2020 Annual_v2 (1)

Rochester Hills Fire Department Annual Report 2020

TABLE OF CONTENTS 3 Message from the Chief 4-5 Command and Chief''s Staff 6-7 Agency Information 8 Goals and Changes 9-12 Statistics 12-13 Training 14-15 Special Operations and Mutual Aid 15-19 Community Risk Reduction 20-21 Photos and Videos 0f 2020 22 Department Roster 23-25 COVID 19 26-27 Frequently Asked Questions 28 How to become a Firefighter

MESSAGE FROM THE CHIEF It is my pleasure to share the Rochester Hills Fire Department 2020 Annual Report with you. This year has been an incredible year of growth for the RHFD, and while this report captures data and several accomplishments, there is so much more to celebrate and much more planned. While the substance in the Annual Report focuses on details and data from the Fire Department’s programs, projects, and performance, it is the people we serve and those that serve them that are at the heart of our mission, as we are Driven to be the Best. I could not be more proud to serve the City of Rochester Hills and to lead this incredible team of dedicated men and women. As we reflect on the accomplishments of 2020, no doubt we are focused on what is yet to come for the RHFD and the incredible community we serve. Again, thank you for your encouragement and support for the RHFD. 3

R o c h e s t e r H i l l s F i r e D e p a r t m e n t E x e c u t i v e S t a f f Chief of Fire and Emergency Services Sean Canto Deputy Chief Assistant Chief Administrative Todd Gary William Cooke Coordinator Deborah Happy 4

R o c h e s t e r H i l l s F i r e D e p a r t m e n t C h i e f ' s S t a f f Battalion Chief Battalion Chief Battalion Chief Rogers Claussen Jason Murray Jerry Yurgo Training, Health and Safety Emergency Medical Services Assistant Fire Marshal Captain Larry Gambotto Captain Timothy Matz Captain Lee Mayes 5

AGENCY OVERVIEW MISSION The Rochester Hills Fire Department (RHFD)) The mission of the Rochester Hills Fire has existed as a fire protection agency within the Department is to protect and preserve life, State of Michigan since 1984. The fire department property, and the environment through a highly is a unit of the City of Rochester Hills general trained and dedicated team. government. The City of Rochester Hills is the 15th largest city in the State of Michigan, located in Oakland County, and has a Insurance Services VISION Office rating of two (2). The Rochester Hills Fire Department will The Rochester Hills Fire Department’s service continue to provide the best emergency services area is approximately 33 square miles and consists and community risk reduction through of a mix of suburban, light industrial, and innovative training, education, and equipment. commercial areas. The primary services provided We are committed to developing all of our by the Rochester Hills Fire Department include: resources, both internal and external, to their fullest potential, while empowering each member with the authority needed to effectively • Fire Suppression and efficiently perform the duties in which we • Advanced Life Support ALS)Transport are entrusted. Emergency Medical Services • Community Risk Reduction (Inspection, Fire Prevention, Fire and Life Safety Education) • Hazardous Materials Response • Technical Rescue ! â 6

Rochester Hills Fire Department 2020 Annual Report Special Revenue Funds- 206 Fire Department Fund 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 2.8942 mill per Headlee Rollback). For Fiscal year 2015-2019, the 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 2020-2024). Per the City’s adopted Governmental Fund Balance Policy, the City shall maintain the Fire Department Fund Balance at 20-25 percent of annual operating expenditures, any funding above this level shall be transferred out to the Fire Capital Fund to fund Fire Department Capital Improvement projects. 7

CHANGES AND GOALS EQUIPMENT Annually, we review our equipment to ensure it meets our needs and those of our community. Took delivery of two (2) Pierce Enforcer 2000 GPM Pumpers Installed Heart-Smart Alerting Systems Bryx)at all five (5))stations Developed specifications for new thermal imaging cameras to be assigned to each member on-duty with a projected Spring of 2021 delivery GOALS Our department continually strives to be better in everything we do. Setting goals that are challenging, yet achievable is important to ensure our success. • Increased Community Risk Reduction efforts with more education, inspections, and prevention programs • Implemented Emergency Triage, Treat, and Transport (ET3) program • Implementation of electronic scheduling system • Additional staffing implemented June 2020 8

