Southwick Fire Chief Richard Anderson, foreground, checks his watch after a fire inspector activates a pull box alarm at Woodland Elementary School. Contractors have installed a talking alarm system that will verbally inform everyone of the emergency. Checking the system in the master control room., left, is Southwick Fire Inspector Ralph Vecchio and Mark Parent, foreman of Schmidt Electric. (File photo by Frederick Gore)
SOUTHWICK – The Southwick Fire Department has been working almost daily at the site of the campus renovation in Southwick.
The Southwick-Tolland-Granville Regional School District renovations include updates throughout Woodland Elementary and Powdermill Middle schools, as well as updates and a new wing at the high school.
Since the project began over the summer, Fire Chief Richard Anderson and other inspectors have been on site almost daily.
Anderson said the updates to the fire alarm system and addition of a sprinkler system will be a life-saving measure, but they require a lot of oversight and inspection.
“We work hand in hand with Building Inspector Denis Gaido,” said Anderson. “He has been very involved with us from the beginning.”
Inspectors must test alarms regularly during construction.
“No matter what, they have to be working,” Anderson said.
At Woodland there is a split system and Anderson said the two systems need to “talk to each other,” which involves numerous tests and inspections.
“We also made sure the panels are being put in a place that is safe and accessible,” he said.
Anderson said he is extremely happy the schools will all have sprinklers.
“Last year there were over 150 fires in schools across Massachusetts, so having that sprinkler system in the next few years is a hug thing for us,” Anderson said. “All our children will be protected in school with sprinklers.”
The new alarms and sprinklers will bring the three schools up to code. Until they are complete, the SFD is working with staff on evacuation routes, which have changed to accommodate renovations.
Anderson said the department inspects buildings throughout town annually to ensure they are up to code and the alarm systems are in place. While conducting the inspections at town businesses, the SFD also works on pre-plan maps.
“The daytime staff is working on pre-plans on community structures,” said Anderson. “We are working on having the maps on laptops.”
The maps will give firefighters knowledge of a building before entering it when responding to a call.
Anderson said there are pre-plans for the schools as well.
