North Ridgeville Fire Department. Fire/EMS Year End Report

Transcription

1 North Ridgeville Fire Department 2016 Fire/EMS Year End Report

2 2016 Annual Report Table of Contents Page # Message from the Chief 1 Organizational Chart 2 A day in the life of a Firefighter 3 New Fire Station Update 4 Operations-FIRE 5 thru 12 Operations-EMS 13 thru 16 Fire Prevention Report 17 thru 21 Fire/EMS Training Report 22 thru 24 EMS Billing 25 thru 26 Facilities Maintenance 27 thru 28 Westcom Dispatch Center 29 thru 30 WESAHRE Rescue Org. 31 Grants/Donations 32 Fire Museum 33 Annual Health & Safety Fair 34 Community Participation 35 Retirements/New Hires Personnel Milestones 37 Memorial Page 38 thru 39 North Ridgeville Fire Department Fire Station # Avon Belden Rd. North Ridgeville, Ohio Fire Station # Lorain Rd. North Ridgeville, Ohio Chief John C. Reese, EFO, Paramedic Office Hours: Monday-Friday 8am-4pm Station # Station # MISSION STATEMENT The North Ridgeville Fire Department is dedicated to providing a range of programs designed to protect the lives and property of our residents and visitors from the adverse effects of fire, sudden medical emergencies, and other dangerous conditions. When incidents occur we strive to provide the highest level of public safety services through effective planning, preparedness, rapid response and risk management while remaining fiscally responsible to the citizens of North Ridgeville.

3 Message from the Chief Message from the Chief I am honored to present this Annual Report on behalf of all of the members of the North Ridgeville Fire Department. The purpose of this report is to provide the accomplishments of the Fire Department during the past year and to highlight the many services and activities that support our community. Within each division report, significant accomplishments and statistics will be covered to inform the public as to what we do. Responding to emergencies is our core mission and this past year saw again saw our calls for service increase to historic levels. The Fire Department responded to just under 3,300 calls in calendar year Emergency Medical calls (EMS) accounted for approximately 85% of those responses. Customer service is our number one goal, and no matter the interaction, all our members strive to give the best service possible. John John C. Reese,EFO Fire Fire Chief Chief I want to thank the community for their support of the Fire Department. We are here to serve and welcome your feedback or comments. I also acknowledge the support we receive from our City Administration, City Council, and our family of City Departments. The Fire Department is committed to improving our service delivery through a constant review and evaluation of our actions, programs, and activities. A process of self-evaluation challenges us to provide the highest level of service to our residents and guests. Sincerely, Chief John C. Reese, EFO Page 1

4 Organizational Structure North Ridgeville Fire Officers/Staff Fire Chief John Reese, EFO Peggy Myers Administrative Assistant Assist. Chief Scott Bement Fire Prevention Officer Assist. Chief Jon Graf Fire/EMS Training Officer Captain Mike Uhnak A-Shift Captain Paul Sadowski B-Shift Captain Joe Gavlak C-Shift Lt. Rick Knowlton A-Shift Lt. Bob Knowlton B-Shift Lt. Greg Laborie C-Shift Lt. Chad Warner A-Shift Lt. Dan Roger B-Shift Lt. Barry Cook C-Shift 8 Firefighter/Paramedics A-Shift 8 Firefighter/Paramedics B-Shift 8 Firefighter/Paramedics C-Shift Page 2

5 A Day in the Life of a Firefighter A Day in the Life of a Firefighter Firefighters spend a significant portion of their day learning their jobs, educating others, and maintaining equipment as well as the fire and EMS apparatus. This is done in addition to the primary job of responding to emergency and nonemergency calls throughout the community. Here is a look at how a firefighter may end up spending their day: Shifts begin and end at 8:00 AM. The on- coming crew meets with the offgoing crew to check the status of equipment and units and to discuss events that may have been encountered the previous day. The on-duty crew then completes an inventory and operational check of their equipment and vehicles to ensure their readiness for use. The company officers conduct a briefing with details of the day s activities. A sampling of possible daily duties include: Training on medical, firefighting or rescue competencies. Completing cardio and strength fitness training during the shift. Conducting visits to buildings/businesses to help firefighters familiarize with layouts and features. This information is used in our pre-plans. Visiting schools and participating in a wide variety of other public education programs. Addressing visitors to the stations and providing tours, assistance, or blood pressure checks. Performing annual inspections of all of the city s fire hydrants. Annually testing over 10,000 feet of fire hose. Performing housekeeping duties to care of the fire stations and apparatus. Firefighters also plan and prepare their meals together, an important part of camaraderie. All of these activities take place between the responses of the team to emergency incidents! Page 3

6 New Fire Station Update The North Ridgeville Fire Department is currently in the process of designing and coordinating construction of the new Fire station to replace the existing station #1 on Avon Belden. The new location is under survey and will be located off the new Jaycox Rd. extension (across from the new school) that will soon be under construction. The new Fire Station (22,594 square feet) will: Allow the Fire Department to meet the current and future needs of the residents and designed to serve the communities needs for years. House 2 Fire companies as well as headquarters for Chief Officers Provide better training facilities so Fire/EMS personnel can better serve the city and residents Improve overall response times to emergencies Allow proper storage of Fire apparatus and equipment Eliminate the traffic congestion on Rt. 83 where current station #1 is located Include a medical triage room which will allow on duty Firefighter/Paramedics the ability to provide triage to walk in patients with medical emergencies as well as other health programs and screenings Allow the fire department to provide classes (eg. CPR classes ) to residents in the state of the art classroom facility Improve safety related fire station tours and learning opportunities for your children Serve as a local emergency operations center during a natural disaster or large scale emergency Allow the fire department to expand its overall service to the City of North Ridgeville. Page 4

