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HomeMy WebLinkAboutAnnual Report of the Fire Department 1980I 11 1, i 1 1 I f -A ; A 0;3, 3Vuxa Heights Fire oepartme On the cover is a photograph taken July 19, 1980 in which Village Trustee and Public Safety Committee Chairman Ronald Anderson presented a plaque to Fire Chief.Lowell T. George in commemoration of the Cayuga Heights Fire Department's 25th Anniversary. The new pumper which had arrived a short time before is shown in the background. On November 16, 1980, Chief George passed away. Chief George was a charter member of the Cayuga Heights Fire Company No. 1, Inc. which was chartered in 1955 and he became Chief in 1974, the position which he held until his death. During his tenure as Fire Chief, he was ivistrumental in advancing the training of the volunteer fire fiareters and in updating the fire equipment. CAYUGA HEIGHTS FIRE DEPARTMENT 194 Pleasant Grove Road Ithaca, N.Y. 14850 Honorable Frederick G. Marcham and Members of the Board of Trustees Village of Cayuga Heights Gentlemen: I am submitting herewith the Annual Report of the Cayuga Heights Fire Department for the year ending December 31, 1980. The Fire Department responded to a total of 210 emergencies of which 95 were general alarms, 85 rescue and first -aid calls, and 28 incident .investigations. The insured fire loss for the Village in 1980 was $3,107.00 a large decrease over last year. The insured fire foss in the Town of Ithaca that we protect was $29,730.10 which was a large decrease over last year. Our Volunteer Fire Department has a membership of 48 active members. Of these 33 are active firemen and 15 are firepolice. We are always very interested in recruiting new active members and urge anyone that is interested to talk to any fireman for information. As in the past all of our volunteers have spent many hours responding to fire calls, attending drills, fire schools, and work details at the fire station. I would like to thank each member for their support and dedication in their department. A special thanks to all the members for there support and help after the death of our Fire Chief. I would like to also thank the Board of Trustees for their cooperation, support, and interest for our department in this past year. Respectfully Su it d Edward C. Collins A.z`Eing Fire Chief TABLE OF CONTENTS Officers - Fire Department and Fire Company Classification and Number of Alarms Fire Causes Type of Situation Found Fire Loss Incident Responses Mutual Aid Manpower Reponse and Membership Equipment Used at Alarms and Incidents Present Status of Vehicles Department Vehicles Rescue Squad Training Fire Prevention Fire Inspection Page Number 1 t- 3 4 5 6 it, 10 11 & 12 13 14 15 page 1 ANNUAL REPORT 1980 CAYUGA HEIGHTS FIRE DEPARTMENT • Edward C. Collins, Acting Fire Chief • Francis L. Miller, 2nd Assistant Fire Chief • Robert J. Hults, 3rd Assistant Fire Chief Daniel R. Rogers, 1st Lieutenant Christian M. Boissonnas, 2nd Lieutenant Warren W. Buck, 3rd Lieutenant Richard A. Vorhis, 4th Lieutenant (Fire Police) CAYUGA HEIGHTS FIRE COMPANY NO. 13 INC. Theodore P. Penalver, President John W. Patte, Vice President Frederick B. Warner, Secretary Edgar A. Whiting, Treasurer James G. Bennett, Assistant Treasurer * Ronald E. Anderson, Fire Warden * John Millier, Fire Warden * Denotes Member of Fire Council PUBLIC ASSEMBLY EDUCATION INSTITUTION RESIDENCE APARTMENT DORMITORY PRIVATE DWELLING HOTEL MOTEL MOBILE HOME MERCANTILE STORES OFFICES UTILITIES INDUSTRIAL SERVICE STATION OTHER MOTOR VEHICLE STAND BY TOTALS CLASSIFICATION AND NUMBER OF ALARMS page 2 n r usr AVA r ucr VALLAGE r�l! �,��1•l�l�l •,•��i���evle ��r.a�n FIRE DISTRICT MUTUAL AID 9 1 1 15 . 2 .�.... i 1 } 1 3 j i { 4 7 7 4 f 2 1 l t 4 . -.