STATISTICS CALLS FOR SERVICE It was a busy year with 6,881 calls for service among Fire and EMS. Of those, 5,701 (83%) were medical and 1,180 (17%) were fire/other incidents. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic the department saw a decrease of approximately 600 calls from the previous year. In 2020 the department responded to 620 COVID-19 related incidents. The department continues to track on a more accurate basis the number of “Concurrent Incidents” that are happening within the City. Out of the 6,881 incidents that occurred in 2020, 3437 times (49 percent) additional incidents were taking place at the same time. 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. FIRES 36 structure fires, with an estimated loss totaling $7,769,150 16 vehicle fires, with a loss total of $194,7544 The total estimated fire loss in 2020 was $7,999,962 9

CALLS BY DAY OF THE WEEKK TIME OF DAY FOR CALLS EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES The Rochester Hills Fire Department, like many, had a very challenging year in 2020. The EMS division was truly tested due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Along with the many medical and traumatic calls we responded to, the added challenges from Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) shortages on a national scale, to policy and treatment options, our crews responded incredibly. To help improve the care our EMS crews provided we began a Quality Assurance/Quality Improvement (QA/QI) committee. This group of experienced EMS providers reviewed electronic Patient Care Reports (ePCR) and gave helpful suggestions to improve our documentation of patient care. We hired new employees and trained them to the high standard of care that is expected of our members. This did not just include their time in the Recruit Academy, but also right into the field where they were guided by many excellent providers. 10

The COVID pandemic brought many challenges to the City. Together, with many city departments, we were able to face challenges like securing PPE, keep needed equipment operational, and protect the members of the department at work. We renewed many relationships at our Senior Living and Nursing Care facilities to stay in the loop with their challenges. The CDC, State of Michigan, and Oakland County Medical Control Authority helped us to continue in-patient care as well as provide information to protect our citizens and EMS providers. Many of our local hospitals we transported patients to had their own obstacles, which we faced together. Keeping our citizens and providers safe was our number one priority. Advances in cleaning our ambulances and equipment during the Pandemic were achieved with the purchase of specialized sanitation equipment installed in our EMS units. The main purpose of the EMS Division is medical response, treat, and transport for the City. During 2020, we definitely experienced many adjustments to the way we operated. As the Pandemic became more prevalent we began to see a decrease in certain calls types. People began to question whether they wanted to go to the hospital for certain issues, and our EMS crews had to remain vigilant as some people would not want to be transported to a hospital, even though having significant signs and symptoms. Many of the local hospitals modified their operations, which affected how we operated as well. The hospitals provided us with notification if a patient we transported was COVID positive, which we would relay to the personnel involved. There was a slight decrease in the number of EMS responses, but the crews responded and treated many patients for a multitude of medical issues. The newly developed QA/QI committee was created to improve patient care through retroactively reviewing our Electronic Patient Care Reports (ePCR’s). The EMS Coordinator, Department Assistant (EMS), and three Lieutenants began this committee work. The ePCR’s were reviewed for anything that could cause delays or issues with our billing company. The Lieutenants reviewed clinical information to present feedback to the EMS providers for improved documentation as well as patient care. The EMS Coordinator evaluated notes and recommendations made by the reviewer and responses from EMS providers, and training programs were assembled in coordination with the education committee. Due to the Pandemic, training became critical and we had the added challenge of not being able to conduct training in-person. We opted for a mix of online educational training programs and Zoom classroom courses. The advantage with online education programs is receiving the most up-to-date information, especially on issues like the Pandemic. With distance learning, we can coordinate with the out stations and keep units in-service in their area for quicker response. 11

