March 2019a

City of Rochester Hills Fire and Emergency Services Monthly Report for March 2019

To: The Honorable Mayor Bryan Barnett and the esteemed members of the Rochester Hills City Council From: Sean M. Canto - Chief of Fire and Emergency Services Ladies and Gentlemen: The primary purpose of this report is to keep the officials of the City of Rochester Hills informed as to the activities and programs of the Rochester Hills Fire and Emergency Services Department. As a second purpose, this report will be shared with the Officers and all fire personnel in the organization to illustrate how their day-to-day activities benefit the citizens and the community of Rochester Hills. Call Data: Total Incidents March 2019: 635 (Approximately 41% of these incidents occurred in Senior Congregate Housing / Skilled Nursing Facilities) Total number of mutual aid coverage / requests: 2 - No Rochester Hills Fire Department units were available during these times. Total Incidents Year-to-Date: 1,890 Year-to-Date comparison 2018 to 2019: 1,794 (2018) 1,890 (2019)

Operations Bureau Deputy Chief - Todd Gary Shift Commanders - Bat. Chief Tim Quaine, Bat. Chief Rogers Claussen, Bat. Chief Jerry Yurgo Fire Suppression Division The Operations Division has begun to track on a more accurate basis the number of “Concurrent Incidents” that are happening. This graph details that out of the 635 incidents that occurred in March, 336 times (52 percent) additional incidents were taking place at the same time. As this happens the department’s resources are stretched thin, if not depleted. The department will continue to monitor this information closely.

Members responded to 82 calls for service. The Department responded to five (5) incidents that resulted in $12,000 in damages. On March 15, 2019, the Rochester Hills Fire Department was dispatched to Harrison Avenue and Cali Drive for a motor vehicle accident with entrapment with resulted after a police pursuit. The driver of the vehicle traveling at an extremely high rate of speed, lost control, went airborne hitting a tree, landed, shearing down another tree and came to rest in a yard. Rochester Hills Alpha 22 was the first unit to arrive and found a patient heavily entrapped and in serious condition. Rochester Hills Engine 1 arrived and began extricating the patient from the vehicle. The patient was quickly extricated and taken to Troy Beaumont Hospital in serious condition with numerous traumatic injuries.

On March 18, 2019, the Rochester Hills Fire Department was dispatched to 2903 Technology Drive for a Motor Vehicle Accident involving a pedestrian. Rochester Hills Alpha 22, Engine 1 and Battalion 1 responded. Rochester Hills Engine 1 arrived to find a male patient that was struck by a vehicle in serious condition. Members began treating the patient and due to the seriousness of the injuries to include a traumatic brain injury, quickly transported the patient to McClaren Oakland Trauma Center in Pontiac. At the hospital, once all injuries were discovered, it was decided to stabilize the patient and transport to a level 1 trauma center for further treatment. In both the incident on March 15 and March 18 , the hospitals commented that the prehospital care was th th very good and that the transport was speedy and efficient. On March 18, 2019, the Rochester Hills Fire Department was dispatched to 1919 Star Batt Court (Days Inn) for a reported commercial structure fire. Rochester Hills Chief 1, Battalion 1, and Ladder 3 arrived simultaneously. Chief 1 reported smoke showing from the Charlie side of the building coming from the laundry room. At this point, the fire alarm was not activated and the building was not being evacuated. The crews from Ladder 3 reported medium smoke in the hallway and what appeared to be a fire in a commercial dryer. Engine 1 arrived and laid a supply line as well as stretching a 1 ¾” hoseline to the rear door. The fire was quickly contained with minor damage, however due to facility personnel not shutting the door to the laundry room or the wing doors, this allowed smoke to move throughout the building. Additional crews were assigned ventilation to assist in clearing the building. No civilian or firefighter injuries were reported. The City of Rochester and the City of Auburn Hills assisted at the scene. The Oakland County Sheriff’s Department Fire Investigation Unit also assisted in determining the cause of the fire. Community Risk Reduction also met with Facility Staff that week to discuss several concerns, including a few fire code violations. 1919 Star Batt Drive Commercial Structure Fire

On March 22, 2019, the Rochester Hills Fire Department was dispatched to 60352 Shawnee Lane to assist the Washington Township Fire Department for a reported residential structure fire. Rochester Hills Engine 1 Ladder 5 and Battalion 1 arrived to assist with a single family home in which the fire originated in the garage and was spreading into the remainder of the structure. Rochester Hills Ladder 5 assisted with fire attack and Rochester Hills Engine 1 performed vertical ventilation. Rochester Hills Battalion1 was assigned operations by Washington Township Chief 1. Other arriving departments had to shuttle water to the scene since this fire was located in a non-hydrant area. No civilian or firefighter injuries were reported however, the building and contents were severely damaged.

