January 2020

City of Rochester Hills Fire and Emergency Services Monthly Report for January 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 January 2020: 596 Total Incidents Year-to-Date: 596 Year-to-Date comparison 2019 to 2020: 657 (2019) 596 (2020)

Operations Bureau Deputy Chief - Todd Gary Shift Commanders - Bat. Chief Jason Murray, Bat. Chief Rogers Claussen, Bat. Chief Jerry Yurgo Fire Suppression Division Members responded to 79 calls for service. For the month of January the fire loss was below $100.00. On January 22, 2020, the Rochester Hills Fire Department was dispatched to the 3100 block of South Rochester Road for a reported commercial structure fire. Rochester Hills Fire Engine 2 arrived on-scene and reported a cardboard bailer with a small fire inside the compactor. Battalion 1 cancelled the “Box Alarm” and continued Engine 4 and Tower Ladder 4. The fire was deep seated within the compacted cardboard, requiring extensive overhaul. Crews also had to perform ventilation of the stock area. Upon further investigation, it was discovered that a lithium battery was crushed inside the compactor and located at the point of origin of the fire. No firefighters or civilians were injured.

Emergency Medical Services Division Division Head - Captain Tim Matz Statistics Total Number of EMS Reports for the month: 517 Total number of Cardiac Arrests: 11, the ages of these patients ranged from 60 to 95. Four (4) of the cases were transported to the local Cardiac Care Hospitals for further care. For the month of January EMS training was focused on pediatric patients. As part of the requirement for EMS providers for license renewal, each EMS provider needs to complete four hours in several pediatric credit courses including: Pediatric Airway, Pediatric Assessment, Pediatric Medical emergencies, and

Pediatric Trauma emergencies. These four courses are covered within the American Heart Association’s Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS) course that we put all department Paramedics through. This is a hybrid course spent on-line and in the EMS lab showing skills. The on-line portion includes videos and lecture on Pediatric patients and how they present, then each provider gets several case studies that they must treat on-line using their knowledge. Once the on-line portion is finished, all providers must complete two practical scenarios on our two pediatric manikins. The skills that are tested at these scenarios include: Patient Assessment, Airway Maintenance, Electrical therapy, Pediatric medication dosing, IV/IO therapy, pediatric cardiac care, and Post cardiac arrest care. We also had a week of pediatric medication dosing focusing on the MI-MEDIC resource card. This included diluting and reducing medication for the different ages and weights of pediatric patients. We began the extensive process of purchasing two new ambulances to replace two aging units. We had our sales representative from our ambulance provider come out with a sample of the unit we are looking to purchase. We are working hand-in-hand with the Garage mechanical staff so that we get ambulances that not only work well, but will be easy to repair when needed. As we move forward to obtain a quote we are working to make sure these units will be tough and dependable for the hard work we continue to do in the EMS Division. We have increased the number of EMS students being sent here from local community colleges and trade schools for their clinical rotations. Presently, both Dorsey schools and Oakland Community College are sending their students for exposure to the EMS field and clinical skill training. This is beneficial for the city because it shows that Rochester Hills Fire Department is putting out good education and training for those starting their careers in the EMS field. As we continue to educate those students, we have had yet another school request us for the clinical education. Community Risk Reduction Division Division Head - Assistant Chief Bill Cooke The Community Risk Reduction Division highlights for the month of January 2020 included the following: Fire Safety Inspections: 40 Follow-up Inspections: 35 Plan Reviews: 5 FOIA Requests: 4 Professional Development (Training Hours): 8 hours Infant Car Seat Installation and Checks: 11 Subpoenas: 2 Public Education Activities School Programs: twenty-seven (27) presentations totaling 798 individuals Daycare Programs: one (1) presentation totaling 23 individuals Senior Programs: three (3) presentations totaling 95 individuals Camps/Scouts Programs: one (1) presentation totaling 12 individuals Smoke Alarm Installs/Programs: fourteen (14)

During the first month of the year, members of the Community Risk Reduction Division conducted fire and life safety inspections at many different types of occupancies within our City. This month is the first on record utilizing the new inspection frequency that has recently been adopted into the Fire Prevention Ordinance. Inspections took place in high hazard occupancies such as restaurants and site-specific locations, as well as low risk occupancies such as small retail locations. Inspections are now taking place in multiple use groups simultaneously, which is very different from how they have been conducted in the past, which will provide a more consistent delivery throughout our community. The Community Risk Reduction Division would like to welcome Lieutenant/Paramedic Walter Murphy to the Fire Marshal’s Office. Lieutenant/Paramedic Murphy has been with our organization for over 20 years as a fire fighter / paramedic. Lieutenant/Paramedic Murphy has an extensive background in building construction that will help in the day-to-day operations in continuing to provide safety and knowledge to citizens and business owners in Rochester Hills. Lieutenant/Paramedic Murphy is our first new inspector’s position to be filled since the new inspection frequency has been adopted into the Fire Prevention Ordinance. Congratulations to Lieutenant/Inspector Murphy and best of luck to him as he will be a significant asset to the Division! Also in the month of January, the Community Risk Reduction Division completed providing educational programs to our Kindergarten, 1st and 2nd grade elementary school children in Rochester and Avondale schools. Last month we conducted 27 programs at five (5) different schools, reaching out to more than 800 children! These programs are to help the children in many different emergency situations such as calling 911, understanding the importance of having two ways out of your home with a meeting place, the importance of smoke alarms, and how to “stop, drop and roll”. Each student is provided with a homework assignment to bring back to their parents so the message of fire prevention is shared with their guardians. Hats off to Fire and Life Safety Educator John Lyman for his efforts and for providing these critical services in our community!! Training Bureau Division Head - Captain Larry Gambotto During the month of January 2020, members of the Rochester Hills Fire Department received 272 hours of Fire and EMS professional development. Year-to-date, members have completed 272 hours of training. This month’s topics included Radio Communications, Pediatric Medication Dosing, Personal Protective Equipment Inspections/Decontamination, and Battalion Training Fire Training During this month’s Fire Training, members were instructed on proper 2-way radio communications and practiced radio communications while wearing SCBA. The U.S. Fire Administration state, “The life safety of firefighters and citizens depends on reliable, functional communication tools that work in the harshest and most hostile of environments. All firefighters operate in extreme environments that are markedly different from those of any other radio users. The radio is the lifeline that connects the firefighters to command and outside assistance when in the most desperate of situations. To operate safely in these dynamic environments, it is imperative that firefighters have the ability to immediately communicate information accurately.”

Special Training This month’s special training was delivered by Lieutenant/Paramedic Todd Beckett, who oversees our Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) program. NFPA 1851 is a standard for the selection, maintenance, inspection and retirement of firefighting personal protective clothing, including coats, pants, helmets, gloves, hoods and boots. The standard provides detailed guidance for how to inspect gear for obvious things like rips, tears and broken fasteners, but also for less apparent damage, such as loss of radiant reflectivity or delamination of turnout liners. The standard also states that “elements shall be evaluated by the wearer for application of appropriate cleaning level after each use.” Battalion Training The Battalion Chiefs’ drills included Search and Rescue, Rope Rescues, and Minimum Standards. Administration Bureau Fire Department Administration has been working with the Human Resources Department to continue the hiring process. The department currently has five (5) vacancies as well as the new eight (8) SAFER Grant positions. The department is planning to start the recruit academy on February 24, 2020.