2018 RHFD-Annual-Report2

ROCHESTER HILLS FIRE DEPARTMENT ANNUAL REPORT 2018

Table of Contents Fire Chief’s Message 3 Department Overview 4 Personnel 5 Awards and Recognitions 6 Financials 7 Significant Events 8 Incident Statistics 9-10 Facilities 11 Fire Station Locations 12 Operations 13-16 Emergency Medical Services 17-19 Special Operations 20 Community Risk Reduction 21-22 Training 23-24 Special Projects 25 2

Fire Chief’s Message 2 018 was a banner year for the Rochester Hills Fire This was able to be accomplished Department. within current budget constraints, by decreasing the amount of budgeted As the Chief of Fire and Emergency overtime to minimize the bottom MISSION: The mission of Services, it is my honor to present line financial impact with no increase this summary of our activities for the to the current millage rate. the Rochester Hills Fire year 2018. The men and women of I am grateful to have had the oppor- Department is to protect and this Department responded to a total tunity to experience the support preserve life, property, and of 7,183 calls for service. This is an from City Council and City the environment through a increase of 72 incidents from the Administration, which has allowed highly trained and dedicated previous year. As in previous years, for a significant funding boost for the the majority of the incidents we Rochester Hills Fire Department. I team. encountered were medical would also like to thank all of the emergencies, with 569 of those being members of this unparalleled VISION: The Rochester Lift Assists. The Rochester Hills Fire organization for your dedication and Department remains a leader in the continued commitment to excellence Hills Fire department will highest tradition of the fire service, in service There have been many continue to provide the best including its excellence in delivery of exciting changes and emergency services and emergency medical services. accomplishments in the Rochester community risk reduction The Department continuously seeks Hills Fire Department this year, and through innovative training, opportunities to improve the level of we are proud to share them with you! education, and equipment. service we provide to the citizens of We are committed to Rochester Hills. As we continue into developing all of our the future, our goal is to be a first- resources, both internal and rate organization that prides itself on being proactive, efficient, and external, to their fullest exceptionally effective in our potential, while empowering delivery of services to the citizens each member with the and visitors of our community. The authority needed to effectively city of Rochester Hills was designated with a Class 2 rating by and efficiently perform the the Insurance Services Office duties in which they are (ISO) effective July 1, 2018. This new rating could improve insurance rates entrusted. for its residents and businesses. The City of Rochester Hills is one of only eight (8) cities in Michigan with a Class 2 rating. Only 3% of fire departments (1,482 of MOTTO 43,000) in the Nation are rated a Class 2. In late 2017, the department began another full-time academy Sean Canto ♦ Driven to be the with seven (7 )candidates. These members graduated in Spring of Chief of Fire and Best! 2018, boosting the staff with four (4) Emergency Services new positions, while also filling three (3) vacancies. 3

Department Overview The Rochester Hills Fire Department is a full-service fire department, with the responsibility of responding to and mitigating incidents involving fires, medical emergencies, hazardous materials, and technical rescues. The Department also provides a full range of support and/or administrative services including fire prevention, community risk reduction, fire and life safety education, and professional development just to mention a few. The following organizational chart represents the current structure of the department and budgeted positions. The Department operates five (5) fire stations from which it deploys two (2) engine companies, two (2) truck companies, one (1) quint company, one (1) rescue company, five (5) Advanced Life Support ambulances, and a Battalion Chief. Companies at full staffing are crossed-staffed (responding to first emergencies first) with three (3) personnel consisting of a full-time Lieutenant/Paramedic, a full- time Firefighter/Paramedic, and a part-time Firefighter/EMT (when available). Department personnel responded to approximately 7,200 incidents in 2018 and provided service to approximately 75,000 residents and over 2,600 businesses located in the City of Rochester Hills. In addition, the Department maintains mutual aid agreements with all of its neighboring agencies, in trying to support a boundary drop system that sends the closest most appropriate unit to the emergency. The Department also participates in the Mutual Aid Box Alarm System (MABAS), which facilitates the sharing of municipal fire service resources and ideas to provide members with a trained, equipped, and coordinated response for all hazards and technical operations beyond their local capabilities. Rochester Hills Fire Department Organizational Chart 4

