Fire Department. Police & Fire Commission Report. January 1st thru February 26th, Chief s Report. Report by Chief Wayne Chenier

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1 Fire Department Police & Fire Commission Report January 1st thru February 26th, 2013 Report by Chief Wayne Chenier Chief s Report The department responded to 315 incidents during this 57 day repor ng period, which included; 4 fires (1 vehicle fire), 287 EMS calls, 10 Hazardous Condi on calls, 8 fire alarm/co detector ac va ons, and 6 service related requests, and 1 Ice rescue response; 93 incidents were overlapping (simultaneous). The Department responded to three fire calls of electrical appliances, and each had the poten al to develop into much larger fires. Another fire in the City was caused by a spark from an inside wood stove that had ignited a sec on of carpet. The most recent structure fire occurred in the Township of Gingles on February 23rd, and was a complete loss before the Department arrived on scene. A passerby reported a large structure on fire to the Ashland County 911 Communica on Center located at Hwy. 112 at 2:28 am. The Department responded with one fire engine, a tanker, and an ambulance. Tanker support was requested from Marengo, Mason and Washburn fire departments. A large glow in the sky was noted once crews crested the hill near the Ashland cemetery. On arrival, crews found a large farm shed fully involved with a large amount of fire and the roof had collapsed. The owners were home, but were unaware of the fire, and crews sounded the air horns to alert the owners. The fire was approximately 250 feet behind the house and no immediate exposures were in danger, but the knee deep snow hindered access to the building. The owner reported the structure was home for Chickens, two sow pigs, and one piglet. The chickens and the piglet were found alive, but the two sow pigs died in the fire. The fire was quickly knocked down, and overhaul was completed by applying foam to smoldering piles of straw. The region has had three tragic ice related deaths this year. Prior to the January 26th tragic event, the Ashland Fire Department, the Ashland Chamber of Commerce, and several local business leaders have joined forces to discuss ways to inform local community members and visitors of areas where ice condi ons are likely to be unsafe. The commi ee is pu ng together an Ice Safety pamphlet that can be distributed by local businesses to community members and visitors to the area. The pamphlet will contain a map indica ng known areas of poor ice forma on throughout the bay as well as ice safety ps. Addi onal ini a ves are in the planning stages to further promote ice safety throughout the region. If anyone has ideas or interest in serving on this commi ee, please no fy the Ashland Fire Department or the Ashland Chamber of Commerce. The department urges everyone to exercise extreme cau on when venturing out on the ice, and understand there is no such thing as good ice, always have ice picks accessible, wear a floata on device, and being able to self rescue will poten ally save your life! Members of the Fire and EMS community are subjected to horrific incidents each and everyday. A er me, these incidents can begin to have adverse affects on an individuals mental health, and if le untreated can lead to family issues and end careers. In an effort to help Department members and their families iden fy and manage poten al stress related health problems before they become too overwhelming, the Department invited local psychiatrist, Dr. Gardner to talk about stress related indicators to staff and their family members. Stress from viewing trauma c events can lead to more severe and long term health problems that could adversely affect ones home life and job performance. The City s Employee Assistance Program through Health Partners also provides employees an addi onal tool to assist employees to effec vely handle challenging situa ons and reduce the stressful periods in ones life.

2 Department Incident Highlights Updates Staffing Update The Department welcomes John Baker, (pictured right). John was hired on January 28th, 2013, and he replaces FF Mahaffey, who le the Department last November. John is Firefighter/Paramedic from the Wisconsin Rapids area and completed his paramedic training at Northcentral Technical College in Wausau. John has 10 years FF experience with the Grand Rapids Fire Department, and had worked as an EMT with the Weyauwega Area Ambulance Service and the Waupaca Area Ambulance Service. Firefighter/Paramedic Mike Korpela has completed his nursing degree and accepted a posi on at Birch Haven in Ashland. Mike announced his resigna on, and his last shi with the Department will be on March 7, We wish Mike well in pursuing his new career. Staffing levels will be at 18 FTE s on March 8th. The Department has exhausted the 2012 eligibility list, and POC member Kurt Blakeman will be hired to temporarily fill the 19th posi on. Ice Rescue Updates The department s Ice Angel was out of service for several days following a failure of the distributor gear. A er research and discussions with several engine builders, the decision was made to flush the motor with oil and also use magnets to remove the pieces of the failed gear. Mul ple tests of the cra have proved its con nued reliability following the failure of the distributor gear. Apparatus Updates The Departments Ambulance 4 has come to the end of its reliable service life. This ambulance averages nearly 32,000 miles per year, and currently is at 190,000 miles. The ambulance was due for replacement in 2012, but was delayed due to budget constraints. The primary func on of Med 4 is to facilitate interfacility transfers and its reliability is cri cal when transferring pa ents long distances, to Duluth, Minneapolis, Rochester, Madison, and Marshfield, o en mes in poor weather condi ons. The ambulance is also used as a third responding unit during mul ple EMS calls. The unit is a 2007 Ford E 350 and has been recently plagued by fuel injector problems for the second me in one year. A vehicle replacement commi ee has been formed and is being headed by Lt. Wegener, and Firefighters Pribek, Reisdorf and Beck. The commi ee is in the process of evalua ng the current and future needs of the department in regards to the use of the new ambulance as well as its size, type, and interior layout to obtain a unit that correctly fills those needs. Tower 11 will be going back to the Sutphen factory in April for two weeks to repair work warranty issues that can not be performed on site. The department has documented over thirty problems with the truck since delivery. The Sutphen Corpora on has sent service technicians to Ashland on three separate occasions and have been able to make most of the repairs on site. We are reques ng the truck be shipped by semi on a flatbed trailer in an effort to avoid unnecessary wear. The department s new Sutphen 100 tower was featured in the Sutphen 2013 Calendar. The picture includes the department s new and re red Sutphen tower trucks side by side in front of the Ellis fire sta on. 2

