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North Ridgeville Fire Department
2015
Fire/EMS
Year End Report
2015 Annual Report
Table of Contents
Memorial Page………………...pg. 1-2
Message from the Chief……….pg. 3
Organizational Chart…………..pg. 4
New Fire Station Update……....pg. 5
Operations-Fire………………..pg. 6-13
Operations-EMS………………pg. 14-17
EMS Ambulance Billing……...pg. 18
Fire Prevention Report………..pg. 19-23
Fire/EMS Training Report……pg. 24-26
Facilities Maintenance………..pg. 27-29
Weshare Rescue Organization..pg. 30
WESTCOM Dispatch Center…pg. 31
Fire/EMS Grants………...........pg. 32
Annual Health Fair…………....pg. 33
Fire Museum………………….pg. 34
Community Participation……..pg. 35
Retirements/New Hires……….pg. 36-37
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.
North Ridgeville Fire Department
Fire Station #1
7090 Avon Belden Rd.
North Ridgeville, Ohio 44039
Fire Station #2
34523 Lorain Rd.
North Ridgeville, Ohio 44039
Chief John C. Reese, EFO, Paramedic
Office Hours:
Monday-Friday 8am-4pm
Station #1- 440-327-5311
Station #2- 440-327-6000
Captain Allan “Ben” Barnett
In 2015, we lost a member of the fire department family when Captain Allan “Ben”
Barnett passed away. Ben started as a part-time Firefighter in 1971 and retired as a
Captain in 1993. Ben loved working for the fire department and was always a joy to
work with. He ultimately became a leader on the department and was respected by
many. Ben had the ability to take the young firefighters under his wing and make
them feel confident in their roles. Ben was always willing to pitch in and lend a hand
to try and make the department better. He often worked to keep the vehicles in
working order and even painted several of the vehicles to keep the department
looking good. Ben responded to several historical fires in his career on the North
Ridgeville Fire Department.
Ben is survived by his wife Louise, Daughter Bonnie, Son-in-Law Matt, and
Granddaughter Ariah. Ben enjoyed hunting, fishing, boating, working on hot rod cars
and playing cards with friends. He will be missed by all.
Memorial Page
Page 1
Alfred “Al” E. Krueger
(Pictured in the Wheelchair)
In 2015, we lost a member of the fire department family when Firefighter Alfred “Al”
E. Krueger passed away. Al started as a part-time Firefighter for the City of North
Ridgeville in 1950 and retired as a full-time firefighter in 1984. Al was one of the
city’s first full-time fire force and responded to several historical fires in his career.
Al and his wife Harriet moved to Fort Myers, Florida in 1999 to enjoy their
retirement.
Al Served with the 84th infantry during the battle of the bulge. He was awarded a
silver star and purple heart. Al enjoyed gardening, bird watching, camping with his
family and was an avid Cleveland Indians fan. He is survived by his son Adam,
daughter Susan and several grandchildren and great grandchildren. Al was laid to rest
with his North Ridgeville Fire Department sweater which he wore proudly during his
career.
Memorial Page-Continued
Page 2
Message from the Chief
John C. Reese, EFO
Fire Chief
Message from the Chief
It is with great pride that I present to you the activities and
accomplishments of the personnel who serve the North Ridgeville
Fire Department. Our members provide Fire, EMS, special
operations and public education in a manner that is effective and
fiscally responsible to our taxpayers. We are a full service emergency management agency.
The Fire Department cannot and does not stand alone. The
continued support of the Mayor, Safety Service Director, Council,
City departments, residents and business owners have all made our achievements possible by everyone working together.
The year 2015 brought about the challenge of answering an
increasing number of calls for assistance utilizing our current
staffing numbers. The department also experienced some
hardships with the long term illness of two of our members and
some short term absences of others due to medical issues. These
challenges were overcome and we were able to accomplish our
goals providing service to the community without impacting the
budget. While the increasing number of calls for assistance in our
community will be an ongoing issue, we are actively pursuing
ways to improve our services and response to the community.
We are proud of the community’s confidence in the fire
department which was evident with the overwhelming passage of
Issue 32 in November to build a new Headquarters Fire Station.
The city and fire department administrations are currently working
on the measures needed to achieve the goal of a fall of 2016
groundbreaking. The new station will allow the fire department to
store all of our emergency equipment indoors, improve average
overall response times, offer expanded services to our customers
and provide a safe working environment for our city’s fire department personnel.
With the ongoing support of the community, we will continue to
provide the excellent, fiscally responsible service that our great
community deserves. We realize that the North Ridgeville Fire
Department is only as good as our personnel, the support system and the service we provide to our customers.
Thank You for your continued support !!!
