City of Biddeford Fire DepartmentFAD9934F-594E-4DFE... · History of the Biddeford Fire Department In 1834 the mutual society for the extinguishment of fires is formed between Biddeford

City of Biddeford Fire DepartmentEmergency Services

2017 Annual Report

2017 Annual Report Contents

Introduction Pg. 3

Fire Department History Pg. 4

Staff Recognition Pg. 5

Fire Department Organizational Chart Pg. 6

Department Staffing, Apparatus, & Stations Pg. 7-14

Fire Department Operations Pg. 15-16

Fire Department Call Information Pg. 17-24

Overtime breakdown Pg. 25

EMS Revenue Pg. 26-31

Firefighter Call Backs/Daily Staffing Pg. 32-33

Narcon Information Pg. 34-36

Patient Survey Information Pg. 37-39

General EMS Information Pg. 40-42

NFPA 1710 Pg. 43

Fire Prevention/Public Education/Inspections Pg. 44-49

Training/Education/Professional Development Pg. 50-52

Department Committees Pg. 53

Emergency Scene Photos Pg. 54

Department Challenges Pg. 55-57

Insurance Services Office Rating Pg. 58

Department 2018-2019 Goals Pg. 59

Department FY 19 CIP Requests Pg. 60

Capital Needs Plan Pg. 61

CITY OF BIDDEFORD FIRE DEPARTMENT

152 Alfred Street

Biddeford, Maine 04005

Tel: 207-282-6632

Fax: 207-283-8243

Chief Scott R. Gagne

Assistant Chief Paul R. LaBrecque

Deputy Chief Kevin D. Duross

On behalf of the members of the Biddeford Fire Department I am proud and honored to submit our Annual Report for

2017.

The following is a summary of the activities and incidents that the members of our department responded to.

Our department is made up of highly trained and dedicated individuals that work as an effective team delivering

exceptional emergency care, emergency response, and public education to the residents and visitors to this community.

Annually, the members of our department respond to more than 5,300 emergency incidents, providing high quality

emergency medicine, fire suppression, hazmat response, and technical rescue.

We are grateful for the continued support from our citizens, city administrations, other city departments and our elected

officials as we strive to continue to fulfill our mission to affirmatively promote, preserve, and deliver a feeling of

security, safety, and quality service to the members of our community.

Please feel free to stop by our station anytime to meet the members of our department.

Scott Gagne

Fire Chief

Missions Statement

“To affirmatively promote, preserve, and deliver a feeling of security, safety, and quality service to members of our community.”

History of the Biddeford Fire Department

In 1834 the mutual society for the extinguishment of fires is formed between Biddeford and

Saco. This was the time of the bucket brigade and was not too effective in saving property from

the ravages of fire.

In 1848 both Biddeford and Saco obtained the technological apparatus of its day. The 1848

Hand Tub Pioneer made by the Hunneman Company of Roxbury, Mass, which is now a section

of Boston was acquired by Biddeford Fire Department. Likewise, Saco acquired the same

equipment which was named the Niagara.

Technology in firefighting continued to evolve and in 1869, Biddeford acquired an Amoskeag

Steam Pumper, named the Richard Vines. This pumper was made in Manchester, NH. A second

steamer, the Eben Simpson was also acquired in 1869. The third and final steamer was

purchased in 1907.

Various fire stations served the City at different locations. It was not until 1907 when Biddeford

built their Central Fire Station on Washington St. to house all of the trucks in one place. That

station served for many years until the department moved into a new station on Alfred St. in

1991.

Motorization from steam to gas engines commenced in 1918 with the purchase of a GMC

Chemical & Hose Truck. Real serious efforts commenced when Biddeford purchased a 1924

Ahrens-Fox Piston Pumper followed shortly by a 1926 Ahrens-Fox Tillered Ariel and a 1928

Ahrens-Fox Pumper, which completed the motorization of the fire department.

Many fires were fought in Biddeford and surrounding communities. Mutual aid among

Biddeford and Saco has a very long history and joint operation and training are commonplace

to this day.

Many may not know that Biddeford responded to the great Boston Fire which occurred on

November 9, 1872, and the great fire of Portland, July 4, 1866. Biddeford and Saco fire

departments responded with their equipment by train to meet the needs of both cities in

distress. They also responded to the great forest fires that surrounded the communities in

1947.

Biddeford Fire Department continues to be a cutting edge department that will serve this

community well into the future, providing a wide array of emergency and medical services.

