WEST CAPE MAY – Borough Commission approved a resolution April 14 authorizing two state agencies to do a thorough inspection of the West Cape May Volunteer Fire Company.
This comes after Cape May Fire Chief Jerry Inderwies Jr. informed the West Cape May Fire Company in a letter that he no longer wanted them responding to calls in Cape May. He said he had concerns of preparedness and capability of West Cape Volunteer Fire Company.
Borough Commissioner Ramsey Geyer, who also serves as Commissioner of Public Safety, said he contacted the state Department of Community Affairs Department of Fire Safety and requested the procedure to have a team of qualified fire personnel come to the borough and do a review with West Cape May Volunteer Fire Company of its records, training, equipment and certifications, “everything a fire company is required to have in place in order to be an effective fire company.”
He said in two to three weeks a team will be assembled and come to West Cape May and work with him and the fire company to identify all areas that are required and any deficiencies.
“This is not an activity that will result in any penalties or letters of reprimand,” said Geyer.
He said his experience in running various organizations over the years was to do an evaluation every three to five years as a matter of course.
In addition, the state Public Employees Occupational Safety and Health division will also come to West Cape May for an inspection of the fire company. Geyer said they would look at the fire hall, procedures and documentation.
At the end of a week, those two agencies will put together a comprehensive report of what, if anything needs to be done at the fire company, he said. Geyer said his biggest concern was the impact on resident’s confidence in the fire company which would be addressed by the reviews.
He said he was unaware of any incidents of the fire company not responding in a timely manner. He said Inderwies questioned West Cape May’s training and training methodologies, its ability to man a first out pumper from the firehouse and an issue with improper use of personal respiratory protection devices.
Geyer said no one else in the fire service had seen a letter like Inderwies’ letter to the West Cape May Volunteer Fire Company. He said Inderwies had a very narrow of perspective as to what is acceptable.
Geyer said the state Public Employees OSHA Division would give the fire company a six month window to fix any problems. He said the borough was responsible for worker’s compensation for fire company members if they are injured.
Mayor Pamela Kaithern asked if the fire company had completed all state-mandated training. Geyer said to his knowledge everyone was up to date. He said the only course a firefighter in this state must complete is Firefighter One.
After the meeting, West Cape May Volunteer Fire Company Chief Chuck McPherson told the Herald all training was up to date. He said Inderwies met with a few of his firefighters “but never with me,” on the matter.
He said Inderwies left him a voicemail informing him West Cape May was no longer first due in for Cape May fires. The letter followed, said McPherson.
He said he was fine with the state inspections.
Geyer said the fire company had provided borough commissioners with documents it had requested as part of a memorandum of understanding between to the borough and the fire company and lease of the fire hall. This was part of the borough’s official recognition of the fire company as West Cape May’s fire company.
