The Springfield Township Fire Department appointed two battalion chiefs and hired six part-time firefighters at the trustees May 22 meeting.
Fire Chief Barry Cousino recommended the appointments of Andrew Vascik and Chad Born to serve as relief battalion chiefs when a battalion is out for vacation or other reason.
“Each will receive a pay differential when serving in that capacity,” the chief explained.
In addition, the chief received approval to hire the part-time firefighters who will help the department cover for vacationing personnel or those who are on training exercises.
“Each one’s pay will be based on their level of certification,” he noted. The new hires are Scott May, Mathew Fischer, Elizabeth Steiger and Nick Seman, firefighter/EMTs, and Nicholas Lishewski and Leeanna Pugsley, firefighter/paramedics.
April Fire Report
There were 421 calls for service last month in the areas served by the township, which, in addition to Springfield, include the Village of Holland and Harding, Spencer and Swanton townships.
Of those, 304 were in Springfield Township, followed by Holland, 54; Spencer, 22; Swanton, 14, and Harding, nine.
They provided mutual aid to Sylvania Township, nine; Maumee, six; Sylvania, two, and Monclova Township, one.
Of those calls, the vast majority were EMS calls, 72 percent and 28 percent were fire.
Last month, the department conducted 24 inspections, including 19 mobile food trucks; two special, and one each annual, adoption/home study/foster, and final remodel.
In addition, eight site plans were reviewed and approved for Light Touch Dental, 7011 Spring Meadows Drive West, remodel; Owens Intermodal LLC, 9590 Airport Highway, remodel; Cake Realty, 7300 International Drive, fire alarm; Circle K, 8160 Airport Highway, tank replacement; Verizon Wireless, 2707 South Eber Road, new construction; Springfield High School, 1470 South McCord Road, sprinkler; Anne Grady 1525 East Eber Road, pool replacement, and Mz Jean Play House, 553 North McCord Road, remodel.
One fire investigation was conducted for a home at 6811 Oakfield Drive. The kitchen fire was ruled accidental, and damage was estimated at $80,000.
Other Business
In other business, the trustees:
•Proclaimed the week of May 21 to 27 as Emergency Medical Services Week in the township in conjunction with 49th annual National EMS Week.
In 1974, President Gerald Ford authorized EMS Week to celebrate EMS practitioners and the important work they do in aiding the nation’s communities. This year’s theme is “EMS: Where Emergency Care Begins.”
The week celebrates first responders who encounter potentially fatal situations on a daily basis.
•Heard from the chief that the department collected 25 pounds of prescription medications at a drug take back event.
“The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has declared prescription drug abuse an epidemic,” he said, noting that more people die from drug overdoses than in motor vehicle crashes.
Moreover, the chief noted that no more than 9 percent of patients with leftover medicine dispose of it property. “That’s shockingly low.”
He added, “These statistics show the value of proper prescription drug disposal as a key strategy for potentially preventing prescription drug abuse.”
•Learned that the fire chief continues to attend the Lucas County EMS Medical Committee meetings where the closure of St. Luke’s Hospital was discussed. “It has a tremendous impact,” he said, pointing out that most township transports went to St. Luke’s.
Chief Cousino also attended the county emergency planning committee meeting. The committee is planning a tabletop exercise involving the township and Village of Swanton.
The next trustees meeting will be 5 p.m., Monday, June 26 at the township meeting hall, 7617 Angola Road, and is open to the public. It also can be viewed live on the township’s website at springfieldtownship .net.
