Sept 2019

City of Rochester Hills Fire and Emergency Services Monthly Report for September 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 September 2019: 616 (Approximately 30% of these incidents occurred in Senior Congregate Housing / Skilled Nursing Facilities) Total number of mutual aid coverage / requests: 1 - No Rochester Hills Fire Department units were available during these times. Total Incidents Year-to-Date: 5,647 Year-to-Date comparison 2018 to 2019: 5,350 (2018) 5,647 (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 616 incidents that occurred in September, 299 times (48 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. The growing number of incidents continues to cause our concurrent incident totals to rise once again. 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 108 calls for service. The Department responded to six (6) incidents that resulted in $74,050 in damages. On September 4, 2019, the Rochester Hills Fire Department was dispatched to 613 Dorchester Drive for a reported Residential Structure Fire. Rochester Hills Chief 1 and Battalion 1 arrived simultaneously, and reported a working fire in the kitchen of a first floor apartment. Rochester Hills Engine 2 and Engine 1 arrived and began fire attack operations, while Rochester Hills Tower Ladder 4 and Ladder 2 performed ventilation and support operations. The fire was quickly contained to the area of origin however there was smoke damage throughout the apartment. The cause of the fire was unattended cooking. The City of Rochester provided ALS at the scene and neighboring departments provided coverage while the department was operating at this incident. No firefighter or civilian injuries occurred at this incident.

On September 15, 2019, the Rochester Hills Fire Department was dispatched to 645 Grace Avenue for a reported smoldering smoke detector in an upstairs hallway. Rochester Hills Alpha 23 was the first unit to arrive and reported a working attic fire and requested a “Box” Alarm assignment. Prior to arrival, the homeowner evacuated the home. Rochester Hills Engine 1, Tower Ladder 4, and Alpha 22 arrived and along with Alpha 23 began fire suppression operations. Members quickly contained the fire in the attic and mutual aid departments were released, however they provided coverage while units operated at this incident. No firefighter or civilian injuries occurred. The cause of the fire is still under investigation. On September 15, 2019 the Rochester Hills Fire Department was dispatched to 3330 Crooks Road for a reported kitchen fire that was possibly extinguished. Rochester Hills units arrived to find the fire extinguished, however the two (2) occupants were injuried, one (1) with 2 degree burns to their arms and chest and the nd other with smoke inhalation. Both patients were transported to Detroit Receiving Burn Center for further care. It was determined that unattended cooking was the cause of the fire and the occupant threw water on the fire trying to extinguish it, in turn making the situation worse. This is the second fire this month caused by unattended cooking. Please see the following safety precautions below as pertained to cooking fire safety. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FbLUsHpJos4 https://www.nfpa.org/Public-Education/Fire-causes-and-risks/Top-fire-causes/Cooking

Emergency Medical Services Division Division Head - Captain Tim Matz Total number of EMS Calls of Service: 508 Total number of Cardiac Arrests: six (6) - the age ranged from 35 to 87 years old. No patients were transported for further care this month. Total number of Narcan calls for service: five (5) - only one case was a known opioid situation. Training for the month of September was supposed to be vehicle extrication scenarios, to back up the extrication skills we had the week before. Unfortunately, due to our 9/11 ceremony and the deadline for the Center of Medicare and Medicaid services (CMS) ET3 application, training was postponed. The EMS Instructor/Coordinators assisted with filling in narratives for the application. Due to their help and working with Auburn Hills Fire and City of Rochester Fire, we were able to successfully submit our application to CMS prior to the deadline.

