March 2020

City of Rochester Hills Fire and Emergency Services Monthly Report for March 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 March 2020: 583 (Approximately 34% of these incidents occurred in Senior Congregate Housing / Skilled Nursing Facilities) Total number of mutual aid coverage / requests: 4- No Rochester Hills Fire Department units were available during these times. Total Incidents Year-to-Date: 1,733 Year-to-Date comparison 2019 to 2020: 1,890 (2019) 1,733 (2020)

Operations Bureau Deputy Chief - Todd Gary Shift Commanders - Bat. Chief Jason Murray, Bat. Chief Rogers Claussen, Bat. Chief Jerry Yurgo Members responded to 89 calls for service. The Department responded to three (3) incidents that resulted in $13,270.00 in damages. On March 11, 2020, the Rochester Hills Fire Department was dispatched to assist the Waterford Regional Fire Department at the 1000 block of Barkell Avenue in the City of Pontiac for a fire in a vacant school. Rochester Hills Tower Ladder 4 and Battalion 1 responded as part of the 2 Alarm. Tower nd Ladder 4 set-up for defensive operations, however the fire was placed under control a short time later and Rochester Hills units were released. No firefighters or civilian injuries were reported.

On March 31, 2020, the Rochester Hills Fire Department was dispatched to the 5100 block of Eagle Lake Drive in Waterford Township for a report of several homes on fire. Rochester Hills Tower Ladder 4, Engine 2, and Battalion 1 responded on the 2 Alarm. Tower Ladder 4 was initially assigned as the Rapid nd Intervention Team (RIT), but was then reassigned to suppression in the basement of one (1) of the homes. Crews were unable to make progress in the basement due to conditions, as the crew began to back out two (2) members fell through the first floor back into the basement. A “Mayday” was called and other companies began rescue operations. A ladder was placed in the hole and both members were rescued relatively quickly. One (1) member was transported to the hospital as a precaution. The fires were possibly caused by a downed power wire, but is still under investigation. No civilian injuries were reported. Emergency Medical Services Division Division Head - Captain Tim Matz The month of March was unprecedented. On March 13, 2020, the President of the United States declared the COVID-19 pandemic a national emergency. This virus can cause mild to severe respiratory illness. Currently, there is an effort to better understand the disease transmissibility, infectivity, and severity associated with this pandemic. Regardless of specific exposure risks, it is always a good practice to:  Frequently wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. When soap and running water are unavailable, use an alcohol-based hand rub with at least 60% alcohol. Always wash hands that are visibly soiled.  Avoid touching your eyes, nose, or mouth with unwashed hands.

 Practice good respiratory etiquette, including covering coughs and sneezes.  Avoid close contact with people who are sick.  Stay home if sick.  Recognize personal risk factors. According to U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), certain people, including older adults and those with underlying conditions such as heart or lung disease or diabetes, are at higher risk for developing more serious complications from COVID- 19.



Statistics Total Number of EMS Reports for the month: 496 Total number of Cardiac arrests: 11, the age range for those patients is between 41 and 98 years old. Two (2) patients were transported to a local hospital for further care. This month the Rochester Hills Fire Department found out that it had been chosen for a program through the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. The program, known as Emergency Triage, Treatment, and Transport (ET3) is a voluntary, five-year payment model that will provide greater flexibility to ambulance care teams to address emergency health care needs of Medicare beneficiaries following a 911 call. Under the ET3 model, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) will pay participating ambulance suppliers and providers to: 1) Transport an individual to a hospital emergency department (ED) or other destination covered under the regulations, 2) Transport to an alternative destination (such as a primary care doctor’s office or an urgent care clinic, and

3) Provide treatment in place with a qualified health care practitioner, either on the scene or connected using telehealth. This program was to start at the beginning of May but due to the COVID pandemic it has been postponed until November. This program will be an additional way for the department to receive funding. Community Risk Reduction Division Division Head - Assistant Chief Bill Cooke With businesses, schools and other places being closed, the Community Risk Reduction Division has not been performing inspections or other activities. However, the members of this Division have been placed in Logistical or Operations roles during this pandemic. Thank you to these members for quickly modifying and adjusting to their new roles. Training Bureau Division Head - Captain Larry Gambotto During the month of March 2020, members of the Rochester Hills Fire Department received nearly 1,780 hours of Fire and EMS professional development. Year-to-date, members have completed over 2,700 hours of training. This month’s topics included the Search and Rescue, Trauma Patients and Assessments. Once the COVID-19 pandemic went into full effect, training was restricted to online. Members completed online Mental Health and Wellness for Firefighers via Fire Rescue 1 Academy. Several podcasts from Oakland County Medical Control Authority were listened to and new protocols were reviewed. Fire Training During this month’s Fire training, members practiced Search and Rescue for fire victims, which was conducted by Lt. Richard Markovitch and Firefighter David Kopko after they attended a training called “Putting THEM First” presented by Cody Trestrail and Dustin Martinez. The class description states, “Firefighters have been attacking fires from the interior for at least 200 years. The reason? It puts you in the best position to apply water directly to the seat of the fire and it puts you in position to occupy the areas of the structure where victims are found”. This class focused on the second half of that reasoning. We use experience, data (from actual documented rescues), fire behavior and building construction / layout knowledge to prepare ourselves to put THEM first. Markovitch and Kopko brought the information learned back to the RHFD and shared it with our members. Special Training This month’s special training was online at Fire Rescue 1 Academy, Mental Health and Wellness for Firefighters. Fire Academy #004 Fire Academy #004 had a busy month of March. Training continued as scheduled for the Recruits as their training is essential to the services provided by the RHFD. Topics included ACLS, BLS, and PALS; Community Risk Reduction instructed class on extinguishers, Fire Detection Systems, FF Right to Know, Public Education, Fire Behavior, Cause and Origin, and Building Construction. Recruits were fit tested and learned about their SCBA. They completed third-story window bails with integrated escape systems integrated in SCBA packs. Power tools and Ropes/knots. Recruits learned FF survival, self-rescue, and

Rapid Intervention Teams, as well as learned and practiced forcible entry techniques. They received Emergency Vehicle Driver Training and completed a competency course, reviewed ventilation and the different applications, and finished the month with portable ground ladders. The Fire Academy is taught by several members of the department, each of whom have special interests in different topics and share their interest with the recruits.

Administration Bureau The month of March has been extremely busy for Rochester Hills Fire Department members. As the CoronaVirus pandemic worsened, the Oakland County Emergency Operations Center was opened. The county was split into five (5) Divisions, with the Rochester Hills Fire Department in Division 2 with eight (8) other neighboring departments. Members of the Rochester Hills Command Staff were initially assigned as the Division 2 Manager as well as Countywide Operations reporting directly to the Oakland County Emergency Operations Center. Rochester Hills Fire Department Station 1 is also the main logistical point for supplies distribution. Supplies are being delivered to Station 1 by Michigan Task Force 1, and then members redistributed to the other eight (8) communities. The Rochester Hills Emergency Operation Center is still open during business hours on the weekdays.