MANCHESTER — Fire departments in Winchester and Roodhouse will take over fire protection for Manchester after the village’s fire department closed last month.
The Manchester department shut down after the number of volunteers dwindled and other towns were called in for emergencies.
Manchester Mayor Ron Drake, also the former fire chief, said an agreement between Winchester and Roodhouse will provide coverage for the village.
When someone who lives in Manchester calls 911 to report a fire, Winchester will be the first to respond.
“The Manchester Fire Department is no longer a thing,” Drake said. “I just want to make sure that my town is covered in case of a fire. I spoke with Winchester and Roodhouse and they’ll work together to make sure we’re covered in every area and aspect of it.”
Winchester Fire Chief Paul Rueter will be drafting a mutual aid agreement with Roodhouse that will allow his department to respond to fires in Manchester as well as Winchester.
Rueter said an informal agreement is already in place.
“It’s in effect now. All that’s left is the [legal] agreement,” Rueter said. “If there is a call an hour from now or tomorrow, we’ll respond. Everyone can rest assured that we’ll be here.”
The agreement still has to be approved by the governing boards for Manchester, Roodhouse and Winchester, but no issues are expected.
Because Roodhouse is a part of the fire district, that department will respond as needed.
“If Manchester were to have a house fire, dispatch would call [Roodhouse[ in as mutual aid,” Rueter said. “We have to maintain a mutual aid agreement for them to be able to respond.”
Drake said the changes will be explained in a letter to Manchester residents.
The shuttered department still must determine what to do with firefighting apparatus and equipment.
“The board has to decide if we are going to sell it or what,” Drake said.