PATIENT DESTINATIONS TRAINING DIVISION 2020 finished strong for RHFD's Training Division. In addition to working towards meeting our hourly requirements for the Insurance Services Office (ISO), Emergency Medical Training, and MIOSHA Part 74, we worked to create a more quality focused training content. RHFD members completed over 11,570 hours of training. New methods of training had to be discovered and utilized including Google Meet and Zoom meetings along with online drills. The department's online training platform, Fire Rescue 1 Academy, played a bigger role in delivering drills, accounting for 2,085 hours of training. 2020 was a unique year for the Training Division, but the COVID-19 Pandemic could not stop two fire academies from being conducted in 2020. Fire Academy #004, eight recruits graduated on June 8, 2020 and Fire Academy #005, five recruits graduated on October 19, 2020. 12

TRAINING HOURS Training is an integral part of our job and we take great pride to ensure we are the best each and every time we go out on a call for service. Teamwork is also an important aspect. Every member of our department works well together - they know it takes a team to do this job effectively to ensure the safety of our community. The information below includes the amount of time members spent on training in 2020. 13

SPECIAL OPERATIONS As a highly specialized type of emergency response capability, program technicians are primarily responsible for the provision of technical rescue, such as auto accidents requiring vehicle extrication, building collapses, confined space rescue, high and low angle rescue, rope rescues, and swiftwater rescues. Rochester Hills Rescue 1 carries an array of special equipment to handle these type of incidents. In 2020 the department saw an increase in Water Rescue related incidents. Also, several members from the Rochester Hills Fire Department responded to Midland, Michigan during the catastrophic flooding. Technical Rescue services are provided through a mutual aid program by the OakWay Mutual Aid Association (MABAS 3202). This allows this group to offer specialized services to all communities within the OakWay group without having each department responsible to burden all Technical Rescue services, personnel, and equipment. In addition to being certified as Firefighters and licensed Emergency Medical Technicians and Paramedics, team members are also trained and certified in numerous Technical Rescue job-specific skills to include: • Swift/High Water Rescue • Confined Space Rescue • Trench/Excavation Rescue • Advanced Vehicle Extrication • Structural Collapse Rescue • Elevator Rescue • High Angle Rescue • Industrial Accidents 14

MUTUAL AID PARTNERS The Rochester Hills Fire Department, like the other fire departments in Oakland County, offer and receive mutual aid upon request. In 2020, the Rochester Hills Fire Department responded to 114 calls for mutual aid and received mutual aid 69 times. An important role of mutual aid is providing 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. COMMUNITY RISK REDUCTION In cooperation with the City of Rochester Hills Building Department, the Fire Department provides fire and life safety code enforcement services. The focus is to ensure new and existing structures provide a reasonable level of fire safety for those who work, live and play in our community. While incorporating the best practices of risk reduction, our staff members work diligently to prevent significant events from happening in our community in addition to educating our community on how to respond in case of an emergency. 15

CODE ENFORCEMENT Fire code enforcement looked different in calendar year 2020. Challenged with the COVID-19 pandemic, staff had to adjust their inspection schedule to not only meet the needs of the business community, but to provide a safe environment for their staff members and visitors of their facilities. Goals early in the year were to inspect one third of our businesses, but this schedule was re-evaluated and our Inspector’s focus was only on high risk facilities. Staff was faced with a new request of outdoor dining to accommodate restaurants throughout the city. Outdoor seating was not a new concept in Rochester Hills, but as the weather changed to fall, new requests to enclose existing outdoor seating areas with tents and heat for visitor’s comfort created new challenges that were not addressed in local ordinances, fire as well as building codes. Our staff worked diligently with other city departments to provide guidance to businesses on how to safely enclose and heat their outdoor areas. All of these efforts were driven by the common theme of doing our best to help out with our struggling businesses. 16