7 Operations -Fire The North Ridgeville Fire Department consistently strives to deliver superb allhazards emergency response to our residents and area businesses. We accomplish this by continuously evaluating our service delivery with the latest standards and best practices. Our goal is to remain competitive, marketable and sustainable while delivering the best possible emergency services to our customers. In 2016, the North Ridgeville Fire Department responded to 3,294 calls for assistance from our customers with an average response time of 5:53 minutes. Of the 3,294 calls, 2,818 were emergency medical calls and 473 were fire service related calls. Jon Graf, Paramedic In the fire service we measure success by how quickly we can respond, the number Assistant Chief of lives saved and the value of the residential and commercial buildings saved. These numbers have a direct impact on the property values in our community, insurance premiums for residents and our area businesses, and our department s reputation. The combination of a well-trained firefighting force with active fire prevention helps to prevent damages and protect the City s property values by sustaining a thriving residential and business community. The total estimated value of property impacted by fire in 2016 and saved through the interventions of the North Ridgeville Fire Department was $1,000, Of that total value, an estimated $321, was lost. In the beginning of 2017, a new Braun ALS Ambulance is being designed/engineered and is expected to be placed into service in The new ambulance replaces the backup Medic unit at Station #1. Maintaining our equipment and keeping it in a constant state of readiness is a high priority for the fire department. Our personnel and the City s service department mechanics spend many hours each year maintaining our equipment to ensure that we are always ready to respond. As in the past, we sent two of our city mechanics to the Ohio Fire Academy for the Emergency Vehicle Technician (EVT) classes that qualify them to work on our equipment. This investment in our mechanics has paid off for the city. This year, our mechanics took over performing all of the annual preventative maintenance on our fire apparatus which saved us thousands of dollars and will continue to do so each year. The use of our service department mechanics also ensures quality work that is done in a timely manner so we can get our equipment back into service faster. Page 5

8 Operations Fire -Continued Our two fire stations operate on a 24/7 basis and are staffed by the men of the North Ridgeville Fire Department. Maintenance of these facilities and grounds are performed on a daily basis by the on-duty personnel. Ensuring that the stations are safe, clean and operating efficiently for the members who live there on a 24-hour basis; and that they reflect an image that complements our community is important Incidents per Day of the Week Day of the Week # Incidents Sunday 445 Monday 471 Tuesday 454 Wednesday 456 Thursday 494 Friday 490 Saturday 448 Page 6

9 Operations Fire -Continued 7 YEAR RUN COMPARISON YEAR FIRE EMS TOTAL , ,380 2, ,369 2, ,488 3, ,371 2, ,436 3, ,618 3, ,818 3, Day of the Week # Incidents Sunday 445 2,111 2,380 2,369 2,488 2,371 2,436 2,618 Monday 471 Tuesday 454 Wednesday 456 Thursday Friday 490 Saturday 448 2, FIRE EMS Page 7

10 Operations Fire -Continued MONTH INCIDENTS January 294 February 266 March 254 April 270 May 263 June 278 July 319 August 291 September 231 October 274 Day of the Week November # Incidents 268 Sunday December Monday 471 Tuesday 2016 OVERLAPPING INCIDENTS 454 # Overlapping Wednesday % Overlapping 456 Total Calls 721 Thursday % 494 3,294 Friday 490 Saturday 448 Page 8

11 Operations Fire -Continued 2016 Incidents per Zone Day of the Week # Incidents Sunday 445 Monday 471 Tuesday 454 Wednesday 456 Thursday 494 Friday 490 Saturday 448 Page 9

12 Operations Fire -Continued 2016 RESPONSES PER UNIT Total December November October September August July June May April March February January Apparatus M M M M T E E E Total * M=Medic Unit T=Aerial Ladder E=Fire Engine *This number does not reflect the total number of 2016 calls due to the fact that multiple units may respond to a single call Page 10

13 Operations Fire -Continued EQUIPMENT TESTING Hose Diameter # of Sections Tested 2016 HOSE TESTING RESULTS # of Total Sections Feet that Tested passed # of Sections that Failed 1 ¾ 45 2, ½ 54 2, (50 sections) (100 sections) 20 2, Overall Totals 122 7, Pump Testing Apparatus Engine 21 Engine 22 Engine 24 Truck 23 Status Passed Passed Passed Passed Page 11

14 Operations Fire -Continued SCBA Maintenance & Respiratory FIT Testing In 2016, there were 20 Self Contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBA) and 47 masks maintained by our trained in-house SCBA repair personnel. In July, a third party vendor completed flow testing of all SCBA s. Any deficiencies were identified and repaired. There were a total of 36 members Respiratory Fit Tested in-house using Lorain County s fit tester and all members of the department completed the OSHA required questionnaire and pulmonary function testing. The department replaced 10 out of 20 SCBA bottles that are out of hydro and need to be replaced. Rick Knowlton, Paramedic Lieutenant Page 12

