Sean C. Morgan
The Sweet Home Fire and Ambulance District set records in 2013 with the total number of calls and medical calls received throughout the year.
The 2013 total edged out 2011 for the most medical calls, with 2,212 – up from 2,085 in 2012 and 2,200 in 2011.
The district responded to 271 fire calls in 2013, down from 282 in 2012. The district recorded its highest total, 390 fire calls, in 2006.
The district’s combined 2,483 calls exceeded 2012, with 2,367 calls. It also exceeded the previous record total number of calls, 2,400 in 2011.
Like 2012, the number of calls were on a higher pace heading into December, but the rate of calls dropped off during the last month, said Fire Chief Mike Beaver. “We were on a pace going into December to be over 2,500 calls.
“We had some really busy fire call months.”
The fire department responded to 43 fire calls in August and 31 in May.
“It was hot and dry,” Beaver said. The district also helped out on wildland fires, sending crews to conflagrations twice, including the major fire in Josephine County.
After a wet start to fall, the winter has been relatively dry.
The moisture the Sweet Home area has received so far won’t have much of an impact on spring and summer fire danger, Beaver predicted.
While call loads have edged forward to their highest level ever, department officials plan to continue into the 2014-15 budget status quo, Beaver said. “We have been handling it. There’s no plan in the coming year to add staff.”
The district has a good crew of veteran volunteers and paid staff, Beaver said, but as Sweet Home continues to grow and demand for services continues to grow, it will need to look for more staff members.
Financially, right now there is no room to increase staffing levels, Beaver said, and the district is facing another increase, although smaller than past increases, in retirement benefits. Health insurance rate increases remain unknown.
Meanwhile, Beaver and Administrative Assistant Diane Shank are finishing their final year with the department. They both retire on