On Sunday, September 22, 2019, we were involved in EMS operations for the Brooksie Way Half Marathon. Multiple EMS and medical staff were working this event for the safety of the runners, race officials, and guests. The EMS event was in command of Assistant Chief William Cooke, with Captain Matz in charge of operations. Agencies included Rochester Hills, Rochester City, Star EMS, McLaren Oakland Emergency Department staff, and Oakland County Sheriff Office. Attendees within the Command Post were Asst.Chief Cooke, Sargent Planke (Law Enforcement command), Captain Matz (EMS Ops), Doctor Michael Dettloff (McLaren Medical liaison), and Mike Crum (OU Emergency Manager). McLaren ran a medical tent at the Start / Finish line with two Star EMS units. Rochester Hills and Rochester City Fire departments had multiple units along with McLaren medical team golf carts. We had six Ambulances, two Gators, and a Bike Team patrolling the course between the two departments. We had one medical incident on the course and the patient was attended to by McLaren Doctors, Bravo 20 and Alpha 19 RHFD. The patient was transported to Ascension Providence Rochester and was discharged three days later with no deficits. The Medical tent transported three patient to local hospitals, in fact at one point our Alpha 24 was sent to replace the Star EMS unit that had left to a hospital and transported one of the patient themselves. This was the second year that we had a Physician in the Command Post giving us the ability to work with the physicians on the course and know where they were. This also positively streamlined care of runners on the course. If a runner became tired and needed a ride back to the starting line, they could ride on the golf cart leaving EMS and other Physician carts on the course covering the other runners. When a runner had a medical emergency on the course, both Physicians and EMS crews worked together to care for the runner and got them to definitive care at a hospital improving their outcome.

We were able to improve our EMS division this month with the delivery of three new Lifepak 15 cardiac monitors, two LUCAS 3 chest compression devices, and new EMS medical bags for all EMS and fire units. The cardiac monitors will allow our fleet of ambulances to have monitors that charge while on-board keeping them ready for use. These new monitors will bring our total number of chargeable monitors to seven, covering all of our ambulance and making them ready at all times. There will be no need to replace batteries or worry if an ambulance runs multiple calls that their monitor may run out of battery power. The LUCAS 3 chest compression devices are both a patient care and safety device. They allow for our Paramedic and EMT’s to deliver continuous chest compressions to a cardiac arrest patient while allow them to do other care procedures. More studies point to continued chest compression at a constant rate and depth for a more favorable outcome. The safety factor is in the event a patient must be transported to a hospital, it has been a practice for EMS providers to stand in the back of a moving vehicle to try and do chest

compressions. The LUCAS takes care of that, allowing providers to be seated safely in the back. Due to this purchase now all ambulances in Rochester Hills have a LUCAS for personnel to use. The new EMS bags were researched and presented by Firefighter/Paramedic Chris Ogg. A big issue we have struggled with is the amount of equipment we carry into each scene. The new bags are backpacks and take the place of two former medical bags were would carry in. All of our diagnostics tools, Airway, Intravenous/Interosseous, bleeding control, and other patient care tools are now in one bag. On a cardiac arrest (a priority call), our personnel now only carry the EMS bag, monitor, LUCAS, and Drug box having everything they need for initial patient care. With it being a backpack, it allows the provider a free hand to open doors or keep their balance when climbing stairs or through tight places. This also means less weight on their backs or awkward ergonomics carrying the old heavier and multiple bags.

Community Risk Reduction Division Division Head - Assistant Chief Bill Cooke The Community Risk Reduction Division highlights for the month of September 2019 included the following: Fire Safety Inspections: 40 Follow-up Inspections: 26 Plan Reviews: 15 FOIA Requests: 3 Professional Development (Training Hours): 55 hours Infant Car Seat Installation and Checks: 7 Burn Permits: 8 Public Education Activities Day Care Programs: 2 presentations totaling 54 individuals Senior Program: 6 presentations totaling 144 individuals School Programs: 1 presentation totaling 1,500 individuals American Heart Association CPR: 2 presentations totaling 19 individuals During the month of September, Community Risk Reduction members attended the annual Michigan Fire Inspector’s Fall Conference in Lansing, Michigan. This conference was attended by local and state fire inspectors as well as others interested in the field from surrounding areas. The meeting provides inspectors the opportunity to spend time together and discuss commonalities found in fire and life safety enforcement, learn about new and upcoming trends in fire code enforcement, as well as accumulate continuing education credits for their certifications. Some of this year’s topics included Leadership in the 21st Century, School Safety Lockdown, Fire pumps, Emergency Responder Radio Coverage along with many others. Hundreds of members were in attendance this year. September 23rd was the first day of fall and also recognized as the National Fall Prevention Awareness Day, sponsored by the National Council on Aging. Fire and Life Safety Educator John Lyman spent time during this week meeting with our local senior living complexes to help educate our senior population on preventative methods that can be utilized to help reduce the number of falls taking place. One (1) week of education on this topic is certainly not enough time to address this topic so Fire and Life Safety Educator Lyman not only spent time on this topic this week, but educates our seniors throughout the year. Fire and Life Safety Educator Lyman spent time at six (6) different facilities within our community and spoke with 144 residents about how to prevent falls from taking place. Thank you to Fire and Life Safety Educator Lyman for his commitment in keeping our seniors healthy. Finally, during the month of September, Inspectors completed fire and life safety inspections within our multifamily residential buildings. These inspections are considered high-risk occupancies and are inspected on an annual frequency. Because of the high life safety danger associated with these types of buildings, the Community Risk Reduction Division will continue to make inspections in these facilities a priority and will continue to educate residents and staff members with our message.

