Dec 2020 (1)

City of Rochester Hills Fire and Emergency Services Monthly Report for December 2020

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 December 2020: 613 (Approximately 39% of these incidents occurred in Senior Congregate Housing / Skilled Nursing Facilities) Total number of mutual aid coverage / requests: 0 - No Rochester Hills Fire Department units were available during these times. Total Incidents Year-to-Date: 6,881 Year-to-Date comparison 2019 to 2020: 7,485 (2019) 6,881 (2020)

Operations Bureau Deputy Chief - Todd Gary Shift Commanders - Bat. Chief Jason Murray, Bat. Chief Rogers Claussen, Bat. Chief Jerry Yurgo 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 685 incidents that occurred in December, 383 times (55 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. We pay close attention to these totals to ensure we can respond to simultaneous emergencies quickly enough and with enough personnel. Call concurrency examines the frequency of multiple calls occurring during the same time that units are still committed to a previous call. This situation affects the ability of the organization to commit additional resources to respond to additional calls as they occur. Members responded to 81 calls for service that resulted in estimated $36,289.00 in damage. On December 17, 2020, the Rochester Hills Fire Department was dispatched to the 500 block of Middlebury Lane for a reported residential structure fire. Initial reports by the first arriving company (Tower Ladder 4) reported a working fire in the kitchen area of the home. Crews quickly extinguished the fire limiting damage to the immediate area. The cause of the fire was unattended cooking.

On December 21, 2020, the Rochester Hills Fire Department was dispatched to the 600 block of East Nawakwa Road for a reported vehicle fire. While responding Rochester Hills Engine 2 was notified that there was an individual on scene with serious burns. Rochester Hills Battalion 1 requested Alpha 23 to respond to the scene as well. Rochester Hills Engine 2 arrived on-scene and reported a working vehicle fire as well as one (1) individual with severe burns. Alpha 23 arrived on-scene and provided patient care and transported the individual to Troy Beaumont Hospital due to concerns with the patient’s airway. The cause of this fire is currently under investigation by the Oakland County Sheriff’s Department Fire Investigation Unit.

On December 24, 2020, the Rochester Hills Fire Department was dispatched to the 2700 block of Hickory Lawn Street for a residential structure fire. Rochester Hills Ladder 3 arrived on-scene and reported a fire on the Alpha side of the building. The fire was quickly extinguished and crews performed ventilation and overhaul of the area. The fire was contained to the immediate area, and no firefighter or civilian injuries occurred. It was determined the fire was caused by careless smoking. Emergency Medical Services Division Division Head – Acting Captain Nick Birchmeier Statistics Total number of EMS runs: 532. During December, the department responded to 94 incidents that were either determined as potential COVID-19 or the patient was positive with COVID-19. The department is beginning to see an increase of COVID-19 related incidents, with the YTD total of 619. Total number of Cardiac Arrest: eleven (11) Cardiac arrest - 5 transported (age range: 43 to 91).

For information related to Coronavirus statistics for the State of Michigan, please go to: https://www.michigan.gov/coronavirus/0,9753,7-406-98163_98173---,00.html

