WCFD

Activity Report

05/19/10

            Fires:  We responded to 12 fires in April for a total of 144 fires from March 1-April 30. 

*See additional spreadsheets

            Rescues:  We responded to 27 rescues in April for a total of 56 rescues from March 1-April 30. 

*See additional spreadsheets

            Trainings:  There were five (4) trainings in April

1.                  Annual Meeting

2.                  Brush Fire Training

3.                  Oneco Training House Familiarization

4.                  Smoke House Training

Year-to-date comparison:                  March 1, 2009 – April 30, 2009 –      72 calls

                                                            March 1, 2010 – April 30, 2010 –    200 calls

            Difference in calls:                                 +128

            Percentage Increase/Decrease              +278%

Activity­

The department is continuing to cover all emergency calls and mutual-aid calls.  Engine 9 was recently dispatched to Sterling, CT to assist with a structure fire.  Four of our firefighters responded with E9 in a timely manner.  The department members would like to organize a fund raising event in an attempt to purchase a set of extrication equipment for E9.  This equipment new would cost $15,000 to $25,000.  Peter Gardner who is one of our volunteers has found a department offering to donate to us a Hurst power unit with a spreader tool.  We would need to purchase a cutting tool, hoses, and hose reels to complete the package.  This is an opportunity to provide an additional lifesaving service to our community at no expense to the taxpayers.

Apparatus

The fleet is running good.  Both FEMA and VFIS are recommending that we have all apparatus that was used during the flood serviced in order to prevent any major repairs in the future due to water contaminating the power train fluids.  Capt. Guastini has made contact with VFIS and a representative is coming to evaluate our affected apparatus.  I anticipate having new Engine 9 in service by this month’s end.

Personnel

The members continue to invest much of their time while sitting in class on Mondays and Wednesdays and performing practical trainings on Saturdays.  Several continue to sleep in on various nights at the station.

Training

The Apparatus Operator’s Course is going well.  The department participated in the road course on Saturday, May 15, 2010.  All of the members passed the course which went on all day at the former K-Mart plaza on Route 3.  Both of the Engine 9’s were used in this event and I received rave reviews on the handling performance of the new E-9.  It was impressive to watch the members maneuver the new E-9 through the various tight road course exercises.

Facilities

The new station requires quite a bit of maintenance on a daily basis which is being done by both the day and night crews.  Everyone is doing a wonderful job in keeping it looking new.  Randy Crowe is going to be installing a chair rail in the training room and day room in order to prevent any further damage to the dry wall which is being caused by chairs bumping the walls.

The repeater at the Waterman Hill Tower site was recently moved higher up on the tower in an effort to improve the problematic radio coverage in the western end of the district.  Unfortunately we are continuing to experience the same problems after the adjustment was made.  The cost to move the repeater was paid by the Town of Coventry.  We are attempting to cover 32 square miles which includes many hills and valleys with one tower.  I am not sure if the answer to our radio problem is more towers or mobile repeaters on the apparatus.  This is a concern that I feel needs to be addressed soon.  Perhaps a meeting with a fire alarm rep. and a radio expert could provide some advice or solutions to our problems in the western end.

Grants

A bid was advertised to purchase a cascade system for the Summit station.  The bid was advertised in April 2010 and a recommendation to the BOD is to aware the bid to Brigham Industries of Paxton, MA for the amount of $38,405 (which includes freight).  Shipman’s Fire Equipment of Waterford, CT also submitted a bid.  Captain Mann researched the equipment offered by both equipment companies and contacted other departments that own those particular models and determined that the Brigham Industries package would be the better choice for the district.  There are less moving parts with the chosen equipment and is also easier to operate and requires less maintenance.  The district is responsible for the electrical hook-up and fresh outside air hook-up which will cost an additional $575.  The FEMA share will be $37,031.  The District share will be $1,949.  TOTAL:  $38,980.  The total available was $40,000.

Respectfully Submitted,

Chief Joel Pomfret