Fire Territory To Hire Two Firefighters, Train Two Others
February was a busy month for personnel improvement in the Turkey Creek Fire Department, Fire Chief Mickey Scott reported at the Monday evening, March 13, fire board meeting.
Two full-time firefighter/EMT employees were accepted into the upcoming 20-month paramedic program.
“Their tuition fees have been paid as approved by the board in February,” said Scott.
The program will commence April 6 and conclude in December 2018.
“Also, Captain Nicholas Stickel has completed and passed his fire instructor I class,” Scott reported.
The two-month training, which met twice a week at the Leesburg Fire Department, enables Stickel to teach state certified classes.
“There is always a need for instructors,” said Stickel, “and I’m glad to be able to help out the department in this way.”
The department is also “in the process of filling two full-time openings,” according to Scott.
One applicant “has accepted a probationary offer for a full-time firefighter/paramedic position” and is scheduled to being his duties March 21.
Another applicant is scheduled for testing to fill an upcoming vacancy created by the March 19 retirement of one of the department’s firefighter/EMTs.
“These two positions are to fill current open positions we have within our department,” reported Scott. “These are not additional positions. The filling of these two positions will put our department back at full staff.”
In other department news:
• In February the department responded to 13 fire calls and 76 EMS calls. The 89 total responses is down significantly from the 125 emergency calls in January. The fire territory suffered no property loss in February.
• Department personnel underwent 270.5 hours of training in February. Topics included behavioral and psychiatric care, including suicidal and violent patients; child birth emergencies; pharmacology; Mayday procedures; truck and equipment operations; driver safety training; highway traffic control; and elevator emergencies.
• During a recent warning siren test, it was discovered the West Railroad Avenue siren needs a new circuit board. “A new circuit board has been ordered and should be installed soon,” reported Scott. Pending repairs, the siren on North Dolan Drive will serve as a backup.
• The department’s truck committee is drafting bid specifications for the 3,500-gallon vacuum tanker scheduled for purchase this year.
• The recently replaced 2004 Chevrolet Suburban command vehicle was sold for $3,000. Its replacement, a 2017 Chevrolet Tahoe, has been placed in service.
• The department’s annual aerial and ground ladder testing is scheduled for March 23.
• An ISO field representative will conduct an ISO review April 4. “We will provide the results to the board when we receive them,” said Scott. “Usually it takes about six months before the results are compiled and the new ISO rating is issued.”
The ISO rating is used to help determine fire and property insurance rates for homeowners and businesses in the territory. The last ISO determination was made in 2009 and resulted in an improved score.
Fire territory attorney Andrew Grossnickle presented bid process options for renovations to the two fire stations.
“We will get the specs together by the April meeting and should have bids by the May meeting,” he said.
The board will next meet at 6:45 p.m. Monday, April 10, at Syracuse Town Hall.