COMMUNITY RISK REDUCTION Monthly Re1>ort - 2020 CATEGORY JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC 2020 YTD Fire Safety lnspeetlons 40 34 1 11 23 51 104 159 143 107 28 28 729 Follow·Up Inspections 35 22 24 0 3 29 44 68 70 54 54 60 463 FOIA 4 3 1 1 2 2 3 3 8 6 7 6 46 Subpoenas 0 1 0 0 1 0 3 0 0 0 1 3 9 CFIRS 0 0 0 1 1 1 1 1 4 4 4 4 21 Burn Permits 12 7 17 11 30 36 8 5 12 3 2 0 143 Parkina Citations 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 1 Appearance Citations 6 0 1 0 1 2 1 6 3 3 0 8 31 Notices of Violation 3 0 0 0 0 1 5 5 2 1 7 1 25 Plan Reviews 5 10 3 5 6 10 10 6 8 10 8 8 89 Training Hours 8 119 60.5 43 53 0 36 57.3 89 68.5 116 68.5 718.75 S<hools 27 4 9 7 7 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 56 •••#of people 798 148 309 130 217 0 0 0 42 10 0 0 1654 with Smoke House 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 •••# of people 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Day Cares (Pre-K) 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 •••# of people 23 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 23 Station Tours 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 1 2 0 1 6 •••#of people 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 40 8 7 0 3 60 with Smoke House 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 ···# of people 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Seniors 3 2 0 0 2 0 0 0 2 1 0 0 10 •••#of people 95 53 0 0 49 0 0 0 45 18 0 0 260 Community Sus. Pgms. 0 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 4 0 0 6 •••# of people 0 0 25 0 0 25 0 0 0 323 0 0 373 American Hean CPR 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 6 0 0 8 •••#of people 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 15 28 0 0 43 Home Inspections 0 0 0 0 0 1 2 3 0 5 0 3 14 Juv.!nlle flresetter,; 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Smoke Alarm Pgm. 14 8 0 0 0 8 12 8 3 7 11 11 82 Camps, Scouts 1 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 .. ·#of people 12 15 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 27 Career Day/Health Fair 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 •••#of people 76 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 76 Car Seat Check 11 6 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 4 2 0 26 fire Extinguisher Oass 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 1 0 0 3 •••#of people 0 0 0 0 0 0 15 13 0 7 0 0 35 Other Event 1 0 1 57 60 30 7 3 3 5 0 5 172 •••#of people 17 0 250 651 586 287 296 22 156 200 0 25 2490 CERTOass 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 17

PUBLIC EDUCATION Fire and Life Safety Education could not have been any more important in the calendar year 2020 as the stay at home order was in effect. As schools, businesses and senior living complexes were closed to the regular public educational visits during to the COVID-19 pandemic, Fire and Life Safety Educator John Lyman had to change direction and provide new and innovative methods of educating our public without having the ability to visit them in person. Here are a few of the many highlights of how this year’s public education events were conducted. Celebrating birthday’s this year was a challenge for family and friends across the world. An early request from the public in our city involved our staff visiting the homes of celebrants with a fire truck. The majority of these requests were for children, of course, but a few of important drive by events were for special residents turning 90 years old. In June we added graduation drive by events to that list. We had nearly 150 requests for these visits and were happy to support all of them. This was a very endearing project considering the COVID-19 situation and stay at home orders. It brought a lot of joy through smiling faces on children and adults. Below is a Facebook post with Fire and Life Safety Educator Lyman and Ladder 2 at a birthday drive by. 18

There was a totally different look to the 2020 Fire Prevention Week from what we have been accustomed to. Without our annual open house, school visits, senior programs and business programs, staff had to change their direction and did that with an impact. A local State Farm agent donated supplies for 150 people for Fire Prevention Week through the NFPA. Those packages were placed in the lobby at Headquarters for residents to grab and go. They were completely gone by the end of the week. Click to play Video The Fire Department created 6 videos with RHTV in preparation for Fire Prevention Week with a new topic airing each day of the week. From there, Lt. Echols spearheaded the making of 27 videos using the ABC for Little Firefighters Book. Those were uploaded onto Facebook during the month of October and were a tremendous success. We saw over 30,000 views for those videos during October, and gave away an ABC book per day to a lucky viewer. Additionally, we worked with Jason Dale at RHTV and the Mayor’s office to create billboard messaging for the LED billboards on M-59 freeway. All new and creative ways of providing the message of fire and life safety to our community. 19

