Fire Chief Favors
Chandler Fix

An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.

As town meeting approaches and Randolph tax payers yet again prepare to make tough choices on how best to allocate their tax dollars I offer these thoughts regarding the Chandler Music Hall allocation request.

The addition of a fire suppression system, early warning system and suitable egress points are not only warranted but they are long overdue. Conventional wisdom would say, "Why after all this time do we now need this?" Well, I believe the answer to this lies in our past.

We should ask ourselves if these types of systems had been in place during the three major fires in the downtown area would the outcome have been any different. For me the answer is simply yes. In most cases the success or failure of an emergency response situation comes down to the actual timing of the event. The sooner a responding agency is notified the more likely the outcome will be a positive.

Chandler is a large open air facility and even though it’s located on Main Street, a fire related issue could very well go undetected for quite some time. A fire alarm system certainly addresses this current weakness. Sprinkler systems are vital tools, especially when it comes to vintage structures such as Chandler.

While it’s impossible for a sprinkler system to extinguish a fire, its ability to contain or suppress a situation prior to fire department arrival is invaluable. Current egress points at the upper levels of this facility are antiquated at best. One could only imagine the outcome of an actual evacuation under current conditions.

As we go through the decision-making process March 6, consider the Chandler request as protection and preservation for past and future taxpayers' investment towards this historic cultural icon.

Jay B. Collette, Chief

Randolph Village Fire Dept.