15 Operations -EMS The North Ridgeville Fire Department continued to improve the delivery of emergency medical services in 2016 through the implementation of state-of-the-art equipment and procedures. Membership in the Weshare Rescue Organization and the input from our internal EMS Committee allow us to continually reevaluate and analyze our services in order to find ways of improving the delivery of EMS through new equipment, procedures and training. Of the 2,818 EMS calls we received in 2016, we transported a person 2,177 times to a more definitive care facility for treatment of their illness or injury. Overall run volume increased by 7.6% from 2015 to Jon Graf, Paramedic Assistant Chief Joe Gavlak, Paramedic Captain Previous Year Comparison Overall Response Time by EMS Units Year Minutes Number of EMS Calls :51 2, :41 2, :49 2,818 Our overall average response time (dispatch to arrival) remained the same as the previous year. Although increased run volume often results in EMS units responding to districts outside their own because the other units are already on an EMS call, our average response time remained the same. Page 13

16 Operations EMS-Continued The following enhancements were made by our department in 2016: The department purchased 36 Hi visibility reflective EMS Squad coats to ensure that all personnel are highly visible on all EMS runs and enhance safety. The department purchased 3 Binder Lift devices in order to safely lift and transport obese patient or assist them up should they request a lift assist. A $2,500 EMS grant was award by the State of Ohio EMS /Public Safety division for the purchase of durable medical EMS supplies. Chief John C. Reese agreed to organize and host the first ever Weshare Education Symposium which was held at the LCCC Ridge Campus in April of The Symposium provided six hours of continuing education to an estimated 150 paramedics in our area. The fire department continues to support an internal EMS Committee to take advantage of the talents and ideas of our shift members to continue to improve our EMS service. Each shift is represented by a member that reports ideas and problems and helps to come up with solutions. The committee is led by Captain Joe Gavlak and its members are Firefighter/Paramedic Tony Kotar, Firefighter/Paramedic Justin Silvi and Firefighter/Paramedic Colt Eberling. This committee is responsible for assisting with designing and specifying features for the purchase of a new Braun ALS Ambulance to replace our oldest medic unit that is in service. The EMS Committee, along with management team members (Lieutenant Barry Cook) completed and submitted an application to the Commission on Accreditation of Ambulance services CAAS. This accreditation ensures that the department meets/exceeds the new standards of care for Emergency Services nationally. This accreditation process is purely voluntary and undertaken by the Fire Department to ensure we are providing the residents with the highest professional service possible. Page 14

17 Operations EMS- Continued The Weshare Rescue Organization is currently working on a EMS protocol update. The Weshare Committee consortium consists of members from Avon Lake, Bay Village, North Ridgeville, Rocky River, Westlake, the Cleveland Clinic Foundation and University Hospitals of Cleveland. We are looking forward to continuing to improve our service in Completing the internal audit for accreditation and the start of the construction of the new headquarters fire station is going to allow us to improve policies, procedures, equipment storage, training, community health programs and improve response times. Page 15

18 Operations EMS- Continued Calls per Medic Unit in 2016 % of total dispatched calls (Fire +EMS) 3,049 Medic 26 (Station #1 Primary w/3 personnel) 1,542 51% Medic 27/28 (Station #1 Backup w/2 personnel) % Medic 25 (Station #2 Primary w/3 personnel) % Page 16

19 Fire Prevention Report The Division of Fire Prevention for the North Ridgeville Fire Department is headed by Assistant Chief Scott Bement. The primary goal of the division of fire prevention is to prevent life and property loss. This is accomplished through inspections, public education, and pre-planning for emergencies. Assistant Chief Bement performs the major portion of inspecting all of our city's businesses. He is also responsible for assigning company inspections, plan reviews, and post-fire investigations. He is a state certified Fire Safety Inspector and a member of the Lorain County Association of Fire Investigators, National Association of Fire Investigators, International Association of Arson Investigators, North East Ohio Fire Prevention Association, International Association of Fire Chiefs, Ohio Fire Chiefs Association and the Lorain County Fire Chiefs. Assistant Chief Bement has 38 years of service and experience Scott Bement, EMT Assistant Chief Page 17

20 Fire Prevention Report-Continued The North Ridgeville Fire Department continues our efforts to prevent business and home fires in our community. This is evident by the fact that our city has only experienced one commercial fire in three years. Fire Prevention is responsible for ensuring that all commercial buildings are constructed or renovated in compliance with the Ohio Fire Code, as well as various standards such as the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA). Fire Prevention is dedicated to the fair and accurate administration of the Ohio Fire Code. The goal of Fire Prevention is the prevention of fires and injuries. When fires do occur, Fire Prevention is responsible for finding the cause and origin of these fires, and implementing educational programs to prevent them from occurring in the future. PUBLIC EDUCATION Public education programs are designed with the purpose of preventing fires, injuries and even deaths resulting from fires. We are dedicated to continuously improving programs based on the current trends and technology available to our department. Fire Prevention is responsible for overseeing the administration of the public education programs geared towards the safety of our community. Our goal is to customize our programs to meet the needs of the age groups that are our audience. Lieutenant Robert Bob Knowlton and Firefighter David Brad Buescher are our two fire education educators. Both assist in presenting fire safety talks in the community throughout the year. Our efforts include: Fire extinguisher training Annual Health and Safety Fair Safety talks at area nursing homes Home fire safety inspections for adoption and foster care homes Fire station tours and safety presentations Boy Scout and Girl Scout badge requirements Safety talks in the schools Safety talks at the North Ridgeville Senior Center Safety Talks at Safetyville Family and Friends CPR Page 18