PHOTOS OF 2020 20

VIDEOS OF 2020 21

2020 Rochester Hills Fire Department ADMINISTRATION Chief of Fire and Emergency Services Sean Canto Deputy Chief Todd Gary Administrative Coordinator Deborah Happy Departmental Assistant (Administration and EMS) Anne Ferner COMMUNITY RISK REDUCTION DIVISION Assistant Chief / Fire Marshal William Cooke Captain / Assistant Fire Marshal Lee Mayes Lieutenant / Fire Inspector Ann Echols Lieutenant / Fire Inspector Jon Mills Lieutenant / Fire Inspector Walter Murphy Lieutenant / Fire Inspector Josh Boyce Fire and Life Safety Educator John Lyman Departmental Assistant (Community Risk Reduction) Angie Jones TRAINING DIVISION Captain Larry Gambotto EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES Captain Tim Matz COMMUNICATIONS DIVISION Supervisor of Communication Systems Vince Foisy FIRE DEPARTMENT CHAPLAIN Deacon John Wright FIRE AND EMERGENCY SERVICES PERSONNEL Battalion Chief Rogers Claussen Firefighter/Paramedic Donovan Ballerini Firefighter/Paramedic Pat McKay Battalion Chief Jason Murray Firefighter/Paramedic Aaron Boryczka Firefighter/EMT Mark McLocklin Battalion Chief Jerry Yurgo Firefighter/Paramedic David Brace Firefighter/Paramedic Branden Milbreath Lieutenant/Paramedic Todd Beckett Firefighter/Paramedic Ryan Collins Firefighter/Paramedic Mark Neuville Lieutenant/Paramedic Nick Birchmeier Firefighter/Paramedic Joe Coldwell Firefighter/Paramedic Micah Nichols Lieutenant/Paramedic Justin Boks Firefighter/Paramedic Dan Cooper Firefighter/Paramedic Chris Ogg Lieutenant/Paramedic David Kopko Firefighter/Paramedic Erik Derringer Firefighter/EMT Chris Oosterveen Lieutenant/Paramedic Chris Kraft Firefighter/EMT Ross Drouillard Firefighter/EMT Kevin Palaian Lieutenant/Paramedic Nick Laking Firefighter/Paramedic Derek Gardner Firefighter/EMT Doug Quaine Lieutenant/Paramedic Sonny Lyon Firefighter/Paramedic Brendan Garwood Firefighter/Paramedic John Roncelli Lieutenant/Paramedic Eric Maher Firefighter/EMT Michael Hill Firefighter/EMT Steve Sebert Lieutenant/Paramedic Rich Markovitch Firefighter/EMT Blake Hinman Firefighter/Paramedic Bill Semioli Lieutenant/Paramedic Andrew Matz Firefighter/Paramedic Stephen Jelsch Firefighter/Paramedic Brendt Stanich Lieutenant/Paramedic Loren Mitchell Firefighter/Paramedic Mike Littlefield Firefighter/Paramedic Chris Szadyr Lieutenant/Paramedic Mike Reamer Firefighter/EMT Jake Louden Firefighter/Paramedic Paul Terbrack Lieutenant/Paramedic Joe Szyszkiewicz Firefighter/EMT Drake Lundquist Firefighter/Paramedic Phil Thomas Lieutenant/Paramedic Rich Welch Firefighter/Paramedic Sean Mangan Firefighter/EMT Ron Watson Lieutenant/Paramedic Paul Wright Firefighter/Paramedic Justin Marchand Firefighter/Paramedic Mitch Wither Firefighter/EMT Sean Adams Firefighter/Paramedic Cody Martell Firefighter/EMT Dave Wood Firefighter/Paramedic Ryan Wood 122 8