Training Bureau Division Head - Captain Larry Gambotto During the month of September 2019, members of the Rochester Hills Fire Department received over 480 hours of Fire and EMS professional development. Year-to-date, members have completed over 5,030 hours of training. This month’s training topics included Vehicle Extrication, Patient handling during vehicle extrication, window bailouts and building familiarization of Cedar Valley Apartments on Rochester Road. Fire Training During this month’s Fire training, members reviewed and practiced vehicle extrication techniques using the department’s extrication equipment. Using Hurst, Jaws of Life - eDRAULIC extrication tools, members spread, cut and removed vehicle parts from around the patient that is entrapment within, as opposed to removing patients from the vehicle. The eDRAULIC line of electric- hydraulic battery-powered tools feature untethered power of hydraulics coupled with the freedom of a no power unit. eDRAULIC extrication tools are smaller, lighter and stronger, making them quicker than ever to the rescue. Special Training Members completed annual bailout training for our Special drill this month. RHFD use Scott Safety’s Air-Pak X3 SCBA with the EZ-Scape Integrated Self-Rescue Belt, which provide members with a secure, reliable means of escape from a multi-story structure. Battalion Training This month crews completed building familiarization and a walk-through of Cedar Valley Luxury Apartments located at 1401 S. Rochester Rd. Members were able to tour the facility with a property manager prior to occupants moving in. This gives members the ability to see layout of apartments and location of utilities prior to emergency response. Tech Rescue Training Eight members of the RHFD traveled to Southfield Fire Department for Rope Operations training. Rope operations is the first of several classes required for technical rescue operations. The members were instructed in safety and equipment setup, learned victim pick-offs and rescues. Members completed their 40-hour training by repelling off a 20-story building. Members will be part of the OAKWAY Technical Rescue Team.

Administration Bureau On September 10, 2019 the Rochester Hills Fire Department was notified by Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) that the department had been awarded a $1.58 million grant to hire eight (8) additional firefighters. The SAFER grant — Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response — will cover 75 percent of the first and second year’s salaries and 35 percent for the third year. This grant is “historical” for the department’s future and will help provide the highest level of service to the citizens and visitors of Rochester Hills. The department plans to hire the personnel and begin a Recruit Academy in January 2020. On September 25, 2019, Chief Canto, Deputy Chief Gary, Assistant Chief Cooke, and Fire and Life Safety Educator Lyman attended the State Fire Marshal’s Community Outreach Program. Keystone Solutions has partnered with the Michigan Fire Inspectors Society (MFIS) for the last two years on the creation and development of a marketing strategy designed to effectively communicate the life-saving messages of fire prevention to the public. These efforts have been the result of the evaluation of fire fatalities and leveraging the tools that each fire department has to implement an online community outreach program in their department through purposeful marketing and social media content. This program was created as marketing efforts have had tangible and impactful results in the community. Through data analysis and strategic messaging, the fire service can be successful in creating increased fire prevention awareness in the community to help reduce the number of residential fire fatalities.