21 Fire Prevention Report-Continued In 2016, the Fire Department teamed up with the North Ridgeville City School District to provide students with the opportunity to participate in the Division of State Fire Marshal s Fire Safety poster contest. Several third graders entered the contest and our personnel picked three local winners who were entered into the state contest. As it turns out, two of our third grade girls who worked together on a poster won the state competition. Their poster will be displayed at the Fire Marshal s annual Fire Expo in June and will then be on display in the lobby of the State Fire Marshal s office. Our plan is to expand participation in the Fire Safety poster contest in FIRE HYDRANTS The North Ridgeville Fire Department conducts an annual fire hydrant pressure testing program to ensure proper working pressures throughout the community and to identify any potential problem areas. The North Ridgeville Utilities Department flushes all 2,398 hydrants each year to ensure that they are in good working order. Utilities also performs repairs and routine services including: cleaning and greasing internal components, resetting hydrants struck by vehicles, raising below grade hydrants up to a workable height, routine painting, and replacing bad valve seats and stems. SMOKE DETECTORS In 2016, the North Ridgeville Fire Department combined efforts with the Lorain County Branch of the American Red Cross to offer free smoke detectors to some of our residents. The program allows the fire department to target neighborhoods throughout the city and then go door-to-door and offer free smoke detector installation. The smoke detectors are provided by a grant that was received by the Red Cross. Fire department and Red Cross volunteers work together to install the smoke detectors in 2016, there were 139 smoke detectors installed into homes throughout North Ridgeville. The fire department is hoping to team up again with the Red Cross in 2017 to install more smoke detectors. This is a life-saving program. Page 19

22 Fire Prevention Report-Continued CODE ENFORCEMENT The North Ridgeville Fire Department is responsible for enforcement of the Ohio Fire Code, as well as other standards set forth in the various codes and standards. These efforts are delivered through several of our company officers being certified as Fire Safety Inspectors by the State of Ohio. The fire department has all 12 of the fire department s officers certified. Our inspectors annually inspect the businesses within the borders of North Ridgeville for compliance with the Ohio Fire Code. Our goal within the process of inspecting a business is to educate that business on the fire code and how the fire codes will make them safer by preventing fires before they occur. It s our business to ensure that they stay in business and don t get shut down by a preventable fire. Included with annual inspections, our crews develop and update pre-fire plans of local businesses. These pre-fire plans are drawings and information gathered about each individual business for use in case of a fire. The pre-fire plans assist us in training, locating utility shutoffs, contacting property owners and preserving property in the case where there is a fire in a business. The fire department loads the pre-fire plans onto a server that allows our fire crews to access the information on an IPad which is located in each piece of the City s fire apparatus FIRE PREVENTION ACTIVITIES Code Enforcement Inspections of Businesses 278 Alarm/Hood/Sprinkler Tests 102 Plans Review for New and Expanding Businesses 22 Adoption and Foster Care Home Inspections 17 Meetings (Fire Prevention, Chief s, Fire Investigation, Staff) 58 Fire Investigations 6 Page 20

23 Fire Prevention Report-Continued FIRE & EXPLOSION INVESTIGATIONS The State of Ohio requires all fires to be investigated to determine cause and origin. It is also the fire department s responsibility to determine whether the fire was intentionally set. Intentionally set or arson fires are investigated by the North Ridgeville Fire Department, with the professional assistance of the North Ridgeville Police Department, the Lorain County Fire Investigation Team and the Ohio Fire Marshal. By determining the cause of a fire, the fire department can develop programs to educate the community to reduce future fire incidents. Page 21

24 Fire/EMS Training Report The members of the North Ridgeville Division of Fire completed over 9000 hours of training in These 9000 hours break down into the following categories: Fire Training, EMS Training, Technical Rescue Team Training, Fire Officer/Leadership Development Training, and Emergency Vehicle Operator training. Fire training consisted of 4,712 personnel hours. This training covered a large array of topics including; fire ground tactics, radio/communication procedures, structure fire search operations, self-contained breathing apparatus competency, hose-line advancement, incident management procedures, and many others. Eight members completed the Blue Card Incident Management course consisting of 75 hours of both online and classroom incident simulations. The intent of the Blue card course is to improve the incident management skills of firefighters and fire officers. Better incident management allows for more efficient use of resources which leads to increased safety for both civilians and firefighters and reduced property damage. This course was provided free of charge through a grant. Jon Graf, Paramedic Assistant Chief Emergency Medical Services Training accounted for 1,389 personnel hours during The department members are required to receive annual continuing education pertaining to; pediatrics, geriatrics, cardiology, trauma, and general medical topics. Among the many other skills that were covered in the training, members renewed their Basic Life Support and Advanced Cardiac Life Support Certifications. This training was provided by; fire department instructors, online courses, and instructors provided by the various hospitals affiliated with the Weshare EMS group. Page 22