3 Incident Incident Reponses Highlights The data documented below are days that exceed 4 calls within a 24 hour period. A date not listed does not indicate that there were no calls on that par cular day. January 1st Shift II responded to 7 calls; 4 local medicals, and 1 rescue call to cut a ring off finger, 1 township medical, and 1 intercept. January 2nd Shift I responded to 10 calls; 4 local medical, and 1 local fire alarm activation, 1 township medical, 3 intercepts, and 1 interfacility transfer to Essentia Health, Duluth. January 4th Shift II responded to 5 calls; 2 local medical calls, 1 township, 1 intercept, and 1 interfacility transfer to Essentia Health, Duluth. January 6th Shift II responded to 10 calls; 4 local medicals, 1 transfer of flight crew from the airport to MMC and return, 2 townships, 1 intercept, and 2 interfacility transfers. January 9th Shift III responded to 9 calls; 5 local medicals, 1 smoke odor investigation, 1 township medical, 1 intercept, and 1 interfacility to Northern Lights, Washburn. January 12th Shift III responded to 8 calls; 4 local medicals, 1 CO investigation, and a downed power-line, 1 intercept, and 1 interfacility transfer to Essentia Health, Duluth. January 13th Shift II responded to 8 calls; 2 local medicals, 5 intercepts, and 1 interfacility transfer to St. Luke's, Duluth. January 14th Shift III responded to 7 calls; 2 local medicals and a motor-vehicle accident in the City, 1 township medical, 3 interfacility transfers to Duluth. January 15th Shift I responded to 6 calls; 2 intercept, Gas tank on fire on Holmes Road, a interfacility transfer to Minneapolis, and 2 interfacility transfers to Duluth. Most Number of Calls January 16th Shift II responded to 9 calls; 5 local medicals, 1 township medical, 1 intercept, and 2 interfacility transfer to Duluth. January 18th Shift II responded to 8 calls; 2 local medicals, 1 township medical, 4 intercepts, and 1 interfacility transfer to Duluth. 10 Jan. 2nd, 6th, and 11th, 30th,

4 Incident Incident Reponses Highlights The data documented below are days that exceed 4 calls within a 24 hour period. A date not listed does not indicate that there were no calls on that par cular day. January 19th Shift III responded to 5 calls; 2 local medicals, 1 township medical, 2 intercepts. January 22nd Shift I responded to 5 calls; 1 local medical, and 4 interfacility transfers to Duluth. January 23rd Shift II responded to 5 calls; Motor vehicle accident in the Township of Gingles, 1 township medical, 2 intercepts, and 1 interfacility transfer to Duluth. January 24th Shift III responded to 6 calls; 1 local medical, 1 CO investigation, 1 township medical, and 3 interfacility transfer to Duluth. January 26th Shift II responded to 7 calls; 2 local medicals, Ice Rescue, 1 township medical, 3 intercepts (1 cancelled enroute). January 28th Shift II responded to 6 calls; 2 local medicals, 1 motor vehicle collision in White River, and 3 township medicals. January 29th Shift I responded to 5 calls; 3 local medical, and 2 interfacility transfers to Duluth. January 30th Shift II responded to 10 calls; 3 local medicals, 1 fire response for arcing stove, 1 fire response for a refrigerator fire, 4 township medicals, and 1 interfacility transfer to Duluth. January 31st Shift III responded to 8 calls; 1 local medical, 1 fire alarm activation at the Vaughn Library, 1 township medical, 3 intercepts, and 2 interfacility transfers. Number of Overlapping/ Simultaneous Calls: 30% 93 of 315 February 1st Shift I responded to 9 calls; 5 local medicals, 1CO investigation, and 3 township medicals. February 2nd Shift III responded to 6 calls; 3 local medicals, 1 fire alarm activation, 1 CO investigation, and 1 intercept. 4