Department Personnel 5

2018 Awards and Recognitions 2018 Awards and Recognitions Firefighter of the Year – Doug Quaine EMS Provider of the Year – Chris Ogg Ben Franklin Leadership Award – Phil Thomas Officer of the Year – Captain Roy “Lee” Mayes Spirit of Volunteerism & Community Award – Phil “Wally” Walbridge Unit Citation – CPR Save •Battalion Chief Rogers Claussen •Captain Tim Matz •Lieutenant Rich Markovitch •Firefighter David Kopko Unit Citation – Pedestrian PI Accident •Battalion Chief Rogers Claussen •Lieutenant Paul Wright •Firefighter Rich Welch •Firefighter Mike Littlefield •Firefighter Paul Terbrack Years of Service 5 Years- Aaron Boryczka, Dave Brown, and Chris Ogg 10 Years- Nick Birchmeier and Mike Reamer 15 Years- Geoff Elliott 20 Years- Rogers Claussen, Jason Murray, Joe Szyszkiewicz, and Paul Wright 25 Years- Mark Neuville 30 Years- Debbie Happy 35 Years- Stephen Tan Retirements William Brnabic- 19 years 6

Financials The primary source of Fire Department funding was established with the adoption of the City Charter in FY 1984 as voters approved 2.5000 mill as a maximum Charter millage rate for the operation of the Fire Department. In 2014, a ballot initiative was approved by the voters to increase the fire charter millage to 3.0000 mill (limited to 2.9158 mill per Headlee Rollback). For FY 2015-2018, Fire millage was levied at 2.7000 mill. The millage rate is held constant at 2.7000 mill for the remainder of the forecast period (FY 2019-2023). In 2018, an additional four (4) Full-Time Firefighter positions were hired through a decrease in budgeted Firefighter overtime and Part-Time Firefighter hours. The Fire Department continues to evaluate its current performance levels to benchmark with target standards. In FY 2019, it is planned to increase the Fire Operating Fund (206) transfer-out to the Fire Capital Fund (402) to set the Fire Operating Fund (206) Balance level at 25% of annual expenditures per the City’s recently adopted Governmental Fund Balance Policy. 7

Significant Events 2018 was another year of growth and innovation for the Rochester Hills Fire Department. Again, the department saw an increase in the number of calls for service. In 2014 the department responded to 6,547 incidents. In 2018 the department responded to 7,183 incidents. In the last three (3) years the incident volume has increased by 636 incidents or almost ten (10) percent. 2018 was notable for a number of reasons: ♦ In November 2017, the department began another Full-Time Firefighter Candidate Academy. Seven (7) candidates entered in the 14-week program which graduated in February 2018. This academy included four (4) new positions, which were funded through a decrease in budgeted Firefighter overtime with minimal impact on the bottom line expenditure budget. ♦ The Department took delivery of a 105 foot Pierce Quint in September 2018. This unit replaced an aging American LaFrance 75 foot Aerial. This apparatus is placed at Station #3 protecting the Avondale area. ♦ The most fire loss occurred in the months of April and December, followed by May. The largest total dollar loss occurred in April with $256,295.00 in damage. Total loss (to include property and contents) for the year was $874,973.00, with a total property value of $50,602,843.00. In relation to the damage and property value, the Rochester Hills Fire Department saved 98 percent of the assessed value. 8

Incident Statistics Incidents by Time of Day- 2018 Incidents by Day of Week- 2018 9

Incident Statistics Historical Data In the last eleven (11) years the Rochester Hills Fire Department's incident volume has continued to grow. From 2007 to 2018, the department has seen an increase of 27 percent. With the steady rise in incident volume, it is conceivable that by 2029, the Rochester Hills Fire Department will be nearing 9,000 incidents annually. Due to the number of 911 (emergent) calls for service increasing, the department stopped providing service for Inter-Facility Non-Emergency Transfers. As the information below depicts our incident volume continues to increase steadily. 10

Facilities STATION STATION ADDRESS The Rochester Hills Fire Department has five (5) active fire stations strategically located 1 1111 Horizon Court throughout its service area. Two (2) stations are 2 1251 East Auburn located in the north area, two (2) stations are 3 2137 West Auburn located in the south area, and the headquarters 4 2723 Walton Blvd fire station is located centrally. 5 251 East Tienken Since 2015 all of the department's facilities, including the Training Tower, have undergone major renovations to accommodate the 24-hour, all-hazards operations of the Rochester Hills Fire Department. Fire Station #4 was completed late 2018. 11

Fire Station Locations 12

Operations 2018 FRONT LINE EQUIPMENT ASSIGNMENTS The Rochester Hills Fire Department’s front- line operation is organized into three shifts Sta on Engine Ladder Other Alpha that operate on a 56 hour work week, overseen by the Deputy Chief of Operations with daily StaƟon 1 Engine 1 Ladder 3 Rescue 1 Alpha 21 operations managed by the on-duty Battalion StaƟon 2 Engine 2 Ladder 4 Tanker 5 Alpha 22 Chief. The department currently operates five StaƟon 3 Alpha 23 (5) fire stations from which it deploys two (2) StaƟon 4 Quint 5 engine companies, two (2) truck companies, StaƟon 5 Alpha 24 one (1) quint company, one (1) rescue Alpha 25 company, and five (5) Advanced Life Support ambulances. The department also has two (2) reserve ambulances, two (2) reserve engine companies and two (2) reserve ladder companies. Companies at full staffing are crossed-staffed (responding to first emergencies first) with three (3) personnel consisting of a full-time Lieutenant/Paramedic, a full-time Firefighter/ Paramedic, and a part-time Firefighter/EMT (when available). These units provide service to approximately 32 square miles and a population of about 75,000. 13