John Reese,EFO
Fire Chief
Message from the Chief
Page 3
Organizational Structure
North Ridgeville Fire Officers/Staff
Fire Chief John Reese, EFO
Assist. Chief Jon Graf
Fire/EMS Training Officer
Peggy Myers
Administrative Assistant
Captain Mike Uhnak
A-Shift
Captain Paul Sadowski
B-Shift
Captain Joe Gavlak
C-Shift
Lt. Ron Schuler
B-Shift
Lt. Greg Laborie
C-Shift
Lt. Chad Warner
A-Shift
Lt. Bob Knowlton
B-Shift
Lt. Barry Cook
C-Shift
Assist. Chief Scott Bement
Fire Prevention Officer
Lt. Rick Knowlton
A-Shift
Page 4
8 Firefighter/Paramedics
A-Shift
8 Firefighter/Paramedics
B-Shift
8 Firefighter/Paramedics
C-Shift
The North Ridgeville Fire Department is extremely excited with the passage of Issue
32 in November which allows the City to construct a new Fire station to replace the
existing station #1 on Avon Belden. The bond issue will raise $8.2 million over the
next 20 years. The new location is under survey and will hopefully be off the new
Jaycox extension 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 30-50 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.
New Fire Station Update
Page 5
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. Mauris vitae 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.
Maecenas bibendum quis velit vel efficitur. Nunc pretium
pretium risus, quis semper mi imperdiet eget. Aliquam erat
volutpat. Donec molestie eros tellus, sit amet consectetur magna
facilisis in. Vestibulum consectetur nisl a mauris fringilla
fermentum. Vestibulum ante ipsum primis in faucibus orci
luctus et ultrices posuere cubilia Curae; Vivamus eget orci a
dolor pretium pretium vel et elit. Vivamus sed arcu sagittis,
maximus velit vitae, dapibus risus. Nullam tincidunt
ullamcorper elementum. Vestibulum eleifend at libero non
egestas. Cras vitae viverra mi, non laoreet felis. Interdum et malesuada fames ac ante ipsum primis in faucibus.
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. Mauris vitae 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/EMS Statistical Analysis
The North Ridgeville Fire Department consistently strives to deliver superb all-
hazards 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 2015, the North Ridgeville Fire Department responded to 3,260 calls for assistance
from our customers with an average response time of 6:00 minutes. Of the 3,260 calls,
2,618 were emergency medical calls and 642 were fire service related calls.
In the fire service we measure success by how quickly we can respond, the number
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 2015 and saved through the interventions of the North Ridgeville Fire
Department was $1,291,675.00. Of that total value, an estimated $336,525.00 was
lost.
In the beginning of 2015, a new E-One fire engine that was delivered the end of 2014
was placed into service. The new engine replaced a 1998 E-One 75’ aerial apparatus
that was sold. The proceeds from the sale of the aerial apparatus were used toward
the purchase of the new engine.
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.
Operations -Fire
Page 6
Day of the Week # Incidents
Sunday 445
Monday 471
Tuesday 454
Wednesday 456
Thursday 494
Friday 490
Saturday 448
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.
2015 Incidents per Day of the Week
Operations –Fire -Continued
Page 7
Day of the Week # Incidents
Sunday 445
Monday 471
Tuesday 454
Wednesday 456
Thursday 494
Friday 490
Saturday 448
7 YEAR RUN COMPARISON
YEAR FIRE EMS TOTAL
2009 535 2,111 2.646
2010 594 2,380 2,974
2011 577 2,369 2,946
2012 595 2,488 3,083
2013 545 2,371 2,916
2014 603 2,436 3,039
2015 642 2,618 3,260
Operations –Fire -Continued
Page 8
Day of the Week # Incidents
Sunday 445
Monday 471
Tuesday 454
Wednesday 456
Thursday 494
Friday 490
Saturday 448
MONTH INCIDENTS
January 300
February 208
March 255
April 228
May 283
June 253
July 327
August 297
September 264
October 275
November 297
December 271
2015 OVERLAPPING INCIDENTS
# Overlapping % Overlapping Total Calls
781 24.04 3,260
Operations –Fire -Continued
Page 9
Day of the Week # Incidents
Sunday 445
Monday 471
Tuesday 454
Wednesday 456
Thursday 494
Friday 490
Saturday 448
Operations –Fire -Continued
Page 10
2015 RESPONSES PER UNIT
Ap
paratu
s
Janu
ary
Feb
ruary
March
Ap
ril
May
Jun
e
July
Au
gust
Septe
mb
er
Octo
ber
No
vemb
er
Dece
mb
er
Total
M25 68 56 56 57 60 77 75 63 62 68 71 62 783
M26 2 0 0 0 0 0 65 141 132 92 111 131 674
M27 138 94 137 115 130 120 124 54 46 65 67 64 1154
M28 55 43 46 46 62 49 37 0 0 9 13 1 361
T23 17 12 25 18 12 11 17 6 13 6 15 10 161
E21 43 24 24 19 39 1 1 11 9 18 22 0 211
E22 0 0 0 0 0 12 18 14 17 19 16 13 109
E24 19 10 13 10 18 12 29 26 18 16 15 21 207
Total 342 239 301 265 321 282 366 315 297 293 330 302 3660
*
M=Medic Unit T=Aerial Ladder E=Fire Engine
*This number does not reflect the total number of 2015 calls due to the fact
that multiple units may respond to a single call
Operations –Fire -Continued
Page 11
EQUIPMENT TESTING
2015 HOSE TESTING RESULTS
Hose Diameter
# of
Sections
Tested
Total
Feet
Tested
# of
Sections
that
passed
# of
Sections
that
Failed
1 ¾” 38 1,928 38 0
2 ½” 54 2,700 53 1
5” (50’ sections) 1 50 1 0
5” (100’
sections)
18 1,725 18 0
Overall Totals 111 6,403 110 1
2015 Pump Testing
Apparatus Status
Engine 21 Passed
Engine 22 Passed
Engine 24 Passed
Truck 23 Passed
Operations –Fire -Continued
Page 12
SCBA Maintenance & Respiratory FIT Testing
In 2015, there were 21 Self Contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBA) and
45 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 14 out of 20 SCBA bottles that are out of hydro
and need to be replaced. The plan is to try and replace the remaining 6
bottles in 2016.
