SOUTHWICK – At the Select Board meeting on January 3, Southwick Fire Chief Russ Anderson provided an update on the covered bridge located on 412-418 College Hwy.
Southwick Fire Chief Russ Anderson meets with the Select Board to give an update on the covered bridge issue. (Photo courtesy of Greg Fitzpatrick)
Anderson told the board that he received a report from engineer Michael Pietras of Ludlow that only a brush truck and an ambulance can get across the bridge. That report means that if there’s an emergency that happens and fire personnel need to get over the bridge, a full-size apparatus can’t get over the bridge. Full-size apparatus include engines, tankers, and ladder trucks; the majority of the apparatus that is typical of a house-fire response.
“It’s a huge concern and that the equipment that are appropriate for a typical house fire are not going to be able to go over that bridge,” said Anderson.
Anderson added that the department is now going to have to improvise with smaller brush trucks and get assistance from other communities if there happens to be an emergency in the area of that bridge.
The Westfield News first reported on this matter on July 26 when Anderson brought the issue to the Select Board after the past fire chief that the 2007 Nor’easter storm may have jeopardized the bridge. It was also noted that the department’s fire truck tanker weights 45 tons and many years ago the covered bridge was rated for 65 tons.