Operations STATION FIRST-IN INCIDENTS PERCENT In 2018, we responded to 7,183 calls for service. JURISDICTION 82% of the calls for service were for Rescue 1,514 21% and Emergency Medical Incidents, followed by Station 1 1,556 21.6% False Alarms and then Good Intent Calls. Our Station 2 2,397 33.3% average response time was 5:50. (This included the Station 3 1,101 15.3% time the call was dispatched to when a Rochester Station 4 508 7% Hills Fire and Emergency Service unit arrived on- scene.) Station 5 * Remaining percentage of incidents equal mutual aid requests 14

Operations Fire Station Response Area City Council Districts Station 5 Station 4 Station 1 Station 2 Station 3 Number of Incidents by Section 15

Operations MUTUAL AID GIVEN GIVEN PERCENT City of Rochester 21 17.7% City of Auburn Hills 58 49.1% 10 8.4% Shelby Township 3 2.5% Washington Township 19 16.1% 2 1.6% Oakland Township 2 1.6% Utica 3 2.5% City of Troy / Alliance Ambulance Other(s) TOTAL MUTUAL AID 118 The Rochester Hills Fire Department, like the MUTUAL AID RECEIVED INCIDENTS PERCENT other fire departments in Oakland County, offer and receive mutual aid upon request. In 2018, 36.4% the Rochester Hills Fire Department responded 39.8% to 118 calls for mutual aid and received mutual 5% aid 118 times. 13.5% An important role of mutual aid is providing 5% additional resources at times when the primary agency is overtaxed. All fire departments rely to some extent on mutual aid from surrounding areas to provide fire-fighting and EMS resources on a routine or disaster basis. Being able to give and receive aid allows and ensures that the City of Rochester Hills, our neighbors and visitors to our great city, are afforded a quick emergent response when the need arises. City of Rochester 43 City of Auburn Hills 47 6 Shelby Township 16 Oakland Township 6 Other (s) MUTUAL AID RECEIVED 118 (Some of the incidents noted above may have required assistance by multiple agencies. Example: Structure Fires) In 2018, the average response time for a Mutual Aid department to arrive on-scene of a structure fire in the City of Rochester Hills was 13 minutes 19 seconds. 16

Emergency Medical Services The Rochester Hills Fire Department has provided paramedic transport services in the City of Rochester Hills since 2001. The Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Division’s goal is to provide the highest level of pre-hospital care to our customers. The Rochester Hills Fire Department participates in shaping pre-hospital care through collaboration with the Oakland County Medical Control Authority, local hospitals, and community organizations. In 2018: ♦ Training continues to improve for all Rochester Hills Fire Department EMS providers with a continuation of using American Heart Association online training, in-house continuing EMS education, seminars at the local hospitals, and training from Oakland County Medical Control Authority (OCMCA) EMS Quality Improvement Program (EQIP). ♦ The number one injury to EMS providers is back injuries. With the department's addition of power stretchers, power load systems on all front-line ambulances, and new stair chairs, we have decreased the number of back injuries or back strains occurring to our personnel. ♦ Implemented Incident Action Plans for several large scale events that were attended by thousands of attendees. (Brooksie Way, Festival of the Hills, Rochester Area Christmas Parade, and Fireworks at the Village of Rochester Hills) ♦ Ascension Providence-Rochester continues to support our EMS division with training, Physician over sight, and feedback on patient outcomes. We continue to look for new ways to improve our service level and patient outcome. 17

Emergency Medical Services 18

Emergency Medical Services * Patients that are transported usually have Return of Spontaneous Circulation 19

Special Operations The Rochester Hills Fire Department is an all- hazards multi-faceted department. In terms of rescue, the scope and severity of hazards facing modern firefighters are far more different than those confronting our predecessors. Ever- expanding natural and man-made disasters ensure that rescue related emergencies will be more frequent. Simply put, people will become trapped in ever-more complex and dangerous predicaments, requiring fire and rescue services to respond. In 2018 the Rochester Hills Fire Department trained in: ♦ Swiftwater Rescue (Joint Class with AHFD) ♦ Ice Rescue ♦ Heavy Lifting Operations ♦ Active Shooter ♦ Machinery Rescue 20

