The newly annexed areas are now enjoying a lower insurancerating while resting easy under the protection of the BrookhavenFire Department.

The volunteer fire departments which served the areas until nowwill still also be in service, at least until the city is able toinstall new hydrants in the annex area.

Civil Defense Director Clifford Galey and Brookhaven Fire ChiefBob Watts met with the chiefs of the area volunteer firedepartments Thursday night in order to establish a game plan andboundaries for calls in the new parts of the city.

“It’s not that big of a change yet,” said Watts. “It’s a littledifferent way of fighting fire. We’re used to having more wateravailable.”

The city’s water department is supposed to begin servicing theannexation areas within two years, but until then BFD will have torely on the volunteer departments for water from their tankertrucks. While the city’s trucks will carry 1,000 gallons of watereach, many of the county trucks will carry as much as 3,500gallons.

“Ultimately, it’s our responsibility if there are calls in thisarea, but we are asking for their help,” said Watts. “And we had agreat meeting. They’re more than willing to help us any way theycan, and that’s good, because there’ll be times we’re going to needhelp.”

Hog Chain Volunteer Fire Department Chief John Hart said themeeting was productive from every side, as the departments now knowwhat to expect when a call comes in.

“They have to roll everyone if there’s a call in that area,”said Hart. “As for the volunteers, our first priority is to sendthe tanker trucks, and the pumpers will come in behind them.”

Zetus Volunteer Fire Department Chief Dale Anding said findingcommon ground was important, but that the city and the county havealways done well together because of the work they do.

“I think it was a good opportunity for the volunteers and thecity to get together and collaborate,” he said. “We’ve got onecommon goal, and it’s to save property and lives and to proviedprotection for the community.”

Anding said the only real difference for the volunteers is thatthey’ll be working in a support basis in the annexation areas.

“The change will be in that the city will cover the new citylimits, and the volunteers will come in and aid with water,” hesaid.

Watts touted the professionalism and ability of the county’svolunteer departments, saying the county is lucky to have theirprotection.

“Sometimes I don’t think Lincoln County realizes howwell-protected they are,” he said. “We’ve got some really good guysand really good equipment out in the county.”

The volunteer fire department chiefs who attended the meetingwere from Loyd Star, Hog Chain, Heuck’s Retreat, Zetus, New Sight,East Lincoln and Bogue Chitto, Watts said. Some of the departmentsare directly affected by the annexation and some are not.

Anding said the annexation does not take in any of the areacovered by his department, but Hart said that several square milesof his department’s coverage area is now within the city.

The procedure works well for the city, who will have the backupand support of the county trucks, but county department officialsworry what might happen when the new budget is cut and their areahas shrunk. The ironic part lies in the fact that the volunteerswill be attending the same number of fire calls until the city cantake over completely.

“This won’t change our operations, but I’m afraid our fundingwill go down anyway,” said Hart. “The problem with that is that ifwe don’t get enough, we have to give back a truck.”

Hart said Hog Chain, for instance, receives $11,000 a year fromthe county, but the payment per year on their truck is $12,685. Hesaid with the drop in tax revenue from the annexed property, itcould be a real problem for the insurance rating of the area if thecounty does not find an answer.

“We’re looking at a potential funding crisis,” he said. “Becausethe people whose insurance just dropped might have it go back up ifwe lose a truck.”

Anding said Zetus just bought a 2007 fire truck as well, andthat the department has not yet seen the amount of the yearlypayments that will need to be made on it.

Donations are welcome the two chiefs said.