2017 Staff Special Recognition

30 years of service – Firefighter/AEMT Timothy Gagne (career force)

Retired Members

Captain Norman Melancon (career force with 42 years of service)

Captain Jason Wheeler (career force with 32 years of service)

Nathanial Roberts (career force with 38 years of service)

Chief of Department

Office Manager Chaplain

Medical Director

Assistant Chief

Division Chief Call Force District Chief Station

2

Deputy Chief

Museum

Curator

Department Staffing & Personnel


Administration

City Administrator

Fire Advisory Committee


Department Staffing & Personnel

Line Staffing

Career Members

1 Department Chief

1 Assistant Chief

1 Deputy Chief

1 Office Manager

40 Firefighters /EMS

4 Shifts

9 Firefighter’s / EMS

1 Shift supervisor

On Call Firefighters

1 Call Force

Division Chief

1 Call Force

Biddeford Pool

District Chief

21 Call Force

Firefighters divided

into four companies

6 Junior firefighters

Department Apparatus


EMS Units

EMS 14

2012 Terrastar chassis w/ Horton Box

EMS 10

2017 Dodge chassis w/ PL Custom Box

EMS 12

2016 Dodge chassis w/ PL Custom Box

Fire Prevention

Fire Safety House



Fire Suppression Units

Engine 22

1995 1000 gal Pumper

Engine 24

2008 1000gal PumperEngine 26

2008 1000 gal Pumper Engine 28

2005 1000 gal. Pumper

2013 Truck 32

100’ Aerial Platform w/ 300 gal



Special Operations Units

Marine 202 River Rescue

1964 16’ Aluminum Craft

Special Hazards 34

Heavy Rescue Operations UnitRanger 18

Support Service Unit

Brush 20

2008 Chevy Pick up Forestry unit

Hazmat Decon Unit

Bidd,Saco, OOB

rehab bus



Command & Service Units

Car 2 & 3

Command Vehicles Car 1

Command Vehicle

Service 4

Department Stations


Central Station

Biddeford Pool Station


73% of the year staffing is 8 personnel on duty

Attack engine is staffed with 3 people

Primary ambulance is staffed with two people

The secondary ambulance and Truck 32 (the aerial) is staffed with two people. These

two people staff both pieces of equipment, with eight personnel on duty fire apparatus is

put out of service to staff an ambulance for a second ambulance call.

Second engine(lay engine) is staffed with one person.

SH 34, Brush 20, & Ranger 18 are staffed by the Lay Engine Driver and the Attack

Engine Stills person. When this apparatus is needed with 8 personnel on duty, the Lay

Truck is put down and the Attack Engine operates with two people.

Current Shift Staffing

Biddeford & Saco Fire DepartmentsIncident Command

A B C D 1 2 3

Incident Command

Chief3

Cover Chief

6Safety Chief

4

Operations Chief

1

RIC

Host Operation

Channel

Entry Control

Chief 2

On Deck

CrewResource Chief

5

MedicalEMS -1

OccupantsAccountability

StagingState Fire

Water SupplyFreq. 280

Firefighters

Rehab

December 20, 2012 Revised 06.13.2013

Command Operations at Structure Fires


Fire Department Operations

• Fire Suppression Operations

• Emergency Medical Services

• Ocean & River Water Rescue Operations

• Hazmat Operations

• Confined Space Operations

• High angle & Below grade Operations

• Ice Rescue Emergency Operations

• Fire Prevention, Education, Inspections,

enforcement

• Facility and Apparatus Maintenance

• CPR Education

• Department Training


Fire Suppression Operations Staffing Needs

• Rescue -Truck co 2-4 people

• Search – Truck co 2 people per floor

• Extinguish –Engine co 3 people

• Ventilate - 2nd aerial(Saco) 2 people

• Back-up crews – 3rd Engine(Saco) 2 people

• 2 in 2 out – 1st ambulance crew 2 people

• Rapid Intervention team – OOB eng 3 people

• Command staff 5 people

• Medical Unit – 3rd due ambulance (Gmills) 2 people

We currently have automatic aid with Saco, Goodwin’s Mills, Arundel, and

Kennebunkport to assist us with needed personnel. Some of these

departments are volunteer and they may also not have apparatus available

when they are requested, often the response delay is unknown.


2017 Emergency Calls Volume

EMS only incidents 2,626

EMS/ Engine response incidents 1,352

Fire/specialty response incidents 1,390

Total emergency incidents 5,368

Total non-emergency service calls 342

74% of our emergency calls are EMS

64% of the call are during the hours of 0700 am to 0700 pm.