Operations –Fire -Continued
Rick Knowlton, Paramedic
Lieutenant
Page 13
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. Mauris vitae 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.
Maecenas bibendum quis velit vel efficitur. Nunc pretium
pretium risus, quis semper mi imperdiet eget. Aliquam erat
volutpat. Donec molestie eros tellus, sit amet consectetur magna
facilisis in. Vestibulum consectetur nisl a mauris fringilla
fermentum. Vestibulum ante ipsum primis in faucibus orci
luctus et ultrices posuere cubilia Curae; Vivamus eget orci a
dolor pretium pretium vel et elit. Vivamus sed arcu sagittis,
maximus velit vitae, dapibus risus. Nullam tincidunt
ullamcorper elementum. Vestibulum eleifend at libero non
egestas. Cras vitae viverra mi, non laoreet felis. Interdum et malesuada fames ac ante ipsum primis in faucibus.
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. Mauris vitae 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/EMS Statistical Analysis
Joe Gavlak, Paramedic
Captain
The North Ridgeville Fire Department continued to improve the
delivery of emergency medical services in 2015 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 re-evaluate and
analyze our services in order to find ways of improving the delivery
of EMS through new equipment, procedures and training.
Of the 2,618 EMS calls we received in 2015, we transported a person
84% (2,196) of the time to a more definitive care facility for
treatment of their illness or injury. Overall run volume increased by
7.5% from 2014 to 2015.
Previous Year Comparison
Overall Response Time by EMS Units
Year Minutes Number of Calls
2014 5:81 2,436
2015 5:81 2,618
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.
Operations -EMS
Page 14
The following enhancements were made by our department in 2015:
The fire department took delivery of a 2016 McCoy Miller ambulance built
on a Ford F550 chassis. The new ambulance replaced a 2002 McCoy Miller
ambulance.
The North Ridgeville VFW Post 9871 donated a McGrath Mac video
laryngoscope for use on our frontline medic unit. The department plans to
obtain two more of the laryngoscopes in 2016.
The fire department received a Lifepak 15 which was placed in the second
medic unit at fire station #1. All three of our frontline medic units now have
a Lifepak 15.
The fire department received a Lucas CPR Device which was also placed in
the second medic unit at fire station #1. All three of our frontline medic units
now have a Lucas CPR Device.
The department began to participate in the American Heart Association
(AHA) Mission Lifeline Program. Our data was sent to the AHA and we
received a Silver Achievement Award. This award is given for exceptional
performance in the recognition and treatment of STEMI (heart attack)
patients.
Chief John C. Reese agreed to organize and host the first ever Weshare
Education Symposium which will be held at the LCCC Ridge Campus in
April of 2016. The Symposium will provide six hours of continuing
education to an estimated 150 paramedics in our area.
The fire department has developed 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.
Operations –EMS-Continued
Page 15
The Weshare Rescue Organization is currently working on a protocol
update. The Protocol Committee consists of members from Avon Lake, Bay
Village, North Ridgeville, Olmsted Township, Rocky River, Westlake and
the Cleveland Clinic Foundation. The new protocol s are expected to be
ready sometime in 2016.
The fire department EMS Committee is conducting an internal audit of our
EMS service led by Lieutenant Steven Cook. The purpose of the audit is to
prepare the department to apply for accreditation with a nationally
recognized EMS accreditation agency. Our goal is to make our EMS service
the best in Northeast Ohio.
We are looking forward to continuing to improve our service in 2016. 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.
