 24-hours a day,” Chief Call declared.

Reports that firemen arriving at the scene did not even have a wrench to open the fire hydrant were denied by Chief Call and residents.

It was explained that a resident at the scene did put his own wrench on the hydrant as firemen arrived, but crews had one on the truck available for use.

Residents who flocked to the scene on foot and in vehicles were blasted by officials who said their actions impeded fire fighting activities.

As a result, Mayor Richard Diamond said a plan has been worked out by police departments in Pleasant View, North Ogden and Harrisville to hold back crowds at fires or other disasters and all officers will be empowered to make arrests.

DRIVE TRUCK

Chief Call said the department has 20 out of 25 volunteer firemen who can drive and operate the fire truck.

He said the five who do not are recruits who have expressed their desires not to operate the equipment until they are more qualified.

Mayor Diamond said the city is purchasing additional fire hose as funds will permit. It also was pointed out there is a need for more fire hydrants in some areas.

Chief Call, said Mayor Diamond, will be asked to make a list of such areas by priority. Fire hydrants also will be color coded according to the water pressure available in each.

ALL HYDRANTS

A program is presently under way to check the operational condition of all hydrants in the city.

Mayor Diamond was asked to have Chief Call coordinate the program with the public works department which has been conducting the checks.