Turkey Creek Fire Territory: Department Adds New Firefighter
Turkey Creek Fire Chief Mickey Scott announced adding a certified firefighter/EMT at the territory’s fire board meeting Monday evening, June 13.
“He has passed all his physical tests and has given his two weeks’ notice to his employer,” said Scott.
The new hire, whose name was not given, will begin his duties June 20.
The board approved $4,166 to replace the batteries for the outdoor warning siren backup system.
“These batteries provide up to 20 minutes of operation of the sirens during an electrical outage, which is not at all uncommon during severe weather,” Scott said.
The funds will come from the equipment repair line item of the department’s 2016 operations budget.
The board also allocated $1,893.46 for a heavy-duty table and eight chairs for the Station 1 dining area. Scott had shopped around and found the nine-piece dining set for one-third off the retail price delivery included.
The money will come from the department’s new equipment fund.
In other business:
• Scott reported the department has used under 27 percent of its budgeted funds through May.
• Department personnel attended 564 hours of training in May. Training included instruction on rescue jacks; operation, care and maintenance of rescue tools; sizing up emergency scenes and developing and implementing action plans; large apparatus driver and operator responsibilities and techniques; county command structure and dispatch procedure; safety precautions; and skills evaluations.
• The department responded to 23 fire calls and 115 EMS calls in May.
• Scott is obtaining estimates for replacement of the 2004 Chevrolet Suburban used as the department’s command vehicle. “We’re looking for a (Chevrolet) Tahoe at fleet pricing,” he said. “It’s a smaller vehicle and will be used for emergency runs, attending classes and hauling” the department’s rescue boat.
• A new map of Syracuse “with fire hydrant locations shown that were not indicated on the Insurance Services Office review map” has been forwarded to the ISO.
• The department will host a CPR hands-on class at 6 p.m. Thursday, June 23, at Station 1, 402 N. Huntington St., Syracuse. Members of the public may sign up by calling (574) 457-4100 or (574) 457-5507.
• The department’s annual pork chop and chicken barbecue fundraiser is scheduled for 10 a.m. Saturday, July 2, at Station 1. Pork chops and chicken halves are $6 each; corn on the cob costs $1 each. The fundraiser will continue until sold out.
The board will next meet at 6:45 p.m. Monday, July 11, at Syracuse Town Hall.