25 Fire/EMS Training Report-Continued Several department members contribute their skills to the Lorain County Technical Rescue Teams and the Lorain County Fire Investigation Team. These teams consist of Trench Rescue, Confined Space Rescue, High Angle Rope Rescue, Structural Collapse Rescue, Wide Area Search & Rescue, Hazardous Materials Mitigation, Swift Water Rescue, Dive Rescue, and Fire Cause Investigation. North Ridgeville Fire Department members participated in 1215 hours of training with these teams. Developing the leadership skills of both the firefighters and fire officers was placed as a high priority in Officer Development/leadership training consisted of 1446 personnel hours. Several members attended the Ohio Fire Chiefs Maxwell Leadership Program. This program is based on the book entitled, The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership. This course consisted of three days of intense training designed to develop and enhance an individual s leadership ability. The members attending this course were further required to submit several papers in the weeks following the course prior to receiving a certificate of completion. Membership of the Lorain County Fire Chiefs Association (LCFC) allowed the North Ridgeville Fire Department to conduct its own in house Fire Officer I course through the LCFC Fire Academy. This course was conducted using our own instructors and materials allowing it to be delivered for a greatly reduced cost compared to what it would have been if, as in the past, these members were sent to an outside agency to obtain this training. The members completing this course each completed approximately 92 hours of training that is intended to better prepare these members for future leadership positions within the department. Three members were certified as Ohio Fire Instructors. The addition of these instructors further enhances the capabilities for the North Ridgeville Division of Fire to ensure that all members receive quality training and education. Page 23

26 Fire/EMS Training Report-Continued One department member graduated from the Ohio Fire Executive Leadership Program. This program lasts 2.5 years and requires attending two weeks of classroom instruction each year. In between the weeks of instruction the students are required to complete many hours of assignments and submit numerous papers. Included in these assignments are the development of a five year strategic plan, development of an organizational change initiative project, development of a personal leadership improvement plan, conflict management, and budgeting and finance. Throughout the entire program the students are conducting research that focuses on studying a specific problem within their own organization. Using this research the students prepare and submit a final paper that provides recommendations to resolve their stated problem. A second department member was accepted to the program and will be attending in the first session in May of Responding in emergency vehicles is considered one of the most hazardous activities for both emergency personnel and the civilians whom they share the road with. For this reason, each year our members complete various forms of training involving emergency vehicle operations. The department members completed 316 hours of emergency vehicle driver training. Among other forms of driver training, department members completed a vehicle maneuverability course during both the daylight and nighttime hours. The members completed this training using the largest and most cumbersome vehicles within the department. Training Category Training hours 2015 Training hours 2016 GRAND TOTALS County Rescue Teams EMS Fire Safety Inspector Fire Investigation Fire Suppression Page 24 Officer Development

27 EMS Billing The Lorem North ipsum Ridgeville dolor sit Fire amet, Department consectetur bills adipiscing non-residents elit. Donec for ambulance transports. The patient sem nisi, sent vestibulum a bill and id asked dictum to eu, pay interdum or make arrangements in nunc. Vivamus to pay the full amount. Since the maximus inception sed of neque the paramedic vel consectetur. program Pellentesque in North Ridgeville, vitae augue none of our patients were sent sed to ipsum collections maximus for non-payment luctus. Mauris which vitae resulted gravida in a metus, large sum ac of uncollected debt. In dignissim leo. Sed finibus, nisl id vehicula porttitor, ipsum 2015, enim the fermentum fire department dolor, eu contracted semper with felis the massa Ohio semper Attorney quam. General s office to provide collection Fusce hendrerit service for elit any sit current amet odio or past dictum uncollected feugiat. debt Praesent from non-resident patients. You dignissim will find vel that ipsum this arrangement sed vestibulum. resulted Curabitur in an increase justo dolor, in collections for the year bibendum id massa eu, congue ultrices ipsum. Nunc viverra augue enim, ac pellentesque tortor tristique vel. Nulla aliquet The vehicula Fire Department mi, a pretium also sem soft viverra bills ac. our patients that are residents. If the resident has medical insurance, the Fire Department will send the insurance company a bill and accept any payment that is forwarded on behalf of the resident. Residents of North Jon Graf, Paramedic Ridgeville NEVER receive a bill at their home and are NEVER turned over to Assistant Chief collections for an ambulance transport. In 2016, the fire department experienced a 6.8% decrease in collections when compared to The EMS collections data is as follows: YEAR # EMS CALLS MONTHLY COLLECTION AVG. TOTAL YEAR COLLECTIONS ,371 $56, $672, ,436 $56, $676, ,618 $65, $780, ,817 $60, $726, Page 25

28 EMS Billing-Continued The reason for the decrease in collections is because in 2015 our average payment per transport was $ The average payment per transport in 2016 was $ The reduction in reimbursement we are seeing is the result of per claim reductions from several payor classifications (i.e. Medical Mutual, Medicaid, Worker s Comp, etc.). We are projecting that we will still collect an additional $17, for 2016 dates of service which will take our average payment per claim to $ The changes are the result of both higher co-payments for EMS claims, and higher deductibles for insurance plans in general. Because the City accepts insurance payment as payment in full for residents, we are accepting these lower reimbursements. Unfortunately, this is the trend that everyone is seeing in EMS reimbursement. North Ridgeville s average reimbursement of $ for 2016 is good as compared to many other communities that are struggling with much higher Medicaid and uninsured populations than we are in North Ridgeville. Our increasing population and number of EMS calls should also help us avoid any dramatic losses moving forward. Page 26

