Significant Events

Fire Chiefs Report – December 2014

Significant Events.

On the morning of November 28, at 0738 hours, fire crews responded to a report of a baby not breathing. Upon arrival, they were presented with an 11 month old baby boy in cardiac arrest. Reports are that the baby had been sick for several days with a fever. The baby received full advanced life support measures by paramedics and was transported to the Payson Regional Medical Center where he was pronounced dead. Chaplain Burke also responded to provide assistance to the parents and Department members.

Just after mid night on December 12 at 2320 hours station 42 was dispatched into a rainy night to a reported car fire on Route 87 above the Rim at mile post 279.5. Upon arrival they discover a fully involved car which had been involved in a single car roll over. Captain Mike Brandt requested a tanker/tender be dispatched to insure adequate water supply and began attacking the fire. Moments later the crew was informed that a victim remained in the car. A young couple had stopped to assist and found the rear of the car involved with some level of fire with the victim in the car. They tried to remove the victim but the fire expanded and forced them to retreat. Sometime later, the parents, who had going searching for their teen age son because he hadn’t arrived home, came upon the accident scene. Chaplain Burke was requested and provided assistance to the couple and the parents.

On December 6th Engine 421 was participating in the Payson Christmas light parade. While traveling on the parade route, a man came out of the crowd and flagged down our two “clowns (Stacy and Kevin Figueroa). He was directed the Captain Paul Voakes who was driving Engine 421. Captain Voakes stopped the apparatus and proceeded into the crowd and located a two month baby with blood about its lips, but breathing. Captain Voakes requested the standby ambulance for the parade to respond to his location and, upon hearing the radio traffic, other Payson firefighters also responded to assist. The baby, who appeared to be somewhat pre- mature was transported to the Payson Regional Medical Center, and later flown by helicopter to a Phoenix hospital. The event took place in the “announcement area” of the parade route and the parade announcer recognized an emergency was underway and requested the crowd to give the rescuers “space”. Upon return to the parade activity the announcer asked the crowd to “Let’s give a big hand the Pine-Strawberry Fire District for their great professionalism and quick response to this emergency situation”.

Ambulance Transport Billing Increase Application

Our request to the Arizona Department of Health Services for a rate increase is proceeding. Last week the Department received a request for additional information that both the financial adviser and the fire chief are providing.

The Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) Program

The Fire District has submitted one of two grant funding request to the Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) Program. This is the same grant program that the District obtained funds to purchase replacement Self Contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBA) three years ago. One grant application was accepted to replace out dated fire hose and purchase replacement hose and assorted hose equipment so that the Department can have hose that is compatible with mutual aid/automatic dispatch fire departments $35,000). The other grant request to upgrade and modernized our communications system (towers and equipment) has been initially rejected ($92,000). The Department will continue to pursue acceptance of this application.

Cell Phone Paging System

The Department has obtained the services of “One Call Now” cell phone paging/notification system. This system will allow us to eliminate the radio pager system in favor of notification by cell phone. This will create a more reliable and efficient notification system for recall of off duty and reserve firefighters to emergency events or to back fill the stations during heavy emergency activity. It also can be used for administrative purposes such as notifying reserve firefighters for a shift hire when a vacancy occurs due to a last minute sick leave event. The system is the same that is used by the Pine-Strawberry Water District to notify affect residents when a waterline break occurs.

Meeting with Payson Regional Medical Center New CEO Dr. Lance Porter

I attended a one-on-one meeting with the new CEO of the Payson Regional Medical Center, Doctor Lance Porter. No CEO of the hospital has initiated that kind of invitation to fire chiefs in the region and speaks well to his interest in having a positive relationship with fire departments and emergency medical services that we provide.

One of the more newsworthy items discussed is the Pine Medical Clinic. The Payson Regional Medical Center will be the parent organization in supporting the clinic. The hospital has interviewed candidates and hired a physician to work out of the clinic. The hospital will be preparing the announcement and news releases in the near future. Firefighter Assistance Fund

The Fire Chief continues to work on developing a Firefighters Assistant Fund account with the banks. Because of the unusual nature of the fund, there are banking regulations that are a bit challenging. Additionally, Chase Bank (where we also have a Fire District account) wanted to charge monthly fees and we were unable to convince them to wave such fees. The National Bank of Arizona also has a Fire District account and has been far more reasonable and has offered a two possible no fee accounts. Again, because of the unusual nature of the account, senior offices of the banking are reviewing regulations and will advise on the next steps.

Budget Planning for the 2015/2016 Budget year

The Fire Chief and financial advisory met on December 10 to initiate budget planning for the 2015/2016 budget year. They will continue the budget development of the next few months.

Visit with County Assessor and County Treasurer

The Fire Chief will be meeting with the Gila County Assessor and County treasurer (re-scheduled meeting) on December 17th to review the status of future assessment and tax revenue for the District. A report will be provided at the next District Board meeting

Customer Service/Community Involvement

Station 41 assisted the local food bank in the annual Thanksgiving turkey distribution. Over 100 turkeys and assorted food items were distributed. Station 42 assisted the food bank in distributing Christmas turkeys and associated food along with Christmas toys for children.

The Winter Meeting of the Arizona Fire District Association

The winter meeting of the Arizona Fire District Association is scheduled for January 15-17, 2014 in Laughlin, Nevada. It will be held at the Aquarius Hotel. Arizona legislation requires newly elected Board members to complete a specific training package within one year of their election. The summer conference in June would be the next opportunity. Information on the conference is contained in the Board Members agenda packet.