A higher than average fire/EMS call volume for the Village of Holland was called into question at the Springfield Township trustees July 18 meeting.
Trustee Andy Glenn asked what was causing the increase in the village.
Battalion Chief Jonathon Ziehr, filling in for Fire Chief Barry Cousino, attributed the higher number to a nursing home, which is consistently relying on the township due to a lack of private ambulances in the area. “They are adding to our increase.”
He referred the trustees to the fire chief’s monthly report for June. The chief met recently with county officials to discuss non-emergency responses to extended care facilities in the region.
“With a shortage of private ambulance companies that typically contract for non-emergency transports, the nursing homes are utilizing 911 as a bridge for those types of services,” the chief wrote. Those services include such things as treatments for cancer or other illness and dialysis.
He noted that the township is not seeing the level of overuse that other communities are experiencing, but is attempting to address the usage before it becomes an issue.
“We are working with our partners to maintain efficiency,” the fire chief added.
June Fire Report
Battalion Chief Ziehr presented fire department reports for June.
There were 457 calls for service in the areas served by the township which include Holland plus Harding, Spencer, Springfield and Swanton townships.
Of those, 311 or 68 percent were EMS and 146 or 32 percent were fire.
Calls by jurisdiction were Springfield Township, 323; Holland, 59; Spencer, 23; Swanton, 16, and Harding, four.
Mutual aid was provided to Sylvania Township, nine times; Maumee, eight; Monclova Township, six; Sylvania, five; Toledo, three, and Napoleon, one.
Last month, the department conducted 17 inspections, including state, four, followed by sprinkler and final, three apiece; reinspections, adoption/foster homes, and fire alarms, two each, and annual, one.
Seven site plans were reviewed and approved for Springfield Local Schools, 6924 Spring Valley Drive, fire alarm; Auto Empire, 11940 Sager Road, new construction; Anne Grady, 1601 Eber Road, fire alarm; Athletico, 7117 Orchard Centre Drive, sprinkler; Starbucks, 6635 Airport Highway, remodel; Trust Company, 1630 Timberwolf Drive, generator, and ASB Sports Development, 11500 Tailwinds Drive, sprinkler/fire pump.
The department conducted one structure fire investigation at 11953 Shaffer Road. The fire broke out in the garage, causing $150,000 in damages. The cause remains under investigation.
Other Business
In other fire department business, the trustees:
•Authorized an additional expenditure of $3,474 for a kitchen remodel for the McCord Road fire station, bringing the total to $31,270.
Battalion Chief Ziehr explained that with six personnel on staff at any time, the current kitchen configuration is tight.
“The contractor, D2 Dodson Construction, made some slight alterations to include an island with countertop to supply additional workspace and upgraded all the countertops from formica to natural stone,” he said.
•Learned that Assistant Fire Chief Dave Moore and a Lucas County inspector toured Royal Village Mobile Home Park and discovered a number of code violations that the county inspector filed.
•Learned that Fyr-Fyter Sales and Service serviced 60 fire extinguishers in each fire station and emergency vehicles.
Announced that the aerial ladder passed the annual testing standard as mandated by the National Fire Protection Association.
•Reviewed a list of community relations events the fire department participated in, including the Rollie Run, Freedom Celebration fireworks and Maumee Valley Church fire extinguisher course.
They also continue to partner with Promedica to offer child seat fittings, which are offered to area residents by appointment.
The next trustees meeting will be at 5 p.m., Monday, August 1, at the township meeting room, 7617 Angola Road, and is open to the public. A livestream of the meeting also may be viewed at springfield township.net.
