Troy's firefighter's union says it's a question of safety for the public and firefighters.
NEWS10 was there Monday night when more than a dozen firefighters were sent to the hospital after responding to a fire in a lab at RPI, because they breathed in some of the chemicals.
It's a danger the fire union has been apparently warning about for years. Now, they say, this fire is real proof that RPI needs to help pay for fire protection, to make sure the city, school and firefighters are safe.
Troy's fire union says it took twelve minutes before the station was called about the fire.
"Twelve minutes is ridiculous, it's ridiculous," said union president Capt. Dave Pail, "Twelve minutes means that fire grew exponentially. Every minute, that fire doubled."
Fire alarms on campus ring to a campus public safety office, not the fire department. RPI says that option hasn't been ruled out.
Another issue is that with such a big response on campus, there was just one fire truck left close by.
"We need more firefighters in this area, the RPI area and the vena park area due to RPI's rapid expansion and growth," Paul added.
RPI argues it does more than its share, giving $300,000 toward public safety equipment. The school, however, is not willing to pay a public safety tax should Troy decide it needs one, and adds that forcing payment would be illegal.
Another ongoing issue is that firefighters want a list of the chemicals used in the 230-plus labs on campus.
RPI says it does make clear which chemicals are inside a lab by posting signs outside, as part of a hazard assessment program. It also reiterated an invitation to the fire department to do walkthroughs on campus.
"We consistently extend our offer to walk the building with their fire crews, walk the facilities and share information with them," said RPI's Director of Health and Safety, Jeffrey Lydon.
"If we take the fire engine over there, that takes the ambulance off duty for the rest of our citizens and RPI as well," Capt. Paul contended.
In response to RPI, firefighters say signs are useless in a building filled with smoke.