Operations –EMS- Continued
Page 16
Calls per Medic Unit in 2015
Medic 26 (Station #1 Primary w/3 personnel) 1,295
Medic 27 (Station #1 Backup w/2 personnel) 623
Medic 25 (Station #2 Primary w/3 personnel) 689
Operations –EMS- Continued
Page 17
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. Mauris vitae 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.
Maecenas bibendum quis velit vel efficitur. Nunc pretium
pretium risus, quis semper mi imperdiet eget. Aliquam erat
volutpat. Donec molestie eros tellus, sit amet consectetur magna
facilisis in. Vestibulum consectetur nisl a mauris fringilla
fermentum. Vestibulum ante ipsum primis in faucibus orci
luctus et ultrices posuere cubilia Curae; Vivamus eget orci a
dolor pretium pretium vel et elit. Vivamus sed arcu sagittis,
maximus velit vitae, dapibus risus. Nullam tincidunt
ullamcorper elementum. Vestibulum eleifend at libero non
egestas. Cras vitae viverra mi, non laoreet felis. Interdum et malesuada fames ac ante ipsum primis in faucibus.
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. Mauris vitae 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/EMS Statistical Analysis
The North Ridgeville Fire Department bills non-residents for ambulance transports. The
patient is sent a bill and asked to pay or make arrangements to pay the full amount. Since
the inception of the paramedic program in North Ridgeville, none of our patients were sent
to collections for non-payment which resulted in a large sum of uncollected debt. In 2015,
the fire department contracted with the Ohio Attorney General’s office to provide
collection service for any current or past uncollected debt from non-resident patients. You
will find that this arrangement has resulted in an increase in collections for 2015.
The fire department also “soft” bills 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 Ridgeville
NEVER receive a bill at their home and are NEVER turned over to collections for an
ambulance transport. In 2015, the fire department experienced a 7.5% increase in EMS
calls over 2014. This also resulted in a slight increase in collections. The EMS collections
data is as follows:
YEAR # EMS
CALLS
MONTHLY
COLLECTION
AVG.
TOTAL YEAR
COLLECTIONS
2013 2,371 $56,029.10 $672,349.14
2014 2,436 $56,399.85 $676,798.17
2015 2,618 $65,007.34 $780,088.05
EMS Billing
Page 18
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 37 years of service and experience
Scott Bement, EMT
Assistant Chief
Fire Prevention Report
Page 19
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 two 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 EDUATION
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
Fire Prevention Report-Continued
Page 20
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 2015, 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 2015, there were 135 smoke detectors installed into 83
homes in the neighborhoods of Main, Broad, Pleasant, Olive, Wallace, Cornell
and the Pine Ridge Mobile Home Community. The fire department is hoping to
team up again with the Red Cross in 2016 to install more smoke detectors. This
is a life-saving program.
Fire Prevention Report-Continued
Page 21
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’s
goal is to have all 12 of the fire department’s officers certified by the end of 2017.
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.
2015 FIRE PREVENTION ACTIVITIES
Code Enforcement Inspections of Businesses 205
Alarm/Hood/Sprinkler Tests 82
Plans Review for New and Expanding Businesses 18
Adoption and Foster Care Home Inspections 12
Meetings (Fire Prevention, Chief’s, Fire
Investigation, Staff)
49
Fire Investigations 9
Fire Prevention Report-Continued
Page 22
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.
Fire Prevention Report-Continued
Page 23
The goal of the Division of Fire Training is to prepare our members
to handle emergencies safely and efficiently. This goal is
accomplished through lectures, hands-on training, and following the
National Fire Protection Agency (NFPA) Standards to the best of our
ability. The State of Ohio requires that all of our members receive 18
hours of continuing education in firefighting to maintain their fire
fighter certification. The State also requires all of our paramedics to
receive 31 hours of continuing education annually.
The department has seven certified public safety instructors that
provide training for our members on a daily basis. The department
also occasionally hosts classes of instruction that are provided by
outside experts. Our average member currently receives over 100
hours of training per year.
The Division of Fire Training is headed by Assistant Chief Jon Graf.
Assistant Chief Graf is a state certified Paramedic, Fire Service
Instructor and Fire Safety Inspector. He has completed the Ohio Fire
Chiefs Maxwell Leadership Program and is currently finishing his
associates degree and Ohio Fire Executives Program(OFE). These
programs enhance new leadership and management skills that are applicable to the fire service.
Jon Graf, Paramedic
Assistant Chief
Fire/EMS Training Report
Page 24
The Training Division is tasked with ensuring all department members receive
sufficient training to meet state and federal requirements as well as training that is
tailored to the specific hazards and staffing levels of the City of North Ridgeville.
The Division of Fire continues to provide services beyond fire suppression. These
services include emergency medical service, water and ice related rescue, structural
collapse rescue, hazardous materials response, fire safety inspection, and fire incident
investigations.