Coronavirus (COVID-19) Pandemic 2020 brought new challenges to the Department and the World in the form of a global pandemic. Beginning in the middle of March, daily operations were dynamic and sometimes felt chaotic due to the presence of COVID-19 in the community and Oakland County. Fire Chief Canto activated the Emergency Operations Center (EOC) when Mayor Barnett declared a State of Emergency for the City. Typically, the EOC is opened for planned events like the Festival of the Hills or the Brooksie Way Half Marathon and rarely has been needed for unplanned emergencies. However, on March 16, 2020, the EOC was opened in response to the unplanned event of COVID-19. Command Staff worked out of the EOC and attended daily conference calls with other Oakland County Fire Departments, the Oakland County EOC, Oakland County Homeland Security, Oakland County Medical Control Authority (OCMCA), as well as other State and Local entities. This collaboration led to the establishment of five (5) regional divisions within Oakland County and provided the ability to share public and private Fire and EMS resources if one department or area was impacted by COVID, whether in increased response needs or decreased staffing due to illness or exposure. This arrangement eventually led to divisions sending resources in the form of staffed ambulances to the City of Southfield, where the fire department saw a sudden 100% increase in call volume due to the number of COVID positive patients in the area. Our department along with Oakland County also began tracking daily numbers of calls for service for COVID related illness and all other emergencies. In April, our department saw an initial drop in the ‘routine’ 911 calls and almost all calls were COVID related. Beginning in June, the number of COVID calls dropped and the number of daily calls returned to a normal level. The EOC activation and patient tracking was the first of several changes to the Department’s daily operations. Another prominent change was the required Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) that EMS providers were required to wear on possible COVID calls. Prior to the pandemic, personnel were required to wear eye protection (safety glasses) and medical gloves when responding to any medical emergency. One of the new OCMCA protocols required all personnel to wear eye protection, respiratory protection (N95 respirator or higher), medical gloves, gowns, and shoe coverings, and to place respiratory protection (surgical masks) on any suspected COVID patient. Rochester Hills Fire Department had approximately 100 PPE kits in stock and items were quickly dwindling. Members of the Community Risk Reduction division visited local businesses and reached out to other partners to request donations of gloves, masks, and hand sanitizer. Our department felt the outpouring of love and support from the Rochester Hills business community in the form of donated PPE and meals for the EMS responders. The Fire Department also worked closely with the Rochester Hills Purchasing Department to ensure that we could obtain the required PPE. New vendors had to be located for PPE and cleaning supplies, as both were in short supply across the country. Due to their dedication and efforts as essential workers, members of the Purchasing Department were available around the clock to assist with obtaining the proper equipment and supplies to keep the fire department running. PPE was also ordered through the Oakland County EOC and Rochester Hills became the logistics supply drop for Division 2. 23

The Rochester Hills Fire Department is governed by Oakland County Medical Control Authority for our EMS response. During the past year, OCMCA has released dozens of new or updated Protocols relating to COVID-19. Some of the protocol changes focused on cardiac arrest and treatment. A major concern regarding cardiac arrest was any aerosolizing procedure such as oxygen masks, breathing for a patient via a bag-valve-mask, or inserting a tube in a patient’s airway as all of these normal procedures had potential for spreading respiratory droplets. Crews started using different oxygenation techniques and provided “hands-only” CPR if a patient displayed COVID symptoms prior to arresting. Another change put into place by OCMCA was the disinfection of ambulances and other equipment. It was recommended to separate the cab from the patient compartment so a Visqueen barrier was taped in the pass through area to stop the exchange of airflow. “Fogging” patient compartments became standard practice and AeroClave units were installed into every ambulance. The AeroClave unit is an efficient way to decontaminate without having to manually touch every surface. The AeroClave box is located in a compartment and once the patient has been transferred to the hospital, crews can close the ambulance doors and turn the unit on. The unit fills the ambulance with a pressurized cloud of disinfectant that touches every surface, saving time and exposure to crews. The AeroClave unit can also be removed from the ambulance and placed in any room to provide disinfection and has a hand-held wand for direct use on equipment or surfaces. 24