29 Facilities Maintenance Jon Graf, Paramedic Assistant Chief The new headquarters fire station which will be located on Jaycox Road. In 2016, the new headquarters fire station project had some important milestones. The first is that the property for the project was decided upon and the station will be built at 7000 Jaycox Road. This address is the site of the City s old communications radio tower which was torn down two years ago. It is about 350 feet behind the Aldi s shopping center and just north of the City s Service Department. The station will be on a new extension of Jaycox Road which will be built in the spring/summer of Construction of the new station is scheduled to begin in October Fire station #1 located at 7090 Avon Belden Road is the station that will be replaced by the new headquarters fire station. That being the case, only general maintenance was performed at that fire station. Fire station #2 which is located at Lorain Road was opened in 1975 and has received general maintenance and necessary repairs since it was built. The station has never been remodeled and there are several items around the station that now need attention. Instead of remodeling the building all at once at a high cost, the Fire Department Administration is requesting funding for several remodeling projects each year at fire station #2. In 2016, the fire department made several repairs/improvements at fire station #2. We replaced the outdoor storage building with a new and larger metal storage building, sealed and repaired the outside masonry of the building, installed new LED lighting in the apparatus bays, installed new turnout gear racks for the storage of our firefighter s turnout gear, replaced the sign/message board in front of the station, and replaced the air compressor that maintains the air levels in our fire apparatus. Fire station #2 will continue to be evaluated and more items replaced or remodeled each year until the building meets current standards. Page 27

30 Facilities Fire/EMS Maintenance-Continued Statistical Analysis TWO FIRE STATIONS 24/7 Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Donec sem nisi, vestibulum id dictum eu, interdum in nunc. Vivamus maximus sed neque vel consectetur. Pellentesque vitae augue sed ipsum maximus luctus. Current Mauris vitae Facilities gravida metus, ac dignissim leo. Sed finibus, nisl id vehicula porttitor, ipsum enim fermentum dolor, eu semper felis massa semper quam. Fusce hendrerit elit sit amet odio dictum feugiat. Praesent dignissim vel ipsum sed vestibulum. Curabitur justo dolor, bibendum id massa eu, congue ultrices ipsum. Nunc viverra augue enim, ac pellentesque tortor tristique vel. Nulla aliquet vehicula mi, a pretium sem viverra ac. Jon Graf, Paramedic Assistant Chief Fire Headquarters & Station # Avon Belden Road Built in 1957 as the City s first fire station square feet Medic 26, Engine 24, Medic 27, Engine 22, Car 30 (utility pickup) Fire Station # Lorain Road Built in 1975 to serve the south side of North Ridgeville 2,700 square feet Medic 25, Truck 23, Engine 21 (reserve), Medic 28 (reserve) Page 28

31 WESTCOM Dispatch Center The mission of the Westshore Central Dispatch Center is to provide professional and efficient emergency communications to the citizens, first responders, and visitors of the Westshore Region. This will be accomplished through utilizing technology, ongoing training, dedicated employees, and continued growth to fulfill the needs of our community and all who pass through it. In 2016, Westcom upgraded several key computer systems: The implementation of a new Eventide phone and radio recording system was completed. This upgrade provides Westcom with next generation 911 technology. Phone and radio traffic is recorded and instantly available Jon at all Graf, Paramedic work stations. The system has integrated seamlessly with the ECW 911 Assistant Chief phone system to provide our staff with a powerful, state of the art 911 dispatching system. An upgrade to the computers that support our Sundance Computer Aided Dispatch System was also completed during During 2016, Westcom dispatched 15,708 fire and ems calls for the communities of Westlake, Bay Village, North Ridgeville, Rocky River, and Fairview Park. This marked a 3.6% increase over the total run volume in 2015 (15,142). The 911 Dispatchers of Westcom continue to receive a high level of training. Each dispatcher maintains APCO International certifications in Emergency Medical Dispatch, Public Safety Telecommunication, and Fire Service Communication. Westcom currently employs two certified training officer s to provide regular continuing education to all personnel. Westcom Dispatchers recertify every two years in EMD, CPR, and AED. This focus on training and education translates to the best possible 911 service for the citizens of the Westshore region. Westcom Dispatchers will provide callers with critical pre-arrival instructions during emergency situations such as: CPR for cardiac arrest victims Assisting with choking victims Assistance during Childbirth Page 29

32 WESTCOM Dispatch Center-Continued 2017 will include: Expansion of our community outreach program. In late 2016, Westcom launched a Holiday program to provide for local families. Several Westcom Dispatchers are participating in the ABC (Aluminum Cans for Burned Children) campout in February of Fundraising for childhood cancer is also on the radar in Several dispatchers will complete their FEMA Communication Leadership Class. Upgrade to an end of life computer server will occur mid Your dispatchers at Westcom are committed to our role of serving as a critical link between the citizens of the Westshore Region and the Fire Departments that serve them. We recognize and appreciate the contributions of our Dispatchers and the support of our Mayors, City Council members, and citizens in helping us execute our mission. Page 30