Community Risk Reduction The Community Risk Reduction Division's mission is to improve the lives of City residents by preventing fires and injuries and reducing the impact when an incident does occur. To accomplish its mission, the division performs inspections of businesses and occupancies as mandated by state and local ordinances, as well as provides fire and life safety education in a wide variety of areas. In 2018: ♦ Throughout 2018, our division has been tracking the most common types of fires encountered within our city. Midpoint through the year, we had determined 28% of all types of fires have occurred within apartment complexes and in which 69% of those fires were caused by careless cooking. ♦ A door hanger was designed to provide very important cooking information with cautionary tips as well as pictograms indicating other fire hazards common to multifamily residential uses. Division members completed the door hanger campaign and were able to physically distribute 1,887 hangers and provided an additional 450 to an apartment complex for their distribution. In total, 2,337 multifamily residential units received this information by our staff’s efforts. ♦ The objective of the division is to continuously monitor the current trends and demands that our community requires of us, but also to look forward and anticipate what our community demands may be in the future. ♦ As part of the Rochester Hills Fire Department’s Strategic Plan, division members concentrated on what is best for our community by collecting data and making decisions that will affect current and future division goals and objectives. This process is providing the opportunity for members to direct their efforts on where our priorities should be centered from data we are collecting along with industry standards. 21

Community Risk Reduction DIVISION STATISTICS 22

Training The Training Division promotes the improvement of public service through the facilitation of ongoing drills and exercises that reflect the real-life experiences encountered in the field by firefighting crews. The Department’s training mission is to ensure all personnel are able to safely and effectively perform the critical tasks required of their position and rank. With this goal, the annual training program is designed to meet professional standards, satisfy state and federal mandates, and provide a broad range of education and skill development. •Training hours in 2018 were 12,102. 2018 training highlights included: •An online virtual classroom was established allowing crews to stay in quarters for didactic training. •Apparatus Driver/Operator training completed for Ladder 3. Representative from Pierce Manufacturing provided on-site operations training for members on new apparatus. •Collaboration with Oakland County Sherriff’s Office and Auburn Hills Police Department for Active Assailant Incidents. Members worked with law enforcement officers for Rescue Task Force training. Members of the department also attended the Michigan Active Assailant Conference. 23

RecruitTraining Firefighter Recruit is a classification for entry level members assigned to the Rochester Hills Fire Department Candidate Academy. Members attended a 14-week program consisting of firefighting methods, emergency medical services, prevention practices, salvage operations, public relations, physical fitness and associated topics to prepare for becoming a probationary firefighter. This year, the department graduated seven (7) new Firefighter/Paramedic Probationary members. Firefighter recruit training builds the foundation of the fire department and sets the stage for everything that will happen during an individual Firefighter’s career. The backdrop for any successful recruit training program is a consistent training philosophy along with a specific set of policies and procedures that emphasize safety and proficiency while contributing to a positive organizational culture. Upon completion of recruit training, Firefighter Candidates become Probationary Firefighters and assigned to the field. Under the supervision of a company officer, Probationary Firefighters are assigned to a Station where they will apply their skills and training, participate in company training and be evaluated on their performance. While all the candidates hired had some level of previous training and experience, this program allows the candidates to become familiar with the operations and equipment of the Rochester Hills Fire Department. This also allows the department the opportunity to see if the candidate is a \"Good Fit\" for the department. 24

Special Projects Special Projects is part of the Fire Department Administration and is responsible for organizing and managing a broad assortment of department and citywide initiatives, projects and programs with high visibility and critical to the department as determined by the Chief of Fire and Emergency Services. In 2018: ♦ The city of Rochester Hills was designated with a Class 2 rating by the Insurance Services Office (ISO) effective July 1, 2018. This new rating could improve insurance rates for its residents and businesses. The City of Rochester Hills is one of only eight (8) cities in Michigan with a Class 2 rating. • Only 3% of fire departments (1,482 of 43,000) in the Nation are rated a Class 2. This level of achievement is only possible through the City’s commitment to continuous improvement in fire response and community risk reduction coupled with strong collaborative relationships with the City’s Department of Public Services and the Oakland County Sheriff’s Department Emergency Communications. ♦ Completion of Fire Station 4 construction/renovation project on-time and under budget. ♦ Completed and delivered Strategic Plan to City Administration and City Council in December 2018 • The Rochester Hills Fire Department Strategic Plan 2019 - 2029 will represent the first time the Department has formally outlined its mission and vision in an effort to create a more optimal organization. This plan was developed to ensure the Rochester Hills Fire Department remains a leader in public safety and to address the future needs of the organization. 25

For more information about the Rochester Hills Fire Department, please call (248) 656-4720 or visit our web site at: http://rochesterhills.org/index.aspx?nid=69