On March 30, 2019, the Rochester Hills Fire Department was dispatched to 3250 Walton Blvd for a reported dryer fire. Rochester Hills Tower Ladder 4 was the first unit to arrive and reported medium smoke in the stairwell and basement and asked to have the assignment upgraded to a full alarm, bringing two (2) additional companies and a medic unit. Crews quickly contained the fire to a commercial dryer, however facility staff let the door open allowing smoke to travel both upstairs and downstairs. Crews worked to ventilate the smoke from the structure. Additionally, Community Risk Reduction meet with Facility Staff on the following Monday to discuss several concerns to include the facility not being evacuated. No civilian or firefighter injuries were reported. This was the second time in March that the Rochester Hills Fire Department encountered a fire in a commercial dryer. Additionally, at both incidents, facility staff allowed doors to remain open letting smoke travel throughout the building nor did they begin evacuation. Fire exit doors must be kept closed to prevent fire, heat and smoke from spreading to areas used for escape. The simple act of closing the door could be the major difference between life and death in a fire. In a fire, it is the smoke that often kills a person long before the actual fire reaches them. Modern items and building materials release toxic fumes during a fire, which is extremely dangerous for a person to inhale. A shut door can alter the flow of fatal heat and toxic gases in a fire, giving you those seconds or even minutes to find another way out in time. Please see links below on how to prevent dryer fires. https://www.usfa.fema.gov/downloads/pdf/publications/clothes_dryer_fire_safety_flyer.pdf https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1eBA3-MCtCQ

Emergency Medical Services Division Division Head - Captain Tim Matz Total number of EMS runs: 553 Total number of cardiac arrest: 6 - (Ages of the patients were 47 - 87, one patient (1) was transferred for further care) Total number of Narcan deployments: 3 – (Due to possible narcotic overdose) EMS Training Training for EMS in the month of March was Patient Assessment, which is one of the required drills by the state. Each department member who is an EMS Instructor/Coordinator or currently enrolled to become an EMS Instructor/Coordinator submitted patient scenarios, giving us a bank of training scenarios to present to the members of the department. The patient assessment is probably the most important skill every EMS provider should master. No matter the call, no matter the patient, the EMS provider needs to be able to rapidly zero in on a complaint, make a working diagnosis, and provide adequate treatment for the patient’s condition. This skill is more important than any other simply because if you do not know what is going on with the patient, you cannot know how to treat them. Classroom education in EMS devotes a great deal of time to teaching assessment skills to EMS providers, and gaining field experience is no doubt crucial to an EMS provider achieving proficiency at performing patient assessments. Ultimately, the goal for the Rochester Hills Fire Department is to provide the highest level of emergency care to our patients, and the ability to perform a quality patient assessment is a huge step toward achieving that goal.

Community Risk Reduction Division Division Head - Assistant Chief Bill Cooke The Community Risk Reduction Division highlights for the month of March 2019 included the following: Fire Safety Inspections: 42 Follow-up Inspections: 54 Plan Reviews: 7 FOIA Requests: 7 Professional Development (Training Hours): 35.5 hours Infant Car Seat Installation and Checks: 13 Burn Permits: 28 Public Education Activities Schools: 14 presentations totaling 311 individuals Daycares (Pre-K): 8 presentations totaling 170 individuals Camps/Scouts: 2 presentation totaling 26 individuals Station Tours: 5 presentations totaling 120 individuals During the month of March, members of the Community Risk Reduction (CRR) Division completed inspections at the City’s churches. There are 35 churches in Rochester Hills with congregations ranging from 15-30 parishioners to over 5,000. Churches are classified by the Fire Code as an assembly location. Assembly locations are considered high risk because of the potential for large loss of life. Another benefit of performing Annual Fire and Life Safety Inspections at our church locations is to discuss safety plans. Most churches have a safety or medical team that responds during services to assist members in need. Concerns about building safety and security is often at the forefront of our inspections. CRR Division members are able to discuss the safety of our congregations and provide direction on topics like directing first responders to the closest door, sheltering in place during a weather event and having a designated meeting place outside the building, away from where fire apparatus need to operate. Training this month focused on continuing education for our Child Passenger Safety Technician (CPST) recertification. Lieutenant/Fire Inspector’s Echols and Mills attended a one- day training in East Lansing and obtained six (6) required continuing education (CE) credits. The CPST certification is part of a National program that provides direction on car seat installation to thousands of people across the Country. Certified CPST’s are required to obtain six (6) CE’s every two (2) years, as well as perform car seat installations for the five different kinds of child safety seats: rear-facing only, rear facing convertible, front facing with 5-point harness, belt positioning booster seat and any installation using the LATCH system. This is an important service to offer to the Community, as over 400 children nationally die each year in vehicle crashes due to improperly installed child safety seats, an incorrect seat for the child’s size / developmental stage, or lack of a child safety seat altogether. Division members are currently preparing for the 2019 construction season. Building and roadway construction increases in March and April, depending on weather. Members are in contact with each construction site and roadway project throughout the spring and summer to ensure that Department personnel are able to respond safely throughout the City. Buildings under construction are the most

