In keeping with rotation of fire equipment, the Springfield Township trustees approved the purchase of 10 sets of turnout gear.
At the November 15 meeting, Fire Chief Barry Cousino said the annual replacement of 10 sets “avoids a costly department-wide exchange all at once.”
The cost will be $28,134, and the gear will be purchased from Fire Safety Services of Huntsville, Ohio.
Chief Cousino noted that he usually orders the gear each December with all turnout gear replaced in seven or eight years, but he opted to order a month earlier due to a cost increase of 15 percent to occur within the next few weeks. “The expense has been budgeted in the 2022 fiscal year,” he added.
“I think this is really important that we do this each year,” Trustee Bob Bethel said.
October Run Report
Chief Cousino presented the department’s October run report. There were 444 calls for help in the areas served by the township, which include Springfield, Holland, Harding, Spencer and Swanton townships.
Of the calls, Springfield had the most, 321, followed by Holland, 52; Spencer, 27; Swanton, 16, and Harding, four.
The department also responded to mutual/auto aid calls for Sylvania, 18; Monclova, three, and Richfield, Berkey and Toledo, one apiece. The majority of calls were EMS, 283, followed by public service assistance, 56; dispatched and canceled en route, 26; wrong location, 17, and unintentional system operation, 14.
The department conducted 12 inspections last month including state, five; annual, sprinkler systems and final/remodel, two each, and reinspection, one.
In addition, seven site plans were approved at Texas Roadhouse, 6137 Trust Drive, addition; Anatrace, 6201 Trust Drive, alteration; Med1Care, 1225 Corporate Drive, exterior renovation; Image Group, 1255 Corporate Drive, fire alarm alteration; Asset Protection Corp., 1530 Timberwolf Drive, fire alarm alteration; Bravia Dermatology, 7050 Spring Meadows West Drive, remodel/alteration, and Living Grace Church, 9624 Garden Road, remodel/alteration.
There were no fire investigations in October.
Other Business
In other business, the trustees:
•Learned that the fire chief attended the Lucas County fire chiefs unified command subcommittee. “The subcommittee works on response plans for major events that involve mass casualty,” Chief Cousino said, adding, “They also are responsible for the annual airport exercises and planning for airshows.”
•Heard that the fire chief attended a communications board meeting, which focused on the amended 9-1-1 implementation as it pertains to the consolidation of dispatch and call taking functions for Toledo-Lucas County.
•Learned that the fire department continues to partner with Promedica’s prevention and community outreach department, offering child car seat fitting dates at township fire stations.
“This program provides an opportunity to engage our community members on a one-to-one basis where we can offer fire safety literature, smoke alarms and answer questions they may have while the car seat is properly installed by qualified technicians,” Chief Cousino explained.
•Learned that the department held a first aid and stop-the-bleed course at Springfield High School in which “70 students learned how to properly use an EpiPen and inhaler, techniques that could potentially save a life when in need.”
The next trustees meeting will be at 5 p.m., Monday, December 6, at the township meeting, 7617 Angola Road, and is open to the public. The meeting also can be viewed via the livestream at springfield township.net
~Jane Maiolo
