At the January 17 meeting, Springfield Township Deputy Fire Chief Dave Moore presented the department’s report for 2022 as well as calls for service in December.
He said the department responded to 5,000 incidents last year, adding that run volume has increased by 47 percent since 2017. But he noted, the increase has not been as significant over the past year and credits the reduction to the HERO program.
HERO, which stands for Health, Education, Resource and Outreach, is a joint venture with Sylvania Township fire. Run by paramedics Jodi Livecchi of the township and Lieutenant Shawn Wittkop of Sylvania fire, it offers help to residents in either community, in need of assistance.
Of the 5,000 calls, the majority were EMS, 3,281; followed by service calls, 678; false alarm, 266, and fire, 178.
The department handled several issues with deficient systems for sprinklers, nine; hood suppression, five, and alarms and fire pumps, two each.
Average response times were alarm handling 1:16 minutes; unit turnout, 1:25, and unit response on scene, 6:25.
December Report
Chief Moore said the final month of 2022 was busy with the department responding to 446 calls.
There were 320 calls in the township, and 51 in the Village of Holland.
Of the townships served by Springfield, the run volume was: Harding, six; Richfield Township, one; Spencer, 19, and Swanton, 21.
They also provided mutual aid to Maumee, seven; Monclova Township, three; Sylvania, four; Sylvania Township, nine, and Toledo, five.
Of the calls, 67 percent were for emergency medical services and 33 percent were fire calls.
The department conducted 13 inspections, including five final inspections; two apiece– state, sprinkler and re-inspections, and one each adoption /home study and fire alarm.
Four site plans were approved for Interjet West, 11430 West Airport Service Road, remodel; Grand Aire, Inc., 11777 West Airport Service Road, fire alarm; Stone Oak Country Club, 9150 Oak Valley Road, new construction, and Venetian Woods, 2150 North McCord Road, remodel.
There were no fire investigations last month.
Other Business
In other business, the trustees:
•Learned that Deputy Chief Moore attended a Medicare ground ambulance data collection webinar. “The webinar highlighted data collection strategies and reporting deadlines for the upcoming data collection period required of our department by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services,” he explained.
•Heard from the deputy chief that the department continues to install smoke alarms in residents’ homes. Sponsored by the American Red Cross, the program provides residents with free home smoke detectors.
•Learned that the Promedica car seat fitting program has been so successful that organizers have asked to use an additional bay at station 53 to accommodate more appointments. “They are having a huge public response,” the deputy chief said.
•Learned that inhouse training on apparatus is ongoing with fire department members. “Crews are getting first-rate training,” he said.
~Jane Maiolo