5 Incident Incident Reponses Highlights The data documented below are days that exceed 4 calls within a 24 hour period. A date not listed does not indicate that there were no calls on that par cular day. February 3rd Shift I responded to 6 calls; 1 motor vehicle collision in the City, 1 CO investigation, 1 township medical, 3 intercepts. February 6th Shift II responded to 7 calls; 3 local medicals, 1 CO investigation, 1 township medical, and 2 interfacility transfers to Duluth. February 8th Shift I responded to 7 calls; 2 local medicals, 3 intercepts, and 2 interfacility transfers. February 10th Shift I responded to 9 calls; 3 local medicals, Fire call to Water Street, 1 township medical, 3 intercepts, and 1 interfacility transfer to Duluth. February 12th Shift III responded to 9 calls; 3 local medicals, 3 intercepts, and 3 interfacility transfers. February 13th Shift I responded to 9 calls; 6 local medicals, local fire call, 1 township medical, and 1 intercept. February 14th Shift III responded to 8 calls; 5 local medicals, 1 fire alarm activation, 1 intercept, and 1 interfacility transfer Duluth. February 15th Shift 1 responded to 7 calls; 3 local medicals, 1 CO investigation, 1 intercept, and 2 interfacility transfers to Duluth. February 19th Shift III responded to 6 calls; local motor vehicle accident without injuries, 1 township medical, 1 intercept, and 2 interfacility transfers to Duluth. February 21st Shift II responded to 6 calls; 3 local medicals, 2 intercepts, and 1 interfacility transfer to Duluth. February 22nd Shift I responded to 5 calls; 2 local medicals, structure fire in the township of Gingles, 1 township medical, and 1 intercept. February 24th Shift III responded to 6 calls; 4 local medicals, and 2 township medicals. February 25th Shift I responded to 5 calls; 4 local medicals, and 1 intercept. 5

6 Training Training Highlights Highlights Paramedic Recer fica on Department Paramedics will have completed a 48 hour Paramedic Refresher Recer fica on Class on February 28th. The refresher course is required to maintain a Na onal Registry License. WITC Paramedic Instructor, Sue Kartman, provided the training. Sue has a natural ability to teach, and her passion for the subject and bring real world experiences to the Department was described by department members as unsurpassed! The recer fica on class included; Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support, Pediatric Advanced Life support, and CPR cer fica ons as well. This class consumed most of the on duty training me during this repor ng period. Pictured right: Airway training. Pearce s Sausage Kitchen donated 10 airway s from butchered animals for AFD use. POC Training Schedule January 16th EMS Training on stair chair and cot use, EKG/defibrilla on procedures. January 19th Maps and ATV Opera ons February 16th Ice Angel Training February 20th Search and Rescue, EMS reports, Carbon monoxide, Chainsaw opera on. POC members Ken Lee and Kyle Anderson will finish the EMT Basic class at the end of April Staff completed 1,785 hours of training during this repor ng period POC members Stephanie Augus ne and Ryan Olsen are in FF ll class in Hayward, and will finish in early May POC members Kurt Blakeman and Joy Wooley are currently in Paramedic school, and are doing well. They will finish in December POC Alexander will be comple ng the Entry Level Firefighter March 6th. Off Duty Training Opportuni es Lt. Herrio, FF Beck,POC Augus ne, POC Wooley a ended the Wisconsin Emergency Medical Service Associa on (WEMSA) conference. The conference presenters are na onally recognized and offer staff an opportunity to see new and innova ve ideas and equipment in the EMS field. FF Joe Belany completed a two day Public Informa on Officer class in Madison, WI. The course prepares the student to be able to interact with the media. The course is required by all AFD Company Officers. FF Stuart Ma hias a ended a two day NIMS 300 course in Franklin, WI on February 14 & 15. The course focuses on the Incident Command system on a na onal uniform level that targets interagency integra on and good management principals. The course is required by all AFD Company Officers. 6

7 Public Department Educa on/special Highlights Events LSE 5th grade student, Olivier Barbeau was the winner of the 2012 Fire Preven on home safety plan homework project. AFD members challenged area students during Fire Preven on Week to complete a homework assignment by crea ng a home fire exit plan. Those students that returned their projects to school had an opportunity to have their names drawn, and to have lunch with the Firefighters. Staff picked up Olivier from LSE with Engine One, and brought him to the sta on for lunch. Olivier s mother also joined staff for pizza and soda. Olivier was returned to school LSE by staff in the Engine one. Olivier is pictured le and below. Firefighter Joe Belany giving an ice rescue survival talk at the high school on February 5, 2013 February 21, 2013 Shift II escorted the AHS wrestling team out of town, heading for the State Tournament in Madison Staff Anniversary Dates Chris Pribek 10 years January 6th Stuart Matthias 11 years January 28th Kevin Alajoki 16 years February 3rd 7

8 Ashland Fire Data Chart January 1st thru February 26th, Ashland Fire Department Response January 1st thru February 26th,