REPORT OF GRAY FIRE-RESCUE DEPARTMENT 2004-2005
I am pleased to submit my report for the year 2004-2005. I would like to thank the Council Members, Town Manager and the citizens of Gray for their continued support to the department this past year.
I want to welcome back Galen Morrison who has returned to Gray and is continuing his tenure with the department and is assuming the status of Deputy Chief which he held when he moved south.
The department has continued to focus on how we can provide the same services for the town and how improvements can be accomplished at the same level without added expense. The departments of Gray, Cumberland, Raymond, New Gloucester, North Yarmouth and Falmouth were awarded a grant from the Homeland Security Program in the amount of twenty three thousand six hundred forty dollars ($23,640.00). These funds will enable us to purchase haz-mat equipment and provide personnel training. As presented this will supplement our County haz-mat team when called upon. It will also allow us to respond to an incident and perform tasks that we are qualified for until the County team arrives.
We also were successful in receiving a Fire Prevention Grant in the amount of thirty three thousand forty nine dollars ($33,049.00). We have purchased the Sparky’s Hazard House display unit which enables us to make live presentations to the young and old alike. We will be distributing smoke and carbon monoxide detectors during Fire Prevention Week activities from these funds as well. The intent of this program is to teach fire education, home safety education, fall and slip prevention, cooking fire prevention and evacuation drills. The department has been involved actively with the Cumberland County Fire Chiefs in a new pilot program for the Juvenile Fire Setters. I am very pleased to announce at this time we have not had this problem in our community as compared to some. As per our mission statement: To protect our
communities from the dangers of a juvenile fire setter through intervention, by collaborating with the participating agencies to refer, assess and ultimately treat the juvenile fire setter. It has to be a community effort involving everyone and especially the law enforcement and school system which has always been very supportive. We need to continue our CIP program and our equipment replacement schedule.
I want to recognize and commend the members that give so much of their time at the various mandatory and department training sessions. I would like to recognize the following personnel for completing the following: Firefighter 1 Live in program Jesse Bell102 hrs, Basic Refresher Class Deputy Morrison and Lieutenant Hadlock 24 hrs each. We had two attend EMS Conference at Samoset for two and three days, Robert Lindstee & Mark Grover. Firefighter Class 1 Craig Elkanich, Nick Hutchins, Sari Paulmann & Matt Harrington 120 hrs. each. Haz-mat Operation Class Jesse Bell, Tad Redway and Mike Barter at 24 hrs. each. PEPP-ALS Course Katie O’Gorman 8 hrs .We had 9 attend Cumberland County Fire-EMS Conference128 hrs and 12 members attended the New England Chiefs conference for 3 days. The Monday and Friday evenings for
Fire and EMS personnel as assigned are required. As you can see many hours are given to the town Gray Fire-Rescue Department.
The Communications Center remains to be a vital part of our operations. They also are the answering system when the public needs help on a non-emergency basis as well; this past year they had approximately
Eighteen thousand (18,000) incidents at the center.
Once again special thanks to Public Works Director Steve LaVallee and Crew for all their assistance throughout the year.
We continue to promote the Learn Not To Burn and Juvenile Fire Setter Intervention programs. We are pleased that SAD #15 has been able to allow the department to present there programs at the various schools. We have found over the years that if we can get to the children they will get their parents involved.
Our EMS and Fire Prevention weeks continue to be a successful event with visitations to the schools, Open Houses at the station and with a planned schedule of events for each at a given Saturday during those weeks. A special thanks to the folks that give of themselves to make these a success.
I want to thank the Maine State Police, Lifeflight of Maine, Cumberland County Sheriff Department, and Maine Warden Service for their continued support.
I want to remind the citizens that a Burning Permit is required at all times. We Do Not issue any incinerator permits and the reason for this is that it is unlawful to burn rubbish,refuse, garbage, paper, cardboard or wood boxes as all these are excepted at the Transfer Station. We do not issue burning permits on weekdays during the months of April through November unless the ground is snow covered or we have had substantial rain. If you have any questions please call 657-3931. This past year we issued one thousand one hundred ninety six permits (1167).
The businesses are to be commended for their continued support when called upon with their generous donations either by allowing their personnel to leave the job, materials and monetary contributions.
I want to thank our Automatic Aid and Mutual Aid Towns for their continued support New Gloucester, Cumberland, Windham, North Yarmouth and Raymond. Without this agreement all towns would be in a lot of trouble due to the lack of manpower.
Gray Fire-Rescue responded to a total of nine hundred thirty two (903) calls this past year. The break down is as follows:
|
2003-2004 |
2004-2005 |
Fires |
36 |
37 |
Rescue and EMS |
596 |
625 |
Hazardous Conditions-No Fire |
52 |
56 |
Service Calls |
69 |
59 |
Good Intent Calls |
125 |
104 |
False Alarms and Alarm Calls |
51 |
20 |
Special Incident Types |
3 |
2 |
Total Calls |
932 |
903 |
AND LAST BUT NOT LEAST I WANT TO THANK MY OFFICERS AND MEMBERS FOR ALL THEIR TIME AND SUPPORT YOU HAVE GIVEN TO ME AND THE TOWN OF GRAY. WE ARE ON CALL 24 HOURS A DAY, 365 DAYS A YEAR, PROTECTING LIFE AND PROPERTY AT THE CROSSROADS OF MAINE.
Respectively Submitted,
Jon E. Barton
Chief Fire-Rescue/Public Safety Coordinator
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