Several internal changes were required to keep our personnel safe. At the beginning of the lockdown in Michigan, all vacation and time-off was cancelled, as well as trades between shifts. There was concern that if one person contracted COVID, it could spread through a shift and the Department would not be able to provide our current service model; severely reduced staffing could mean having to temporarily close a station. Other changes included keeping personnel at their assigned station and to have all meetings and training virtually. This also meant keeping administrative personnel separate from the suppression personnel and providing a detailed chain of command in the event that one or more of the Command staff were sick or quarantined. Due to staff member’s diligent efforts to disinfect their vehicles and stations, along with mask wearing and distancing, we were able to continue serving the community without any changes in staffing or response. One thing that has always been true of the Fire Service is that we are dedicated and adaptable; firefighting is not an easy job. Each and every member of the Rochester Hills Fire Department showed up to do his or her job throughout the pandemic. Members pushed through the uncertainty in March and April and diligently worked at keeping themselves healthy, their stations and equipment clean, and the citizens of Rochester Hills safe throughout the remainder of the year. Looking forward, the fire department has evaluated all available data available to determine what to do next. We have modified the way we stock and rotate PPE, changed the delivery of training, and are making small changes to future purchases, such as UV light air filtration in the newly ordered ambulances, to ensure the highest level of safety for our members and the community. COVID may never entirely go away, but the Rochester Hills Fire Department is better prepared for the future. 25

Frequently Asked Questions Are there different strategies firefighters use to extinguish a fire? Yes. The type of structure, the amount of fire present, and life-safety risk all factor into the strategies used on the fire ground. An offensive fire attack occurs when fire suppression personnel actively fight a fire within a structure utilizing water or another type of extinguishing agent. This strategy is used when the fire has not compromised the integrity of the structure and when there is a life-safety risk of occupants within the occupancy. A defensive fire attack is a fire ground strategy based on firefighter safety and the protection of surrounding properties (exposures). This strategy is employed when a fire has advanced to the point where interior attack operations are too dangerous and there is no life-safety risk. The goal is to simply confine the fire to the building/area of origin. All fire streams are operated onto the fire from the outside. What is a backdraft and a flashover? These terms describe specific, observable behaviors that occur when a fire grows unchecked. A backdraft is an explosion caused by the sudden inward rush of oxygen when all of the super-heated gases, (heated above the ignition temperature) in a room or structure, ignite at the same time. If the gases are pressurized in a relatively closed room, an explosion is likely to be the result. While the likelihood of such an occurrence is low, a backdraft is often fatal to anyone caught in it. A flashover is similar to a backdraft, with the exception that the room is not closed or pressurized to the point of explosion. All of the contents of the room have given off flammable gases that have been heated to their ignition point and a fire suddenly engulfs the room. From the outside you will often see the exiting smoke appear to instantly ignite. What is a MABAS Division? The Mutual Aid Box Alarm System (MABAS) is a group of fire service organizations that provide mutual aid response in the event of an emergency that exceeds the capabilities of the local fire department. The Rochester Hills Fire Department is part of OAKWAY MABAS Division, which is comprised of 10 fire departments. I called 911 for a medical problem and a fire truck showed up at my house. Why? All Rochester Hills Fire Department firefighters are cross-trained as paramedics or EMT's. The additional crew members on a fire engine often assist ambulance crews in providing critical, life-saving care. Other times, these firefighter/paramedics assist in carrying equipment and moving non-ambulatory patients. When I call for an ambulance, why do I sometimes see an ambulance from another town? The Rochester Hills Fire Department has mutual aid agreements with our neighboring towns so that the continuous advanced life support (ALS) care is always available to our residents and guests. If all the Rochester Hills ambulances are busy on other calls, you may see a Auburn Hills or Rochester City ambulance respond in place of a Rochester Hills vehicle. In these instances, a Rochester Hills fire suppression company may respond to the scene first and begin ALS care until the ambulance arrives. 26