__._ ..........tea.. 1 2 11 , ...., ...._� 2 r usr AVA r ucr VALLAGE r�l! �,��1•l�l�l •,•��i���evle ��r.a�n FIRE DISTRICT MUTUAL AID page 3 FIRE CAUSES The Department responded to 24 actual fires during 1980. Listed below are the breakdown causes in two categories. ACT OR OMISSION (N.F.D.A.) 901 Chapter J) Incendiary Act 1 Suspicious Act 3 Misuse of Heat or Ignition 5 Misuse of Material Ignited 4 Mechanical Failure or Malfunction 8 Construction, Design, or Installation Deficiency 1 Other Act or Omission 2 TOTAL 24 EQUIPMENT INVOLVED IN IGNITION (N.F.P.A. 901 Chapter F) Heating Systems and Fireplaces 5 Cooking Equipment 3 Air Conditioning, Refrigeration Equipment 1 Electrical Distribution Equipment 1 Electrical Appliances and Equipment 2 Special Equipment 1 Service or Maintenance Equipment 2 Other Object, Exposure Fire 9 ( includes any fire not caused by above ) �� TOTAL 24 page 4 TYPE OF SITUATION FOUND VILLAGE FIRE DISTRICT MUTUAL AID FIRE 10 13 3 Explosion - No Fire 0 0 0 Rescue Crash - No Fire 1 2 1 Hazardous Condition 2 2 1 Public Service Call 1 1 1 Alarm No -Fire 34 17 0 False Alarm (Malicious) 2 2 0 Electrical Failure 3 1 2 Other 1 1 0 Stand By 0 0 2 TOTALS 54 39 10 Page 5 FIRE LOSS TOWN OF ITHACA 1976 1977 VILLAGE 1979 1980 ?-�76 1977 1978 1979 1980 Buildings and Contents 36,300.00 46,451.49 53943.42 12,557.00 2,200.00 Automobiles 1,400.00 4,580.00 3,333.56 21013.00 907,00 Exposure Loss -0- -0- -0- -0- -0- TOTAL 37,700.00 51,031.49 9,276.98 14,570.00 3,107.00 TOWN OF ITHACA 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 Buildings and Contents 23075.00 3,735.00 4,000.00 96 :965.36 29,730.10 Automobiles 650.00 1,050.00 72.56 11200.00 -0- Exposure Loss -0- -0- -0- -0- -0- 2,725.00 4,785.00 4,072.56 983165.36 29,730.10 page 6 INCIDENT RESPONSES INCIDENTS VILLAGE FIRE DISTRICT MUTUAL AID Alarm Malfunction 1 2 0 Arson Investigation 0 0 0 Auto Accident 0 2 0 Assist Police 5 1 0 Dangerous Condition 0 2 0 Electrical Problem 1 0 0 Flooding 1 3 1 Furnace Problem 0 0 0 Grass Fire 1 0 0 Gasoline Leak 0 1 0 Smoke Investigation 5 1 0 Standby for Halloween 2 0 0 Trash Fire 1 0 0 Water Leak 1 1 0 Wires Down 0 0 1 Other 0 0 1 TOTALS 18 12 3 page 7 MUTUAL AID RECEIVED FROM INCIDENT NO. 13 Lansing - Jaws for auto accident ALARM NO. 10 Lansing for standby at Cayuga Heights Station ALARM NO. 31 Lansing - 305 E. Upland ,%MW ALARM NO. 2 Varna - standby at their station ALARM N0. 4 Lansing - at Uptown Village Apts. ALARM NO. 5 Lansing - Pyramid Mall ALARM NO. 8 Lansing - Triphammer Mall ALARM NO. 12 Lansing - standby ALARM NO. 15 Lansing - Pyramid ALARM N0. 16 Lansing - Pyramid ALARM NO. 22 Lansing - Pyramid ALARM NO. 23 Lansing - standby at the Cayuga Heights Station ALARM NO. 30 Ithaca - standby at the Ithaca Central Station ALARM N0. 67 Ithaca - 246 Renwick Drive ALARM N0. 68 Lansing - standby at the Lansing Fire Station ALARM NO. 77 Lansing - Sheraton Inn ALARM N0. 85 Lansing - standby at the Cayuga Heights Station ALARM N0. 96 Varna - assist at plane crash ALARM NO. 97 Varna - standby at the Varna Station INCIDENT NO. 3 Lansing - flooding problem GENERAL ALARMS ( days ) ( 8:00 a.m, to 4:00 p.m. ) GENERAL ALARMS ( evenings ) ( 4:00 p.m. to 12:00 mid. > GENERAL ALARMS ( nights ) ( 00:00 a.m. to 8:00 a.m. ) 11.6 TOTALS page 8 MANPOWER RESPONSE ALARMS MEMBER AVERAGE RESPONSE NUMBER 35 3.5 RESPONSE 49 567 11.6 30 583 19.4 18 15 11..' 97 1365 ( 00:00 a.m. to 8:00 a.m. ) INCIDENT CALLS ( days ) ( 8:00 to 4:00 p.m. ) 10 35 3.5 INCIDENT CALLS ( evenings ) ( 4:00 p.m. to 12:00 mid ) 16 46 2.8 INCIDENT CALLS ( nights ) ( 00:00 a.m. to 8:00 a.m. ) 2 6 3.0 TOTALS 28 87 MEMBERSHIP Active Volunteer Firemen in the Department Active Fire Police in the Department 35 il 48 Air Masks 23 Axes 8 Brooms 7 Cascade Sys. 1 Crow Bars 5 Foam 1 Ext. Cords 10 Flares 76 Floodlights 11 Gen. (Portab) 9 Handlights 101 Halligan Tool 1 Hay Hook 1 Hose 3" 29001 Hose 22" 2600' Hose 13/4" 1700' :lose 1z' 800' Hose Suction 40' Hose Booster 14 Hose clamp 5 Indian Pump 6 Ladders 238' Ladder Step 5 Ladder Aerial 2 Mops and Pail 2 Oxygen Pry Bar 1 page 9 EQUIPMENT USED AT ALAR119 AND INCIDENTS Bolt Cutters 1 Power Saws 4 Pike Pole 11 Plastic 2 Rope 1 Squeeges 8 Shovels 3 Smoke Ejector 18 Tarps 1 Tools 5 Trash Pump 2 Wet Vac. 5 Wrecking Bar 4 Heat Scanner 6 Department Owned CO2 - 20# Dry Chem. - 20# Privately Owned co2 - 0 Dry Chem. - 15'# Water - 