Sean C. Morgan
The Sweet Home Fire and Ambulance District saw a 4.4 percent decline in its total number of calls in 2018.
But while that aspect of the department’s operations saw a downtick, SHFAD’s been plenty busy in other areas.
The fire department responded to 2,639 calls in 2018, down from 2,761 in 2017.
Of those, 2,232 were medical calls and 407 were fire calls. In 2017, the district responded to 2,347 medical calls and 412 fire calls. Last year, the district had a 6-percent uptick. Its record for call loads was in 2014 with 2,792 fire and medical calls.
“The call volume feels pretty consistent,” said Fire Chief Dave Barringer, adding that SHFAD staff are involved in a variety of efforts to improve department operations. “With the addition of two day staff on the SAFER grant (last year), we’re doing a lot more projects.”
The district received a three-year $339,000 Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response Grant from the U.S. Federal Emergency Management Agency to fund two daytime staff positions.
District staff are able to better prepare for responding to calls, take care of equipment and train, Barringer said.
“We can answer those calls more efficiently and more effectively. It feels like we’re making progress. I feel like the crews are doing a lot to make this more organized and more efficient so we can serve the public better.”
The two day-shift employees free up firefighters and battalion chiefs for other work, Barringer said. They also provide continuity and improve communication shift to shift. Regular paramedics rotate through three 24-hour shifts, while the day shift is on a standard daily work week.
The new personnel are among a variety of upgrades the department has experienced in the past year. The district finished bond-related purchases in 2018 except for building improvements. Voters approved a six-year $1.575 million bond in May 2016.
The district received the bond funds in February 2017 and has been using the funds since then to purchase a variety of equipment, including new extrication tools, a new rescue unit and two new ambulances.
The last equipment purchases were a new ambulance and a new command vehicle used by the battalion chiefs.
“We’re very happy with the new extrication tools,” Barringer said. Those tools are battery-powered and more portable than the district’s previous tools, which means they do not need to be connected to a vehicle when in use.
With equipment upgrades and purchases and outside the bond, “we’re getting into some smaller pieces now,” Barringer said. Right now, staff is looking into options for positive pressure fans used for ventilation and a couple of heart monitors.
The district also is pursuing grants to pay for security improvements, such as more cameras and fencing, Barringer said.
Personnel-wise, the district is fully staffed with 11 permanent full-time paramedics, including three battalion chiefs. It has two deputy chiefs, retired battalion chiefs Doug Emmert and Guy Smith, who are working part time for the district on a contract basis.
The district is filling five out of 10 part-time minimum-wage medic positions right now, Barringer said. Emmert is working on a hiring list to smooth out transitions in the program, which used to be staffed by resident volunteer interns.
The program turns over as new medics go to work in full-time positions. Five have recently gone to full-time jobs, with one working a temporary full-time post.
Coming up, the district is moving forward with plans to add a vehicle bay to Station 22, the Foster station located off 47th Avenue. The project will also prepare the building for use as living quarters for firefighters.
Designs for the project are complete, Barringer said. The district is awaiting final engineered plans to begin construction.
After that, the district has planned to remodel the living quarters and kitchen in the Fire Hall, 1099 Long St.
Last week, volunteers from the district, John Marble, Jared Richey, Virgil Kropf and Barringer, expanded the parking lot at Station 23, the Crawfordsville station. Barringer said money, equipment and time were donated to the project, with material purchased by the district.