Number of calls by District

Downtown areas or mutual aid responses – 3,923

Districts 18 & 18b (the Crossing, Industrial parks,

Mountain RD) – 831 (412 were to SMHC)

District 5 & 5B ( Outer South St, Rt. 5 / no hydrants) –

65

Districts 1,2,3,&4 ( Coastal area and outer Guinea Rd

with no hydrants) - 549

Mutual Aid Provided and Received

122 times BFD apparatus

responded to mutual aid calls

525 time mutual apparatus

responded to BFD

130 times mutual aid

apparatus responded to

Biddeford for EMS calls

UNE Responses - 110

Number of times we had overlapping calls 1,152 with more

than two calls 941 times.

Engine 22 from the Pool Station responded to the scene 16%

of the time it was requested

Number of times that we were on a transfer from SMHC when

another emergency call in the city occurred – 128

About 47% of our calls require more than one piece of

apparatus to respond.

Number of calls to SMHC hospital or other SMHC medical

office - 494

Emergency Calls by Response Time Dispatched to Arrived

6 minutes or less 77%

4 minutes or less 72%

An average of 1 minute 30 secs needs to be added

to each incident for account for the time from call

received at dispatch to when the call is transmitted

to the fire department

2017 Emergency Calls for Service total 5,368

Average Area Response Time from phone call to Arrival

Average of about 1 min 30 secs needs to be added to each time presented for call

received to dispatched.

Calls by district areas

Downtown areas / mutual aid – 2,247

Districts 14,15,16,8,9 – 1,676

Districts 18 & 18b (the Crossing, Industrial parks, Mountain RD) – 831 ( 412 to SMHC)

District 5 & 5B ( Outer South St, Rt. 5 / no hydrants) – 65

Districts 1,2,3,&4 ( Coastal area and outer Guinea Rd with no hydrants) - 549

13-

15

mins

12-14

mins

2-4

mins5-7

mins

6-8

mins

12

mins

9-11

mins

15

mins

9-10

mins

9-10

mins

8

6 minutes average in town arrival

time from time of call to arrival

8 minutes average middle response

time

Today’s fires burn hotter and faster

because of the synthetic products

used. Firefighter safety is also at

risk with today’s light weight

Construction.

Beyond

viable LifeDeath

Overtime Breakdown


2017 FY

$13,894 shows as

being added back to

the line as outside

detail payback or

adjustment.


4 Year Annual EMS Revenue

All years have outstanding

amounts to be collected that

may increase revenues


Emergency Transfer calls from SMHC to MMC and other medical care facilities

FY 2016

PIFT Calls 262 314 376 402

Billed $384,612.80 $462,141.70 $554,252.60 $591,274.20

Received $206,145.94 $278,491.77 $252,160.05 $342,444.11

Adjusted $119,948.87 $134,413.46 $138,340.28 $187,538.99

Outstanding $59,255.79 $52,142.47 $165,448.95 $61,291.10

Projected $248,217.55 $315,512.92 $369,628.80 $385,960.82(projected number considers government program write offs, bad debt, un collectable, billing company fees.)

Average four year revenue per PIFT call $974.40 / $906.40 after expenses

Estimated 2017 PIFT Revenue after expenses minus employee costs $364,372.80

Average annual write off of PIFT calls is about 29%

Transfers from SMHC to facilities other than MMC- 4

FY 2014 FY 2015 FY 2017


EMS Billing Rates

Basic Life Support

$ 789.80

Advance Life Support (IV or Monitor)

$ 866.80

Advance Life Support (w/3 or more medications)

$ 1081.30

Advance Life Support (Paramedic Interfacility Transfers)

$ 1265.00

Plus a charge of $12.00 per loaded mile and

charges specialty medical equipment used

at $70.00 per item.