2-,# page 10 PRESENT STATUS 0P VEHICLES FIRST LINE UNTIL RESERVE UNTIL Engine 201 (1969) 1000 G.P.M. pumper 1983 1988 Engine 202 (1980) 1500 G.P.M. pumper 1995 2000 Engine 203 (1975) 1250 G.P.M. pumper 1990 1995 Truck 234 (1974) Ladder Truck 1989 1994 Squad Truck 241 (1969) 1980 - - -- * In addition to response to alarms and training the trucks were driven many times for driver training and road tests. The engines and trucks are serviced twice annually by our resident driver and mechanic - John Patte. The figures for status do not show that &4'.ae 202 was replaced in August with a new Sandford pumper. Engine 203 and 201 are both in need of body work. Truck 234 needs to have the ladder tested. Truck 241 has surface and cross member rust DEPARTMENT VEHICLES VEHICLE ALARM INCIDENT MILES FUEL RESPONSES RESPONSES DRIVEN USED Engine 201 34 .0 513 228 Engine 202 35 2 837 X85 Engine 203 72 4 673 242.9 Truck 234 50 0 735 342.2 Truck 241 149 25 877 196 * In addition to response to alarms and training the trucks were driven many times for driver training and road tests. The engines and trucks are serviced twice annually by our resident driver and mechanic - John Patte. The figures for status do not show that &4'.ae 202 was replaced in August with a new Sandford pumper. Engine 203 and 201 are both in need of body work. Truck 234 needs to have the ladder tested. Truck 241 has surface and cross member rust page 11 Rescue Squad Annual Report 1980 1980 was a year of continued growth and development for the department's rescue squad. As was expected the number of rescue calls increased substantially as reflected in the figures below. 1980 1979 # of calls % # of calls % Village 36 42.3 25 36.7 Town 37 43.5 27 39.7 Mutual Aid 12 14.1 16 23.5 Total 85 99.9 -9-8 99.9 The squad treated 95 patients during 1980 which was an increase of 23(40 %) over the 1979 figure. The total increase in calls this year amounted to 17(25 %) as compared to 1979• Mutual aid calls were down slightly due to a less active relationship with Lansing. The following is a breakdown of calls by type. 1980 1979 # of calls % # of calls % Medical Emergency 29 34.1 28 41.1 Heart Related 13 15.2 7 10.2 Cardiac Arrest 5 5.8 7 10.2 Accident 18 21.1 13 19.1 Motor Vehicle Accident 18 21.1 12 17.6 Assult 0 0 1 1.4 Aircraft Crash 1 1.1 0 0 Suicide 1 1.1 0 0 Total 85 99.5 68 99.6 It is interesting to note that while the total number of calls increased in 1980 the percentage of heart related problems in- cluding cardiac arrest remained constant at 21 %. There also appears to be a trend developing in the accident and motor vehicle category which maybe a cause for concern. The total number of calls in this area increased 44 %(from 25 -36). This may point up the need to give serious consideration to expanding our resources and training , particularly in the area of vehicle extrication. The members of the rescue squad spent a total of 183+ manhours treating patients which is an increase of 26.5 %. This increase follows from the increased number of calls. The following is a breakdown of manpower response by time of day.' 8am -4pm 4pm -12 midnight 12 midnight -8am Response(avg.) 5.6.men 5.7 men 7.4 men page 12 • It should be noted that this chart does not accurately reflect the way a typical rescue call is handled. Usually, two squad members are on duty at a given time and they respond to all calls during their shift. Other squad members may also respond. However, if they are not needed the extra members return to the station or go home. The figures do reflect available manpower. At the present time the rescue squad meets twice each month for special training. This is above and beyond the regular twice a month department fire training. The majority of the squad members have completed orfal presently completing the New York State Emergency Medical Technician Training course which involves almost 100 hours of additional training per man. The coming year promises to be an exciting one for the members of the rescue squad because of the recent implementation of the advanced life