Sandusky Fire Department

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The Sandusky Fire Department is responsible for responding to fires, rescue and assisting with medical situations within the City of Sandusky, Ohio and Cedar Point.

Contents

[edit] History

It was February of 1830 when the city of Sandusky, Ohio was still centralized in what we know today as the old downtown that the first considerations for standardized fire protection were made. At the time, the city consisted of less than seventy buildings and structures and a population of less than five hundred people. It was with these considerations to account for that the Town Council drafted and adopted the ordinance that organized the first fire department in Sandusky,Ohio and this ordinance still hangs in the historical room of the new central fire station.

Under this document, the city was divided into two wards, the dividing line being Columbus Avenue. Each ward had two wardens, James Hollister and William Kelley serving Ward One, and Erastus Greggg and Ezra Wells serving Ward Two. In addition, Ward Two designated a two man safety committee. Under this command structure, the first captains of the Sandusky Fire Department were Cyrus W. Marsh and Elias Hand, and both captains were charged with two engineers each. At this time, nearly everyone in town was connected in some manner with the newly formed volunteer bucket brigade, and the ordinance stated that each member "should with one substantial bucket".

In 1834, the city purchased its first hand engine from New York City from a man by the name of John Smith. The engine cost $750 and the town received voluntary subscriptions from the citizens to pay for it. This engine, the Ogontz, was put into service and manned by the Ogontz Fire Company No. 1. The Ogontz served the first fire station built in the city, and it stood at the foot of Hancock street.

In 1848, the city formed a new company. This time, the engine was known as the Buckeye, so the company was designated Buckeye Company No. 2. Five years later, in 1853, the first hook and ladder company came into service and was known as Hornet Company No.3.

Between the years of 1865 and 1869, the city purchased three steam engines and a hook and ladder truck. This significantly improved the Fire Brigade's firefighting capabilities.

The Town Council passed an ordinance on May 27, 1872 that transformed the city's department from a volunteer organization into a paid department of professional firemen. Under this new organizational structure, the department would now consist of three hose companies and a hook and ladder company. A hose company was six men: one plugman (engineer), one teamster (driver/horseman), and four minutemen. The ladder company was seven men: one captain, one teamster, and five minutemen. Each hose cart and hook and ladder truck was designated to carry one hose each. At this time, a minuteman was paid ten dollars per month, teamsters were paid fifty dollars per month, and engineers received sixty dollars per month.

The city was served by Engine House No.1 at the foot of Hancock Street, Engine House No. 2 and Hook and Ladder Company No. 1 at the corner of Market and Lawrence Streets, Engine House No. 3 at the corner of Elm and Monroe Streets. They served a demographic of largely German makeup, and the early men of the Sandusky Fire Department were largely German themselves.

In 1910, the city began to make the move towards replacing the horse drawn trucks, and purchased the first motor vehicle. Even during the Depression EraThirties, the city continued to acquire motorized apparatus. It purchased the first aerial ladder during this time, and the new engines of the day were capable of pouring one thousand gallons of water per minute on the fire.

In 1932 The Sandusky Firefighters became affiliated with the International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF) becoming IAFF Local 327 In 1969, the city purchased its first used ambulance. The modern concept of Emergency Medical Service EMS and prehospital care was still a fresh undertaking at this time, and this was the first EMS service in Sandusky.

In the Eighties, with the decline of fires and the shift in focus to prehospital care and transport as the main source of calls, the department began a training program for paramedics. In the 1990s, the city largely revamped its fire apparatus at a cost of nearly $1,200,000.

Today, Sandusky Fire Department is no longer merely a department of hoses, hooks and ladders. The skilled members of the department are trained to provide Advanced Life Support(ALS) in the form of trained Paramedics, SCUBA capabilities, trench rescue, high angle/rope rescue, structural collapse search and rescue capabilities, and confined space access, and they support the county HAZMAT response team. The Department has a mutual aid agreement with every other township and city in Erie County.

[edit] Operations

SFD operations consists of 3 stations .

  • Central Station contains Engine 921, Ladder 951, Rescue 941, Ambulace 911, Ambulance 917 Command Vehicle 942, Inspection Vehicle 943 and 942 It services District 1 which consist the cetral corridor along with the down town area.
  • Station 3 contains Engine 923 and Ambulance 913 It services District 3 which consists of the east side along with Cedar Point Amusement Park.
  • Station 7 contains Engine 927 it services District 7 which consist of west side along with an industrial park. SFD also provides fire fighting and rescue operations in the water. The SFD operates one fire boat, the William O Byrd and is stationed in the Sandusky Bay.