Each of these disciplines requires a commitment of time and resources in order to
maintain competency among our members. In 2015 the Fire Division members spent
more than 3500 hours training. There were over 1300 attendees to the various
training sessions. Many of these training sessions were delivered by guest
instructors. The training division designed and delivered over 60 courses that were
customized to the unique hazards and staffing levels found in North Ridgeville.
2015 saw the development and implementation of a new employee orientation
program. New employees within the Fire Division are now put through and
abbreviated fire academy/orientation process that ensures they are familiar with
North Ridgeville Fire Division equipment and procedures prior to responding to
emergencies. Employee evaluations have indicated that this new program has been
successful in streamlining the process of readying new employees to become fully
active members of the department.
A portion of a city owned building was converted into a training area where training
props were constructed. These props are used regularly to ensure high levels of
competence when using self-contained breathing apparatus. Training conducted in
the new training area has proven to be physically and mentally challenging. Prior to
the establishment of this area and prop construction, training of this magnitude was
not possible within the fire division.
Fire/EMS Training Report-Continued
Page 25
Due to the Center Ridge Road expansion and new middle school construction many
structures were scheduled for demolition. The training division received permission
to train in several of these structures. Full scale simulations were conducted within
these structures. Smoke generator machines and training manikins were used to
achieve a realistic sense of urgency and challenges frequently faced by firefighters
when managing fire incidents. Due to the future demolition of these structures,
destructive training was possible. Firefighters were able to make use of forcible entry
tools that normally would not be used during training sessions.
A two year research project was finished late in 2015. The research focused on
finding the best methods and strategies for training fire officers to serve as incident
commanders for medium and large scale type incidents. As a result of the research
findings, several fire officers were enrolled in the Blue Card Fire Incident Command
training program. This program will potentially improve the command and control
capabilities of all members of the fire division. The remaining members of the
department will be enrolled in Blue Card throughout 2016.
Training Category # FF
attending Training hours
GRAND TOTALS 1345 3542
County Rescue
Teams 41 338
EMS 558 1092
Fire Safety Inspector 16 28.5
Fire Investigation 9 46
Fire Suppression 721 2037.75
Fire/EMS Training Report-Continued
Page 26
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sem nisi, vestibulum id dictum eu, interdum in nunc. Vivamus
maximus sed neque vel consectetur. Pellentesque vitae augue
sed ipsum maximus luctus. Mauris vitae 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.
Maecenas bibendum quis velit vel efficitur. Nunc pretium
pretium risus, quis semper mi imperdiet eget. Aliquam erat
volutpat. Donec molestie eros tellus, sit amet consectetur magna
facilisis in. Vestibulum consectetur nisl a mauris fringilla
fermentum. Vestibulum ante ipsum primis in faucibus orci
luctus et ultrices posuere cubilia Curae; Vivamus eget orci a
dolor pretium pretium vel et elit. Vivamus sed arcu sagittis,
maximus velit vitae, dapibus risus. Nullam tincidunt
ullamcorper elementum. Vestibulum eleifend at libero non
egestas. Cras vitae viverra mi, non laoreet felis. Interdum et malesuada fames ac ante ipsum primis in faucibus.
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. Mauris vitae 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/EMS Statistical Analysis
The North Ridgeville Fire Department would like to thank the residents for passing an
$8.2 million bond issue to build a new 22,594 square foot headquarters fire station. The
new station is going to dramatically improve our ability to provide fire and EMS services
to our customers. Our goal is to break ground on the new station in the fall of 2016 with a
possible completion date in late 2017.
The current fire station #1 was in bad repair and in need of several important items in order
to be able to continue to operate until the new headquarters fire station is built. The
windows in the building were 57 years old and literally falling apart. In May the windows
and man doors were replaced to keep the rain and cold out of the building. The roof was
letting water in throughout the building, but a roof replacement was too expensive for a
building that was going to be replaced in the next two years. Instead, Francisicus Roofing
was hired to put a membrane over the current roof at a greatly reduced cost in order to buy
a couple more years. We also had an air conditioner compressor installed in order to
eliminate the number of window air conditioners throughout the building. It was
recommended that we do not use window air conditioner units with the new windows.
Members from the North Ridgeville Buildings Maintenance crew installed the compressor
unit for the cost of parts. In total, $50,717.00 was spent to keep the weather out of the fire
station and control the climate inside until the new headquarters fire station is complete.
Fire Station #2 is in good repair and the only improvements/repairs made this year were
the replacement of the carpeting in the day room and the replacement of the hot water
heater for the building. Future needs at fire station #2 are masonry repair & sealing,
parking lot top coating, construction of a new outside storage building, gear racks, front
sign replacement, window replacement and the replacement of the ceiling tiles throughout
the building.
Facilities Maintenance
Page 27
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sem nisi, vestibulum id dictum eu, interdum in nunc. Vivamus
maximus sed neque vel consectetur. Pellentesque vitae augue
sed ipsum maximus luctus. Mauris vitae 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.
