May 28, 2009

Coming up with yet another way to help local communities save money, Westchester County is making it cheaper for fire departments to purchase personal escape systems that could save firefighters’ lives if they ever had to jump from a burning building.

Westchester is offering to let every local fire department piggyback on a county contract to purchase “bail out” ropes and training at reduced prices. The equipment, which can help firefighters break their fall if they had to quickly escape a blaze, will also help the municipalities comply with a new state law.

“This is another example of how the county can help provide a service to local communities that they might otherwise not be able to afford,” County Executive Andrew Spano said. “In a time when every penny counts and budgets are feeling the pinch, it’s crucial that we work together to stretch those taxpayer dollars as much as possible. This initiative is particularly significant as what could be more important than protecting those who risk their lives to help others.”

Called “bail out ropes,” the systems were mandated by state law after two New York City firefighters died jumping out of a burning Bronx building in 2004. The firefighters fell 50 feet after being forced to jump from a window when they didn’t have an escape system. Two other men that survived had a rope and were able to break their fall. That tragedy prompted research and testing of new escape systems, and in November 2008, New York State passed a law requiring firefighters to have this equipment.

Recognizing that the mandated equipment was expensive, the county came up with a cooperative purchasing plan to help make it available to all 63 local fire departments. It is one of many examples of the county’s efforts to share services and save taxpayers money.

On June 2, the county will hold a Shared Services Conference to showcase the many ways that the county can help save local municipalities, school and fire districts money through cooperative contracts.

Earlier this year, the Westchester County departments of Emergency Services and Finance worked together to establish a county bid price for the purchase of “bail out” rope systems and related training of firefighters. DES was able to make county bid prices available to local departments. Those prices are roughly 27 percent less than retail costs. For instance, Mt. Kisco Fire Department was able to save a total of $5,350 in equipment costs when it bought 50 bail out systems at $368 each and 25 harnesses at $145 each.

“Even this small purchasing advantage will result in cost savings for each of our communities,” said DES Deputy Commissioner John Jackson. “There is also an added benefit to fire departments having the same systems. That way, if one department supplies mutual aid to another, they will be familiar with and know how to use each other’s equipment.”

The equipment, weighing no more than four pounds, comes with an anchoring hook and a 50-foot long cut- and heat-resistant rope in a storage pack. A metal lever works with the firefighter’s own body weight to control and stop the speed of the descent.

The rope system purchase agreement is being made available to all fire departments and districts. So far, the following 10 departments have taken advantage of the county’s reduced prices: Bedford Hills, Elmsford, Hawthorne, Millwood, Mt. Kisco, Ossining, Port Chester, Sleepy Hollow, Tarrytown, and the Village of Mamaroneck.