support program in Tompkins County. At the pre- sent time this "paramedic type" service is only provided by the ambulance crew under medical direction from the hospital. Consequently, advanced care must wait until the ambulance arrives. However, it is anticipated that during 1981 the first two of three advanced life support training modules will be made available to rescue squads on a limited basis. This will mean another 40 -90 hours of training for some squad members, but it will also mean that we will be able to begin advanced life support measures prior to the arrival of the ambulance. This will be of great value especially when we are treating cardiac related cases or major trauma. Over the past several years there has been a great deal written about the important role that emergency medical care and rescue will play in the community. There seems to be little doubt that after a slow start, emergency medical care as a part of the fire service is here to stay. Thanks to the support and interest the squad has received we were able to get an early start in an organized fashion. Considering the relatively modest investment in equipment and the low operating cost, the value of the services performed in terms of lives saved and general public relations can not be underestimated. page 13 TRAINING FOR THE YEAR 1980 A total of 55 hours and 30 minutes was offered to the firemen of the Cayuga Heights Fire Department during the year of 1980. This time was divided into 23 regular twice a month drills and 2 special drills. One of the special drills was a mutual aid drill with the Lansing Fire Department at the Tompkins County Airport learning how to fight aircraft fires. An average of 14 men per drill came to the offered training for a total of 770 man hours spent in training at our fire house. This does not include the un- told hours spent by the individual members taking state and county courses offered at other locations. There were a number of old and new courses offered in the county by state fire instructors that were attended by many of our men this past year. All of our members have completed the Essentials of Firemanship course, or its equivalent, and three of the Chief Officers attended a new course in arson investigation. There were many men who took other courses during the year. Our internal training program came under the direction of the Lieutenants of the Department this past year. These men have had training covering many aspects of fire fighting from actual fires at the City of Ithaca's training tower to extensive air pack training in our station. We have used county owned slide and movie present - tations' along with "hands on" experience with equipment used in fire fighting. It is our belief that the members of the Cayuga Heights Fire Department are receiving some of the best training available in the State of New York. page 14 Fire Prevention Fire Prevention is an important considerati3n of every fire department. During this past year our members devoted many hours to this area. A large number of pre - school children, elementary school students, and adults visited the fire station. They were shown the fire equipment, given fire prevention literature, heard talks on fire safety and were shown fire prevention films. Trucks were also taken to schools and the fire equipment was demonstrated. Tot Finder decals and fire prevention literature were also distributed to area residents. We welcome individual and group visits so that we may explain our equipment and encourage others to share our interest in fire prevention. page 15 VILLAGE FIRE INSPECTOR'S REPORT The Fire Prevention program continues to be successful. Asin the past the program is community service orientated, with special attention being given to schools, multiple residences, fraternities, and sororities. Most all commercial properties were visited at least once. Upon request, the Fire Inspector also responded to inquiries relating to; occupancy changes, re- moleling problems, wood stove installations', and residential fire protection.