Firefighter Call Backs

FY 2015

A firefighter call back occurs when two or more pieces of front line fire apparatus are unstaffed. This requests 2 off duty firefighters to respond to the station. There is down time to have them respond and there may be no personnel or only one on the call back that responds.

call backs requested 213 162 208

filled 127 81 85

were not filled 86 81 123

FY 2017FY 2016

2017 Staffing Breakdown

• 10 personnel on duty - 10 days

• 9 personnel on duty – 81 days

• 8 personnel on duty – 274 days

Ambulance

patient care

survey results


Cardiac Arrest Care

“Pit Crew” CPR

7 36

1 2

4 5

“Tech” (Provider 1)• Monitor• Jump kit• Initial Patient Assessment• Begins compressions• Alternates compressions• Overall responsibility for patient

treatment• Contacts/advises receiving facilityDriver (Provider 2)• Airway Kit• Drug box• Exposes patient (clothing)• Sets up monitor• Attaches Pads• Manages monitor/defib• Alternates compressions“Stillman” (Provider 3)• Strap bag• Airway access/management• Alternates compressions• Third provider during transportSecond “Tech” (Provider 4)• Additional Drug box• IV/IO Access• Alternates compressionsSecond Driver (Provider 5)• Medication prep• Medication administration• Cleans scene/picks up equipment

OIC (Provider 6)• Incident Command• Scene Safety/Security• Family/bystander support• Drives engine back in the

event of transport• Cleans scene/picks up

equipment

Engine Driver (Provider 7)• Alternates compressions• Drives ambulance to the

hospital

• 3 Providers to manage the patient• 1 Provider to drive

• Compressions• Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support (ACLS)

• Unstable changes• Additional therapies

• Electrical• Medications• Additional medical interventions• Patient stabilization


Advanced Life Support Care

Transport


Why does a fire engine go on medical calls

All medical calls go through the EMD (emergency medical dispatch)

process at the dispatch center. Fire apparatus is dispatched according to the severity of the call (ALS calls.)

The two people on the ambulance alone can not provide the quick effective service that is required for proper patient care.

All fire apparatus personnel are cross trained as emergency medical care providers.

Fire personnel assist with medical treatment and movement of the patients and are often to the level of paramedic.

Fire apparatus has cardiac monitors, medication boxes, and airway kits.

Smaller service vehicle can not be used in place of the fire apparatus, this would put fire apparatus down un staffed. Apparatus often respond from one call to the next.


NFPA 1710

•Recommended standard that states fire departments must be capable of establishing incident command, water supply, attacks line(s), backup line(s), search and rescue team(s), ventilation team(s) and RIT/FAST at all structural fires... these "benchmark" requirements are based upon a 2000 square foot detached single family dwelling.

• Minimum requirements for health and safety, incident management, training, communications and pre-incident planning.

• Fire departments must inform the public about their response capabilities and the consequences of not meeting this specified deployment criteria.

•Involves staffing of career fire departments (4 on the scene of a structure fire is 4 minutes and 16 personnel on the scene of a structure fire with in 8 minutes 90% of the time)(medical responses are recommended to have BLS on the scene in 5 minutes and ALS in 8.)

Fire prevention/education,

inspections, community

contact

2017 Public Education and Community Contact

2017 Community Participation

La Kermesse

Santa Visits the FD

Parade of lights

Biddeford Airport Open House

Bacon Street Festival

Rec summer camp

Open House

Serving Thanksgiving

Dinner at the Primary

School

Kennedy School Field Day

Memorial Day Parade

Honor Flight at Portland Jet Port

Visit from Russian Firefighters COT building fire gear racks

for Central Station

FD Open House

January CPR, Basic Life Support Skills, Hazmat Operations, boodborne, lockout tag out,

harassment, fire extinguishers, hazcom, Maine Safety Works annuals, respiratory

emergencies, Firefighter Down CPR

February Maine Safety Works annuals cont, Communications and radio usage, ropes and

knots, ladders, Life Flight

March Pediatric Advanced Life Support, OB, BLS skills, ALS Skills, SCBA air management,

search and rescue , Thermal Imager Operations

April Altered Mental Status, forcible entry, wild land operations, hose testing

May Death dying and suicide, extrication and stabilization operations, UTV operations,

marine 202 operations

June Cardiac STEMI, gas metering, rope access, ropes haul systems

July EMS Jeopardy, water rescue, water medical emergencies

August MCI review, water rescue operations practical, marine operations

September OB/GYN, OB/PED, Mayday review, drags and carries, nozzles and master stream

operations, water supply

October Advanced cardiac life support, fire attack operations, nozzles and master stream

operations

November EMS documentation, narcan review, air mgt, Chimney fires, aerial operations,

firefighter survival

December Medical emergencies, ice rescue operations review

2017 Group

Training Topics

Ice Rescue Training

Forcible Entry FF Survival Hose

Advancements

Ice Rescue

Training

Water Rescue

Training

Rapid

Intervention

Crew TrainingHigh Angle

Ropes

TrainingEmergency Bail

Out Training

2017 Training Photos

TRT Ropes TrainingSCBA Air Mgt

FF I & II GraduationVehicle Extrication

Master Stream Ops

2017 Training Photos

Vehicle ExtricationConfined SpaceVertical Ventilation

State Fire Officer AcademyFirefighter II

graduation

Firefighter survival

Master Stream

Operations

Call Force Foam

OperationsLive Fire Attack

Department Committees

Peer Support – six members training to support department

staff and citizens during times that are emotionally difficult

Physical fitness – four members that support the physical

development needs of the department staff

EMS committee – four members that assist with the EMS

needs of the department

Labor / management committee

Chaplin Support – Each week the Chaplin spends time at the

FD supporting and interacting with department staff.