33 WESHARE Rescue Organization The WESHARE Rescue Organization is a Fire/EMS Medical Command/Continuing Education Consortium Consisting of 5 Area Fire /EMS Departments in the Greater Cleveland are. These departments consist of: North Ridgeville Fire Department Westlake Fire Department Bay Village Fire Department Rocky River Fire Department Avon Lake Fire Department Jon Graf, Paramedic The Medical Command responsibilities are shared by The Cleveland Clinic and Assistant Chief University Hospitals of Cleveland. Each Hospital system supplies an EMS Coordinator and Medical Director whose main responsibility is to provide medical continuing education class to all personnel within the WESHARE system. The WESHARE Rescue Committee and Medical Advisory Committees, as well as sub-committees, meet quarterly to discuss future plans, educational opportunities and any other issues that may arise. This organization s goal is to provide the best pre-hospital care to the communities we serve through constant upgrades to medical equipment and protocols in order to stay on the cutting edge of EMS prehospital care. For more information go to : Page 31

34 Grants and Donations Each year, the fire department attempts to bring in funding through various grant sources and Lorem we are ipsum always dolor willing sit amet, to accept consectetur donations adipiscing from private elit. sources. Donec Although we do not have sem nisi, a professional vestibulum grant id dictum writer eu, on interdum staff, our in personnel nunc. Vivamus are willing to tackle the applications maximus sed and neque are always vel consectetur. looking for new Pellentesque funding sources vitae that augue can assist us with our sed ipsum maximus luctus. Mauris vitae gravida metus, ac mission. Our grant writing efforts are headed by Lieutenant Barry Cook with the assistance dignissim leo. Sed finibus, nisl id vehicula porttitor, ipsum of Fire Fighter/Medics Colt Eberling and Alex Shear. Once again in 2016, we obtained an enim fermentum dolor, eu semper felis massa semper quam. Ohio Public Safety Grant for $2, We also applied for, but did not receive a FEMA Fusce hendrerit elit sit amet odio dictum feugiat. Praesent grant for training and equipment and a Local Government Safety Capital Grant for a dignissim vel ipsum sed vestibulum. Curabitur justo dolor, specialized response vehicle that could be used during the Corn Festival and any other bibendum id massa eu, congue ultrices ipsum. Nunc viverra community augue enim, events ac pellentesque throughout the tortor year. tristique There was vel. also Nulla an application aliquet completed for the 2016 vehicula FEMA mi, Assistance a pretium to sem Fire viverra Fighters ac. Grant to install a diesel exhaust removal system at fire station #2. That grant is still pending and we should find out whether or not we Barry Cook, Paramedic received it in early Our grants and donations history for the past 14 years is Jon as Graf, Paramedic Lieutenant follows: Assistant Chief YEAR ORGANIZATION AMOUNT PURPOSE 2002 FEMA $51, FEMA $135, FEMA $126, Fire Fighter Wellness Program and Fitness Equipment Generator, Radios, SCBA s and Fire Fighter Turnout Gear Fire Station #2 Traffic Signal, Turnout Gear Washer and Dryer 2010 FEMA $270, Replacement Fire Engine 2014 FEMA $15, Automatic External Defibrillators (AEDs) for Fire Apparatus 2015 Corn Festival Committee Ohio Public Safety EMS North Ridgeville VFW $2, Water Rescue Training $3, EMS Equipment $1, McGrath Mac Video Laryngoscope 2016 Ohio Public Safety EMS TOTAL $608, $2, EMS Equipment Page 32

35 Fire Museum The Lorem North ipsum Ridgeville dolor sit Fire amet, Department consectetur maintains adipiscing a elit. museum Donec next to Old Town sem nisi, Hall vestibulum that contains id dictum the history eu, of interdum our department in nunc. Vivamus and the fire service. The maximus fire museum sed neque houses vel the consectetur. city s original Pellentesque 1931 Buffalo vitae fire augue engine which was sed the ipsum first maximus piece of luctus. fire apparatus Mauris vitae that the gravida City metus, of North ac Ridgeville dignissim leo. Sed finibus, nisl id vehicula porttitor, ipsum purchased. enim fermentum dolor, eu semper felis massa semper quam. Fusce hendrerit elit sit amet odio dictum feugiat. Praesent The museum contains pictures and memorabilia that reflect the history of dignissim vel ipsum sed vestibulum. Curabitur justo dolor, the bibendum North Ridgeville id massa Fire eu, Department. congue ultrices Tours ipsum. cover Nunc the establishment viverra of the North augue Ridgeville enim, ac pellentesque Volunteer tortor Fire Department tristique vel. up Nulla to aliquet today s full-time fire/ems vehicula mi, service. a pretium There sem is viverra also memorabilia ac. that tell the story of the American Fire Service, including two Self Contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBAs) that were recovered at the World Trade Center site in The Buffalo fire truck is in running condition and can be used for funerals, parades, and car shows. Our staff is constantly working on the truck to improve its condition and keep it running. The truck is used throughout the year by various picture takers that like the truck for its photogenic value. Jon Paul Graf, Sadowski, Paramedic Paramedic Assistant Captain Chief The fire museum is open on some holidays and always by request. Anyone that would like a tour or is interested in donating to the museum fund can contact us at (440) Page 33