[edit] Sandusky Fire Department Annual Divisional Report 2006

[edit] Operations

The Sandusky Fire Department experienced an increase in requests for fire and rescue services in 2006. Emergency medical calls increased 5.3% (3223 to 3395) and fire/rescue calls increased 2.3% (928 to 950). In 2006 requests for mutual aid nearly doubled (29 – 49). The departments’ reduction in minimum manning, from 13 to 12 made it necessary to make several operational changes. The increase in the requests for mutual aid correlates to the reduction in daily staffing. Emergency medical responses represent 78% of all emergency activity in the City of Sandusky, Ohio. 12.4% of these responses were no treatment/no transport, 47.5% were basic life support responses and the remaining 40.1% were advanced life support responses. 69.47% of all EMS activity occurs in the Central District, with 19.46% in the Eastern District and the remaining 10.83% in the Western District and .24% were mutual aids to neighboring departments. Fire and rescue responses represent 22% of all emergency activity. The Sandusky Fire Department experienced 172 fires with a dollar loss of $622,135. 55.78% of all fire responses and 61% of all dollar loss occurred in residential properties. 56.10% of responses and 44.27% dollar loss occurred in the Central District, 29.68% of responses and 20.9% of dollar loss occurred in the Eastern District and 13.59% of responses and 34.78% of dollar loss occurred in the Western District. Average response times for all fire calls was 3 minutes and 13 seconds. This was within the response time parameters of NFPA 1710. (Standard for the Organization and Deployment of Fire Suppression Operations, Emergency Medical Operations, and Special Operations to the Public by Career Fire Departments) Staffing per working fire incident, however, was 11, 3 below the threshold of 14, recommended by NFPA 1710. Staffing for working fires was supplemented by mutual aid and call-in of off-duty personnel. Efficient and effective response of resources continues to be a management measurement priority. Not only is it important to get necessary resources to the scene quickly, but it is also important to provide the correct resources for the given emergency. The Sandusky Fire Department continues to provide ALS EMS, 99.2% of the time within the 8 minute guideline of NFPA 1710 by using a tiered response of ALS Engines and ALS Ambulances. We currently provide these services in an average response time of 3 minutes and 18 sec. We will continue to explore options that will enhance our EMS.

[edit] Training

In 2006 the Sandusky Fire Department focused its training efforts in several areas, including officer development, fire attack, hazardous materials, confined space rescue, incident reporting and fireboat operations. The majority of administration training included training in computer programs, HIPAA, sexual harassment and workplace violence.

[edit] Physical Fitness

The average age of the SFD is 40.83 years old. With increased age and the continual demands of the fire service comes an increase in stress and strains on the body. In 2006, the department qualified 17 of 52 personnel meeting level 1 (minimum level of fitness). 14 of 52 personnel qualified for level 2 and 10 of 52 qualified for level 3 (highest level). The department overall average fitness level improved from 1.28 to 1.5. We also saw improvement in 4 of the 5 evaluation areas. The Sandusky Fire Department continues to strive for excellence in physical fitness by providing quality facilities, a variety of fitness options and annual testing and evaluation.

[edit] Fire Prevention

Fire Prevention Bureau activities increased in 2006. Requests for plan reviews, inspections, company inspections, public safety education and technical assistance increased in 2006. Development activity from several large projects, including, Firelands Regional Medical Center, Chesapeake Lofts, Krabill Building and the Delahunt Apartments represent the majority of this increase in activity. The partnership with administration, operations and the prevention bureau work well with the business community and the public-at-large emphasizing fire and life safety in every day activities. The success of this partnership is measured in the incidents we never respond to and in the reduced injuries and property loss experienced during an emergency. We have found that the best service to our customers is provided when we respond quickly, courteously and completely, to each individual’s inquiry.

[edit] Command

As of 2007, the current Fire Chief is Mike Meinzer (C1), under whom serve One Assistant Chief (C2), and three Battalion Chiefs (C3, C4, C5) - all based at 600 W. Market Street, the central headquarters for both Sandusky Fire and Sandusky EMS.

A/C Ricci
Shift #1 Shift #2 Shift #3
B/C Yost B/C Higgenbotham Capt. Green
Capt. Hudson Capt. Riesterer , Capt. Mohr,
Lt. Zakrajsek Capt. Ferrell Lt. Degnen
Lt. Schmidt Lt. Roane F/F Wimmer
F/F Shepherd Lt. Urig F/F Jachym
F/F Danevich F/F Salinski F/F Szatala
F/F Stellhorn F/F Rudolph F/F Oprzadek
F/F McGee F/F Schoen F/F Zimmerman
F/F Brake F/F Reyes F/F Schoeppner
F/F Strachan F/F Snyder F/F Brandal
F/F Hager F/F D'Amico F/F Morris
F/F Wagner F/F Henry F/F Butler
F/F Malinowski F/F Bott F/F Pasek
F/F Holmes F/F Lesch F/F Roesch
F/F Eckert F/F Cox F/F Bodle
F/F McGraw F/F Rucker, F/F TBD

[edit] Fleet

The current strength of SFD consists of 13 vehicles. :

[edit] Aerial Units

  • LTI 102 foot Ladder

[edit] Pumpers/Rescue

[edit] Rescue

[edit] Support

[edit] Fireboat