Additionally he responds to incident as needed to support

citizens and their families and offers department training.

Fire Investigation Team – Six member team trained in fire

investigations.

Juvenile Fire Setters interview team – Four members who

work with children who have had issues with fire.


Population – Increasing ( UNE student impact; (5,000 day time), Summer

Tourism, etc.)

Assessed Value – Increasing

Number of Structures – Increasing

Response Times – Increasing ( 14 minutes to most coastal areas.)

ISO Rating – Maintaining current rate with increasing calls and current staffing.

Staffing – Same number of crews.

The need to staff an additional ambulance.(Currently we staff one full time ambulance and cross staff one ambulance with fire personnel assigned to other fire apparatus, staffing should be at 10 on duty to staff two ambulances full time and cross staff a third ambulance with fire apparatus personnel.)

Challenges


Challenges

Hydrant Testing

Response Times

Administrative duties on all levels of the department

Building Maintenance

Meeting Training Requirements

Budgetary Challenges

EMS Training / QA

Being able to answer all emergency calls

Staffing levels

SMHC emergency transfers


Other Impacts

OSHA and other regulations2 In / 2 Out and Rapid InterventionRequires Additional Personnel on every working Fire

Traffic and geographic disbursement(coastal responses)

NFPA 1710

Today’s Fires Burn FasterLighter weight constructionQuicker burning fuels Plastics, Polyurethane, Foams, Laminates


Rating given to Biddeford Fire Department by the (ISO) Insurance Services Office

Current Service Level

ISO Class 2/8b

• This rating relates to current staffing and apparatus responses on incidents. Any ISO rating change could increase insurance cost for commercial and residential properties.


Department Goals 2018-2019

Increase minimum staffing to ten personnel on duty.

Staff 2 ½ ambulances.

Decrease response times.

Evaluate and modify current emergency transfer plan from

SMHC.

Look at additional revenue streams (EMS transfers, plans

reviews, fire alarm testing, knox box maint.)

Establish an officer training/replacement program.

Establish EMS Lieutenants for each shift to assist with ems

roles and leadership.


• Purchase of fire gear washer extractor - $15,000• Modify the bathroom and bedroom facilities at Central Station

to accommodate female staff. (facility maint. From FY 18 budget)

• Rescue boat - $25,000

Capital Needs FY 2019


• Additional fire station near the coast - $2,300,000 ???• Central Station roof repairs - $25,000 (FY 2020)• Purchase two thermal imagers - $18,000 (FY 2020)• $30,000 replacement of portable radios ( FY 2020)• Resurface top coat of apparatus floor - $8,000 ( FY 2021)• 2nd floor dinning area window replacement – $10,000 ( FY 2020)• Replacement of Engine 22 - $450,000 ( FY 2021)• $100,000 for driveway replacement – (FY 2021)• Replacement of EMS 14 - $245,000 (FY 2021)• Replacement of EMS monitor, stair chair, stretcher – $64,000 (FY 2021)• Fire Station brick work - $10,000( FY 2022)• Building window replacements ?? (FY 2023)• Building common area floor replacements ?? ( FY 2023)• Replacement of ballistic/stab vests - $60,000 ( FY 2023)• Replacement of EMS 12 - (FY 2024)• Replacement of EMS cardiac monitor, stair chair, stretcher - (FY 2024)• Replacement of Engine 28 (FY2025)• Replacement of Brush 20 (FY2026)• Replacement of Eng 26 & EMS 10 (FY2027)• EMS cardiac monitor, stair chair, stretcher (FY 2027)• Replacement of Eng 24 (FY 2028)

Additional Capital Years Needs

Documents

City of Biddeford Fire DepartmentFAD9934F-594E-4DFE... · History of the Biddeford Fire Department In 1834 the mutual society for the extinguishment of fires is formed between Biddeford