Frequently Asked Questions What is the difference between a fire engine and a fire truck? A fire engine (Pumper) is an apparatus designed for fire attack. It is the most common vehicle in fire departments. This apparatus is equipped with a fire pump, carries hose, and has a minimum 750 gallon capacity water tank. Modern fire engines can pump over 1500 GPM (gallons per minute). A fire truck (Aerial) is also known as a ladder truck, aerial ladder, tower ladder, or truck. Fire trucks are equipped with a hydraulically-powered ladder and articulating platform mounted on a vehicle; fire trucks also carry several different length extension ladders, extrication gear, ventilation equipment, and lighting. Other types of fire apparatus common to our department are a heavy rescue vehicle, and incident commander vehicles (Battalion Chief). A heavy rescue company responds to fires, auto accidents with entrapment, and other technical rescue incidents. The shift commander (Battalion Chief), is responsible for taking command of an incident scene, can usually be found in a SUV; a green, flashing light is a fire service standard designating a vehicle as the incident command post. Does the Rochester Hills Fire Department teach CPR classes for residents and other community members? Yes. The Rochester Hills Fire Department offers American Heart Association Heartsaver CPR courses several times each year. Course dates and related information can be found at https:// www.eventbrite.com/o/rochester-hills-fire-department-31205742747 or by calling 248-656-4720 Can a firefighter explain how to properly install a child safety seat in my vehicle? Yes. Members of the Community Risk Reduction Division are trained to teach residents how to install child safety seats in their vehicles. To schedule an appointment with a car seat technician, please contact the fire department at 248-656-4720. What do firefighters do when they are not responding to fire or emergency medical calls? Firefighters train daily in the various aspects of their jobs. Firefighters also perform building walk- throughs and pre-planning of commercial builidings. Firefighters spend considerable time cleaning and maintaining equipment and the fire stations. Occasionally, during non-emergency periods, firefighters conduct driver training throughout the City to maintain familiarity of streets, neighborhoods, and business districts. This saves valuable time when actually responding to emergencies. The remainder of their time is spent working administratively on fire department programs, preparing meals, reading, studying and physical fitness training. Firefighters remain on duty for a 24-hour period. Regardless of what they are doing, they are ready to respond at any moment to a call for service or emergency. 27

FI R E FIG HTE R LEARN STAY IN SHAPE A HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA AND AN EMT-B LICENSE and Michigan Firefighter 1 and 2 is the standard minimum requirement. More and more applicants are earning paramedic licenses, associate or bachelor’s degrees in fire science, fire protection engineering, or management. Rochester Hills requires new hires to obtain their Paramedic Licensure within three (3) years of hire. • What to study? Math, Chemistry, Biology, Communications Skills, Computer Literacy A P P LY capacity. T o be eligible, applicants must be at least: • 18-years old • Possess a high school diploma or GED • Possess a current State of Michigan or National Registry I F A T F I R S T Y O U D O N ’ T S U C C E E D , Emergency Medical T echnician EMT license at the basic level or T R Y A G A I N higher and Michigan Firefighter 1 and 2 certifications. Firefighting is a competitive career. Don’t give up if you don’t get the job on your first attempt. MASTER OF PUBLIC T H E A P P L I C A T I O N P R O C E S S W I L L ADMINISTRATION P R E P A R E Y O U R S E L F F O R I N C L U D E EARN A GRADUATE DEGREE P R O M O T I O N • Written entrance examination (EMPCO) ASSOCIATE OR Prepare for a leadership role in the fire service of BACHELOR’S tomorrow. IN PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION • Candidate Physical Ability Test (CPAT) DEGREE T o enroll in an EMT Basic Course and Firefighter 1 • Structured oral interview EMT OR BACHELOR’S DEGREE IN and 2, applicants may Oakland GET AN ASSOCIATE’S OR HIGH • Background investigation SCHOOL PARAMEDIC FIRE SCIENCE, FIRE PROTECTION, just few. information OR MANAGEMENT • Psychological Exam DIPLOMA PARAMEDIC CERTIFICATION RHFD, GET AN EMT-B OR https:// OR GED www.governmentjobs.com/careers/ • Medical exam rochesterhillsmi Rochester Hills Fire Department 2020 Annual Report � 28 �

RHFD Annual Report 2020 https:www.rochesterhills.org/department/fire/index.php