Maecenas bibendum quis velit vel efficitur. Nunc pretium
pretium risus, quis semper mi imperdiet eget. Aliquam erat
volutpat. Donec molestie eros tellus, sit amet consectetur magna
facilisis in. Vestibulum consectetur nisl a mauris fringilla
fermentum. Vestibulum ante ipsum primis in faucibus orci
luctus et ultrices posuere cubilia Curae; Vivamus eget orci a
dolor pretium pretium vel et elit. Vivamus sed arcu sagittis,
maximus velit vitae, dapibus risus. Nullam tincidunt
ullamcorper elementum. Vestibulum eleifend at libero non
egestas. Cras vitae viverra mi, non laoreet felis. Interdum et malesuada fames ac ante ipsum primis in faucibus.
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. Mauris vitae 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/EMS Statistical Analysis
TWO FIRE STATIONS 24/7
Fire Headquarters & Station #1
7090 Avon Belden Road
Built in 1957 as the City’s first fire station
3.565 square feet
Medic 26, Engine 24, Medic 27, Engine 22, Car 30 (utility pickup)
Fire Station #2
34523 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)
Facilities Maintenance-Continued
Page 28
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sem nisi, vestibulum id dictum eu, interdum in nunc. Vivamus
maximus sed neque vel consectetur. Pellentesque vitae augue
sed ipsum maximus luctus. Mauris vitae 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.
Maecenas bibendum quis velit vel efficitur. Nunc pretium
pretium risus, quis semper mi imperdiet eget. Aliquam erat
volutpat. Donec molestie eros tellus, sit amet consectetur magna
facilisis in. Vestibulum consectetur nisl a mauris fringilla
fermentum. Vestibulum ante ipsum primis in faucibus orci
luctus et ultrices posuere cubilia Curae; Vivamus eget orci a
dolor pretium pretium vel et elit. Vivamus sed arcu sagittis,
maximus velit vitae, dapibus risus. Nullam tincidunt
ullamcorper elementum. Vestibulum eleifend at libero non
egestas. Cras vitae viverra mi, non laoreet felis. Interdum et malesuada fames ac ante ipsum primis in faucibus.
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. Mauris vitae 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/EMS Statistical Analysis
Replacement Fire Headquarters & Station #1
To be constructed in the area of Center Ridge and Jaycox Roads
Construction planned to begin the fall of 2016
22,594 square feet fire headquarters, training room, administrative offices
Facilities Maintenance-Continued
Page 29
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sem nisi, vestibulum id dictum eu, interdum in nunc. Vivamus
maximus sed neque vel consectetur. Pellentesque vitae augue
sed ipsum maximus luctus. Mauris vitae 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.
Maecenas bibendum quis velit vel efficitur. Nunc pretium
pretium risus, quis semper mi imperdiet eget. Aliquam erat
volutpat. Donec molestie eros tellus, sit amet consectetur magna
facilisis in. Vestibulum consectetur nisl a mauris fringilla
fermentum. Vestibulum ante ipsum primis in faucibus orci
luctus et ultrices posuere cubilia Curae; Vivamus eget orci a
dolor pretium pretium vel et elit. Vivamus sed arcu sagittis,
maximus velit vitae, dapibus risus. Nullam tincidunt
ullamcorper elementum. Vestibulum eleifend at libero non
egestas. Cras vitae viverra mi, non laoreet felis. Interdum et malesuada fames ac ante ipsum primis in faucibus.
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. Mauris vitae 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/EMS Statistical Analysis
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
Olmsted Township Fire Department
The medical Command responsibilities are shared by The Cleveland Clinic and
University Hospitals. Each Hospital system supplies and EMS coordinator and
Medical director whose main responsibility is to provide 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 organizations 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 : www.wesharerescue.org
WESHARE Rescue Organization
Page 30
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sem nisi, vestibulum id dictum eu, interdum in nunc. Vivamus
maximus sed neque vel consectetur. Pellentesque vitae augue
sed ipsum maximus luctus. Mauris vitae 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.
Maecenas bibendum quis velit vel efficitur. Nunc pretium
pretium risus, quis semper mi imperdiet eget. Aliquam erat
volutpat. Donec molestie eros tellus, sit amet consectetur magna
facilisis in. Vestibulum consectetur nisl a mauris fringilla
fermentum. Vestibulum ante ipsum primis in faucibus orci
luctus et ultrices posuere cubilia Curae; Vivamus eget orci a
dolor pretium pretium vel et elit. Vivamus sed arcu sagittis,
maximus velit vitae, dapibus risus. Nullam tincidunt
ullamcorper elementum. Vestibulum eleifend at libero non
egestas. Cras vitae viverra mi, non laoreet felis. Interdum et malesuada fames ac ante ipsum primis in faucibus.