E-bridge – The department has begun to implement a new communication system with our local hospitals. This is an app-based program that will allow us to send text notifications to the hospitals for lower acuity patients. It also allows us to video conference with doctors if needed. This will allow for better patient care. Carter Kits - This month we outfitted each ambulance as well as Engine 1 and Ladder 3 with Carter Kits. These are kits to be used with autistic patients. They include communication cards, sunglasses for over stimulated patients, hearing protection for over stimulated patients, and small toys that they can play with to make them feel more comfortable. These kits were created right here in Michigan by a police officer, whose son is autistic. From his experience as a police officer, he saw the need for these kits. https://carterkits.com/about-us ET3 - The Rochester Hills Fire Department is part of an innovative new healthcare program through Medicare. We are starting to roll out a program that would allow us to treat patients in place and use the E-bridge program to video conference with a doctor about the patient's condition. We will also be able to transport patients to certain urgent care facilities. This is for low acuity patients that meet certain criteria. COVID Vaccine - We had 21 members of our department receive the first round of the COVID vaccine. These members will be following up with a second dose of the vaccine in early January. Members will continue to receive the vaccine as it becomes available. Community Risk Reduction Division Division Head - Assistant Chief Bill Cooke The Community Risk Reduction Division highlights for the month of December 2020 included the following: Fire Safety Inspections: 19 Follow-up Inspections: 55 Plan Reviews: 8 FOIA Requests: 6 Professional Development (Training Hours): 68.5 hours Appearance Citations: 8 Public Education Activities Smoke Detector Program(s)/Installation(s): 11 The Rochester Hills Fire Department would like to thank Home Depot for donating $400 to assist our organization in purchasing smoke and carbon monoxide alarms for our residents. The Rochester Hills Fire Department and Home Depot have had a great working relationship for many years. Community partners like Home Depot assist our division in helping keep our community a safer place to live. Smoke and carbon monoxide alarm installation has continued to be priority in our division as Fire and Life Safety Educator John Lyman is constantly looking for new ways to protect our community. Thanks to John’s efforts, another 25 smoke alarms and 8 carbon monoxide alarms were installed in 11 different residential locations this past month. Great work John in building these relationships with our businesses and residents during this difficult time.

Training continues to be high priority in the Community Risk Reduction Division. During the month of December, Lieutenant/Inspector Wally Murphy enrolled in Fire Inspector II training, based on NFPA 1031, the Standard for Professional Qualifications for Fire Inspector. This class prepares inspectors to utilize the most common fire code requirements found during Life Safety Inspections. After successful completion of this training, Lieutenant/Inspector Murphy will be tested on his knowledge and ability to conduct inspections in our high hazard building locations, specifically occupancies that are housing chemicals. Congratulations to Lieutenant/Inspector Murphy for his commitment this year in his personal development. Also during the month of December, members in the Community Risk Reduction Division completed the Michigan Fire Inspector Society Virtual Conference. This conference, which began in September and continued through December, consisted of 2 hours of online training each Wednesday of the month. This virtual conference was comprised of 12 different sessions with 24 hours of continuing education credits that provided quality training for the Community Risk Reduction Division. Finally, during the month of December, Fire Inspectors in the Community Risk Reduction Division finalized all of the fire and life safety inspections at our City’s high-risk occupancies. These occupancies include apartment buildings, restaurants, churches, assemblies, city buildings and site specific locations. Unfortunately, the original goal of inspecting one third of our city’s occupancies was hampered by the COVID- 19 pandemic and adjustments of our original inspection goals had to be made. However, our staff remained focused and in a reduced amount of time, inspected over 4 million square feet of commercial and multifamily residential properties. An accomplishment to be proud of during this very difficult and dynamic environment. Hats off to the Community Risk Reduction Staff for continuously striving to provide a fire safe community!

Training Bureau Division Head - Captain Larry Gambotto During the month of December 2020, members of the Rochester Hills Fire Department received 292 hours of Fire and EMS professional development. This month’s topics included Cold Weather Firefighting Operations, Autism Awareness and the Carter Kits. Fire Training With continued restrictions in place for in-person training, members completed online training. Cold Weather firefighting operations can be different from firefighting during warmer months. Cold weather brings the colder temperatures, which require apparatus pumps to be drained and hose lines to be cracked to avoid freezing. Firefighters are also required to dress in layers to keep warm but not overheat during firefights. Hydration is just as important during cold weather operations as during warmer months. Other concerns include slick and slippery surfaces both while driving apparatus and on the fire ground. Snow is difficult to work in and can add unstable loads to weakening structures. Patient handle requires extra attention during cold weather as well. Members need to review cold weather environmental emergencies as well during the winter months. Special Training The RHFD recently purchased several Carter Kits. Carter Kits are stocked with items to help interact with residents that are on the Autism spectrum. The Carter Kits were placed on front apparatus and members viewed an Autism Awareness video and how the kit’s items can be helpful.