vulnerable structures in the City. Construction site access is a top priority and members work closely with contractors to ensure the Department can provide a coordinated response. Training Bureau Division Head - Captain Larry Gambotto During the month of March 2019, members of the Rochester Hills Fire Department received 586.5 hours of Fire and EMS professional development. Year-to-date, members have completed nearly 1,877 hours of training. This month’s topics included Fast Food Restaurant Fires, Ropes and Knots, and Battalion Training. In addition, several members attended other training including Frank Viscuso’s “Step Up and Lead” and Captain Larry Gambotto attended Live Fire Instructor Training at the Detroit Fire Department’s Regional Training Center. Fire Training During this month’s Fire training, members were instructed in fighting fast food restaurant fires. In cooperation with J.S. Vig Construction, crews were able to train inside the old Burger King location on Rochester Road. Members arrived to the structure and completed a 360-degree scene size-up. Crews then entered the structure to locate a simulated grease fire that was controlled by the structures suppression system, and other crews completed primary search and rescue of the dining area of restaurant. Members were than able to practice overhaul and forcible entry techniques inside the structure and Firefighter Rescue. In addition, members were able to review the structure hood systems that are required for kitchens.

Special Training This month’s special training included ropes and their application during rescue evolutions. Lt. Christopher Kraft instructed members in Basic Rope Operations including simple 2 to 1, 3 to 1 mechanical advantage systems, ladder vector operations, and setting up a “Z”-rig system.

Battalion Training Members practiced aerial apparatus setup and master streams, and pre-incident planning. Step Up and Lead Deputy Chief Frank Vincuso’s (Ret.) Step Up and Lead was written to serve three purposes: 1. To introduce you to the essential traits and skills that every effective fire service leader must possess. 2. To teach you the secrets of effective leadership from one of the most respected organizations in the world. 3. To help prepare motivated individuals who are serious about advancing their careers and improving their lives. Several members attended the six (6) hour training program at the Detroit Zoo with other members of the OAKWAY mutual group.

Administration Bureau Department Administration along with the Human Resource Director and City Attorney have been working with MAFF Local 50 to complete contract negotiations. On March 13, 2019, both groups met again and finalized a tentative agreement. MAFF members will vote on the agreement in the near future and will hopefully be before City Council in April. On March 5 , the Rochester Hill Fire Department Chief’s Staff attended the Michigan Fire Service Legislative th Day in Lansing. Chief Canto, Deputy Chief Gary and Chief Cooke along with other Fire Chiefs from around the state met with our Senators and Representatives to discuss issues and concerns affecting the Fire Service. The Rochester Hills Chief’s Staff also had the opportunity to meet with former City Councilman, now State Representative Michael Webber. On March 11, 2019, the Rochester Hills Fire Department held our Annual Departmental meeting. This meeting was held at the Rochester Hills Museum Calf Barn. The newly adopted Rochester Hills Fire Department Strategic Plan was the main topic of discussion. It was discussed how this plan assists in forecasting the fire department’s future and how the foundation of services provided by the fire department has always been based on responding to the adapting and changing needs of the community.

Finally and most importantly, it was discussed why Strategic Planning is important to any organization. Members asked how the Strategic Plan is utilized, and it was stressed that it is useful for guiding day-to-day decisions and also for evaluating progress and changing approaches when moving forward as a department. It was emphasized that the Rochester Hills Fire Department can no longer just react to issues, which unfortunately historically has happened. The Rochester Hills Fire Department must begin to anticipate future changes rather than merely react to them (or in some cases be forced to react). Additionally, we need to meet the obligations of the Fire and Emergency Services and the demands of the community. Thank you to Pat McKay for allowing the Fire Department to utilize the Calf Barn for our annual meeting.