Johnston vs. Scituate in water fight

JOHNSTON, R.I. (WPRI) - In what Johnston Mayor Joseph Polisena calls "thievery," fire trucks from Scituate were caught by a tipster filling up with water at Johnston hydrants.

Armed with digital photos, Mayor Polisena said a citizen dropped a dime that at least one fire truck from Scituate Volunteer Fire Department Chopmist Hill loaded up a truck that holds 1,000 gallons with Johnston water.

"I want our money," Mayor Polisena said. "To me it's nothing but thievery."

With very little mutual aid between the two towns, Polisena said he's concerned what the firefighters might have used the water for.

At his direction, detectives from the Johnston Police Department looked into the potential theft. They spoke with the tiupster and interviewed witnesses and the Chopmist Hill Fire Chief Dennis Gaffney.

Chief Richard Tamburini said from the law enforcement perspective, the case is closed. He considered the use of water a misunderstanding not larceny.

Residents in the neighborhood where the photo was taken tell Target 12 the practice has been going on for years and from fire houses throughout Scituate.

News to Polisena, who said he was unaware of any agreement between the towns and will demand payment from Scituate.

"The bill is either going to the fire district or the town of Scituate," he said. "Someone's going to pay for this, my taxpayers are not going pay for it I can tell you that."

Polisena said his residents are charged about 35 cents-a-gallon for water. The rate based on how much water the town purchases from the Providence Water Supply Board. A number that would be inflated if fire trucks have been filling up on Johnston hydrants.

Johnston Fire Chief Andrew Baynes said Scituate has helped out with fires only twice in two years.

Chief Gaffney of Chopmist Hill said they use the water on fires and training. He said the "tradition" of filling up in Johnston has been handed down for years.

"It was a gentleman's agreement," Gaffney said.

The visit from Johnston police clearly left an impression with the Chopmist Hill Department, however. Target 12 found a note left on a chalkboard inside the fire house that reads "Do not use Johnston hydrants."

Gaffney said the department will fill up at area ponds until the issue is worked out.