36 Annual Health and Safety Fair In October, the fire department held our annual health & safety fair in observance of National Fire Safety Awareness Month. The safety fair is held at fire station #1 and is designed to attract residents of our community for a fun-filled family friendly day of tips about healthy living and home fire safety. There are local businesses, hospitals, charitable organizations and city departments on hand to offer information and giveaway items. There are also bounce houses and a fire prevention magic show for the kids. This year s event had a great crowd and despite the wet weather was a success. Next year s safety fair is scheduled to be held in October If you know of any health or fire safety related businesses that would like to attend, please contact Chief John Reese at (440) Jon Graf, Paramedic Assistant Chief Page 34

37 Community Participation The Lorem fire ipsum department dolor sit takes amet, pride consectetur in its closeness adipiscing with elit. the Donec community. Each year our members sem nisi, donate vestibulum their id time dictum to try eu, and interdum make North in nunc. Ridgeville Vivamus a great place to live. This year, maximus the fire sed neque department vel consectetur. administration Pellentesque and the vitae members augue of the North Ridgeville Firefighters sed ipsum International maximus luctus. Association Mauris of vitae Firefighters gravida metus, (IAFF) ac Local 2129 participated in dignissim leo. Sed finibus, nisl id vehicula porttitor, ipsum several enim fermentum community dolor, events. eu semper felis massa semper quam. Fusce hendrerit elit sit amet odio dictum feugiat. Praesent The dignissim fire department vel ipsum members sed vestibulum. have a bond Curabitur with the justo Senior dolor, Citizens in our community. Each bibendum year, our id massa members eu, and congue their ultrices families ipsum. volunteer Nunc at every viverra spaghetti dinner held at the Senior augue enim, Center. ac They pellentesque do everything tortor tristique from serving vel. Nulla meals aliquet to washing dishes. We also deliver vehicula meals mi, a on pretium wheels sem on Thanksgiving viverra ac. and lend a hand in whatever the Senior Center needs throughout the year. Jon Graf, Paramedic Assistant Chief Firefighter/Paramedic Mike Williams leads the fire department in collecting cans for the Aluminum Cans for Burned Children (ACBC) Fund. There is a can collection trailer behind fire station #1 that funds donations to area burn units and summer camps for burned children. We also team up each year with the North Ridgeville Recreation Department and the North Ridgeville Fishing Club to host our annual Kids Fishing Derby held at South Central Park. The proceeds from the Kids Fishing Derby also help to fund donations to ACBC. Each year, Local 2129 in cooperation with Target donate to a family in need in our community. This year, Santa took some time out of his busy schedule to deliver presents to this year s family. The members of Local 2129 participate in several worthwhile projects throughout the year including sponsoring local sports teams. Page 35

38 Retirements/New Hires Lieutenant/Paramedic Ron Schuler In February of 2016, Lieutenant/Paramedic Ron Schuler retired and ended his 33 year career with the North Ridgeville Fire Department. Ron was hired and attended the fire academy in He then went to Lrain County Community College and completed his paramedic training in Ron is married to Shirley and has one son, Michael who will be attending college this year. Ron plans to spend his retirement enjoying his family and visiting his extended family at the Fire House. NO NEW HIRES IN 2016 Page 36

39 2016 Personnel Milestones SERVICE ANNIVERSARIES Celebrating 1 Year FF. Dean Souris Celebrating 5 Year FF. Justin Silvi FF. Brian Sweeny FF. Gabe Gerbasi FF. Colt Eberling Celebrating 10 Year FF. Kirt Strahinic Celebrating 15 Year None Celebrating 20 Year Captain Mike Uhnak Celebrating 25 Year FF. Gary Chase Fire Chief John Reese PROMOTIONS FF. Dan Roger-to Lieutenant RETIREMENTS Lieutenant Ron Schuler 33 years of service Page 37

40 Memorial Page Firefighter/EMT James E. Hershey, Sr. In 2016, we lost a member of the fire department family when Firefighter/EMT James Hershey passed away at the age of 80. Jim was a lifelong resident of North Ridgeville and was actively involved with North Ridgeville High School athletics. Jim retired from the Fire Department in 1997 after 27 years of service. He was an active member of the Sugar Ridge Baptist Church, North Ridgeville and a social member of the North Ridgeville VFW Post Jim volunteered as a trainer for the North Ridgeville Ranger Football teams and was an avid sports fan. He was also inducted into the first class of the North Ridgeville Athletic Hall of Fame in Jim is survived by his daughter Linda, son James Jr. and sister Jane. He has 3 grandchildren and 3 great grandchildren. Jim enjoyed visiting the fire station after his retirement and telling stories about the history of North Ridgeville and the fire department in general. He will be missed by all. Page 38

41 Memorial Page-Continued Former Fire Chief Eugene A. Diederich In 2016, we lost another member of the fire department family when former Fire Chief Eugene A. Diederich passed away at the age of 89. Eugene was a lifelong resident of North Ridgeville and served his country during World War II in the US Army. He then went on to serve his community as a Firefighter/EMT for over 40 years, as Fire Chief from 1981 until retiring in Eugene enjoyed restoring old fire trucks, fishing and was traveling to Florida. He spent the winters with his wife Zoe in Sun City Center, Florida for the past 20 years. He is survived by daughter Beth Ann and 4 sisters. He was extremely proud of the North Ridgeville Fire Department and will be missed by all. Page 39