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. Mauris vitae 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/EMS Statistical Analysis
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. Located within St John Medical Center, Westshore Central Dispatch (Westcom)
provides a regionalized fire and ems dispatch center for the communities of North
Ridgeville, Westlake, Bay Village, Fairview Park, and Rocky River. This
collaborative approach has increased the level of service to its citizens while reducing
response times. Opened in March of 2006, Westcom has become a fixture in the
Westshore region. The center has been entrusted to dispatch the Westshore Regional
Hazmat / Technical rescue team and the Northeast Ohio Region Two USAR team.
Westcom currently has nine full time and four part time dispatchers. There is one
supervisor, Ron Barlow, who oversees the day to day operation of the center. All
Westcom Dispatchers receive training in Emergency Medical Dispatch, Public Safety
Telecommunication, Fire Service Communication, and American Heart CPR / AED.
2015 included the implementation of a new 911 phone system and an upgrade to the
emergency radio systems.
In 2015, the North Ridgeville Fire Department responded to 3,260 fire and ems
calls. This reflected a 7.5% increase in call volume from 2014. Westcom fire
departments responded to a total of 15,142 Fire and EMS runs in 2015.
WESTCOM Dispatch Center
Page 31
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sem nisi, vestibulum id dictum eu, interdum in nunc. Vivamus
maximus sed neque vel consectetur. Pellentesque vitae augue
sed ipsum maximus luctus. Mauris vitae 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.
Maecenas bibendum quis velit vel efficitur. Nunc pretium
pretium risus, quis semper mi imperdiet eget. Aliquam erat
volutpat. Donec molestie eros tellus, sit amet consectetur magna
facilisis in. Vestibulum consectetur nisl a mauris fringilla
fermentum. Vestibulum ante ipsum primis in faucibus orci
luctus et ultrices posuere cubilia Curae; Vivamus eget orci a
dolor pretium pretium vel et elit. Vivamus sed arcu sagittis,
maximus velit vitae, dapibus risus. Nullam tincidunt
ullamcorper elementum. Vestibulum eleifend at libero non
egestas. Cras vitae viverra mi, non laoreet felis. Interdum et malesuada fames ac ante ipsum primis in faucibus.
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. Mauris vitae 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/EMS Statistical Analysis
Each year, the fire department attempts to bring in funding through various grant
sources and of course we always are willing to accept donations. Although we do
not have a professional grant writer on staff, our staff is getting better at applying
for the various grants and we are also always looking for new grants that can assist
us with our mission. This past year, Firefighter/Paramedic Colt Eberling obtained
an Ohio Public Safety Grant and Lieutenant Steven Cook obtained a FEMA Grant.
In 2016, the fire department plans to apply for the FEMA Assistance to Firefighters
Grant, the Ohio Department of Public Safety EMS Grant, and a new grant from the
State of Ohio which is the Local Government Safety Capital Grant Program. We
will also attempt to secure donations from local organizations. Those donations are
generally used to purchase EMS equipment. Our grants and donations history for
the past 13 years is as follows:
YEAR ORGANIZATION AMOUNT PURPOSE
2002 FEMA $51,327.00 Firefighter Wellness Program
and Fitness Equipment
2004 FEMA $135,439.00 Generator, Radios, SCBAs
and Firefighter Turnout Gear
2009 FEMA $126,297.00
Fire Station #2 Traffic
Signal, Turnout Gear Washer
and Dryer
2010 FEMA $270,000.00 Replacement Fire Engine
2014 FEMA $15,660.00
Automatic External
Defibrillators (AEDs) for
Fire Apparatus
Corn Festival
Committee $2,000.00 Water Rescue Training
2015 Ohio Public Safety
EMS $3,500.00 EMS Equipment
North Ridgeville
VFW $1,500.00
McGrath Mac Video
Laryngoscope
TOTAL $605,723.00
Grants and Donations
Barry Cook, Paramedic
Lieutenant
Page 32
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maximus sed neque vel consectetur. Pellentesque vitae augue
sed ipsum maximus luctus. Mauris vitae 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.
Maecenas bibendum quis velit vel efficitur. Nunc pretium
pretium risus, quis semper mi imperdiet eget. Aliquam erat
volutpat. Donec molestie eros tellus, sit amet consectetur magna
facilisis in. Vestibulum consectetur nisl a mauris fringilla
fermentum. Vestibulum ante ipsum primis in faucibus orci
luctus et ultrices posuere cubilia Curae; Vivamus eget orci a
dolor pretium pretium vel et elit. Vivamus sed arcu sagittis,
maximus velit vitae, dapibus risus. Nullam tincidunt
ullamcorper elementum. Vestibulum eleifend at libero non
egestas. Cras vitae viverra mi, non laoreet felis. Interdum et malesuada fames ac ante ipsum primis in faucibus.
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. Mauris vitae 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/EMS Statistical Analysis
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 on Saturday, October 1st 10am
to 2pm. If you know of any health or fire safety related businesses that would like to
attend, please contact Chief John Reese at (440) 353-0803.
Annual Health and Safety Fair
Page 33
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sem nisi, vestibulum id dictum eu, interdum in nunc. Vivamus
maximus sed neque vel consectetur. Pellentesque vitae augue
sed ipsum maximus luctus. Mauris vitae 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.
Maecenas bibendum quis velit vel efficitur. Nunc pretium
pretium risus, quis semper mi imperdiet eget. Aliquam erat
volutpat. Donec molestie eros tellus, sit amet consectetur magna
facilisis in. Vestibulum consectetur nisl a mauris fringilla
fermentum. Vestibulum ante ipsum primis in faucibus orci
luctus et ultrices posuere cubilia Curae; Vivamus eget orci a
dolor pretium pretium vel et elit. Vivamus sed arcu sagittis,
maximus velit vitae, dapibus risus. Nullam tincidunt
ullamcorper elementum. Vestibulum eleifend at libero non
egestas. Cras vitae viverra mi, non laoreet felis. Interdum et malesuada fames ac ante ipsum primis in faucibus.
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. Mauris vitae 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/EMS Statistical Analysis
The North Ridgeville Fire Department maintains a museum next to Old
Town Hall that contains the history of our department and the fire service.
The fire museum houses the city’s original 1931 Buffalo fire engine which
was the first piece of fire apparatus that the City of North Ridgeville
purchased.
In 2015, the fire museum underwent some remodeling to improve our ability
to host tours and educate the public. Everything in the museum was removed
and the floor was sanded and recoated with an epoxy coating. Then an ADA
compliant restroom was added to the museum. The museum was then
painted and everything was replaced. Lastly, a new flower bed and a fire
hydrant fountain were added in front of the museum to replace a flower bed
that needed to be moved for the Center Ridge Road widening. The work was
performed by both on and off duty fire personnel, our local Boy Scouts, Girl
Scouts and volunteers from the community.
The Buffalo fire truck is in running condition and can be used for funerals
and parades. Our staff is constantly working on the truck to improve its
condition and to keep it running. Each year the truck is flat bedded by the
Avon Lake Fire Department to their annual touch a truck event. The truck is
also used throughout the year by various picture takers that like the truck for
its photogenic value.
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) 327-5311.
Fire Museum
Paul Sadowski, Paramedic
Captain
Page 34
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. Mauris vitae 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.
Maecenas bibendum quis velit vel efficitur. Nunc pretium
pretium risus, quis semper mi imperdiet eget. Aliquam erat
volutpat. Donec molestie eros tellus, sit amet consectetur magna
facilisis in. Vestibulum consectetur nisl a mauris fringilla
fermentum. Vestibulum ante ipsum primis in faucibus orci
luctus et ultrices posuere cubilia Curae; Vivamus eget orci a
dolor pretium pretium vel et elit. Vivamus sed arcu sagittis,
maximus velit vitae, dapibus risus. Nullam tincidunt
ullamcorper elementum. Vestibulum eleifend at libero non
egestas. Cras vitae viverra mi, non laoreet felis. Interdum et malesuada fames ac ante ipsum primis in faucibus.
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. Mauris vitae 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/EMS Statistical Analysis
The fire department takes pride in its closeness with the community. Each year our
members donate their time to try and make North Ridgeville a great place to live. This
year, the fire department administration and the members of the North Ridgeville
Firefighters International Association of Firefighters (IAFF) Local 2129 participated in
several community events.
The fire department members have a bond with the Senior Citizens in our community.
Each year, our members and their families volunteer at every spaghetti dinner held at the
Senior Center. They do everything from serving meals to washing dishes. We also deliver
meals on wheels on Thanksgiving and lend a hand in whatever the Senior Center needs
throughout the year.
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.
Community Participation
Page 35
Firefighter/EMT Michael Pitts
In July of 2015, Firefighter/EMT Michael (Mike) Pitts retired and ended his 25 year
career with the North Ridgeville Fire Department. Mike was hired in 1990 and
attended the fire academy and EMT school before starting. He is a graduate of the
Ohio State University and an avid Buckeyes, Browns, and Indians fan. Mike has two
children, Jeff and Samantha who were both recently married and live out of state.
Mike plans to spend his retirement hunting, fishing, attending sporting events,
traveling and visiting with his kids.
Retirements/New Hires
Page 36
WELCOME ABOARD!
Firefighter/Paramedic
Constantine “Dean” Souris
In June of 2015, Firefighter/Paramedic Constantine “Dean” Souris was hired by the
North Ridgeville Fire Department. Dean was working as a full-time
Firefighter/Paramedic in Olmsted Township for 10 years prior to being hired by the
North Ridgeville Fire Department. Dean has a list of fire/rescue certifications and
experiences that will make him a useful addition to our department. He resides with
his wife Nitsa and their daughter Nicolette in Olmsted Township.
Retirements/New Hires-Continued
Page 37