Photo: New Engine 1, a 2009 Sutphen pumper, was officially placed in service on July 25, 2009. INSIDE THIS ISSUE Fire Chief’s Message 2 EMS 10 Quick Facts 3 Training 12 Mission, Vision & Values 4 Administration 14 Operations 5 Fire Prevention 18 Noteworthy Incidents 8 In Memoriam 24 MESSAGE FROM YOUR FIRE CHIEF In 2009 the Franklin Fire Department had several key achievements. Here are just a few: • Effective July 1, 2009, our fire protection rating with the Insurance Services Office (ISO) improved to a Class 2 from a Class 3, which will potentially benefit businesses and homeowners with reduced insurance premiums. Of the more than 47,600 departments that the ISO rates nationwide, only 538 departments (less than 1.13 percent) have achieved this status. Effective July 1, 2009, • Also on July 1, an automatic aid agreement with the City of our fire protection Brentwood went into effect. Now both Brentwood and Franklin units respond to structure fires in the automatic aid coverage rating with the Franklin Fire Chief Rocky Garzarek area, which includes southern Brentwood and northern Franklin, Insurance Services [email protected] in order to decrease response time in both communities. As a Office (ISO) improved (615) 791‐3270 result, both departments were presented with an award for outstanding achievement in the area of public safety by the to a Class 2 from a Greater Nashville Regional Council in September. Class 3, which will • In September, Station 5 began providing Advanced Life Support medical care, bringing the potentially benefit number of fire stations that provide ALS service to five out of six stations. businesses and You can learn more about these accomplishments and many others on the pages that follow. homeowners with reduced insurance On another note, the 2009 International Residential Code (IRC) went into effect with a premiums. monumental change – calling for fire sprinklers in the new construction of one and two family homes. While Franklin has not yet adopted this requirement, it reflects our focus and the focus of the fire service to move from a more reactive strategy to a more proactive one. According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), home fire sprinklers save lives, reduce property loss, and can even help cut homeowners’ insurance premiums. Not only do home fire sprinklers dramatically reduce the risk of home fire deaths, they also decrease fire damage by as much as two‐thirds when compared to homes without sprinklers. Until recently, building codes only required sprinklers in most public buildings, but the 2009 IRD now requires fire sprinklers where fires are occurring most ‐ in our homes. I have protected my family with home fire sprinklers. If you are building or renovating a home, I encourage you to consider doing the same. To learn more please give me a call, send me an email, or visit our website at www.franklintn.gov/fire. Finally, sadly in October, one of our firefighters, paramedic David Cline, lost his life during a tragic vehicle accident while he was off‐duty working at his second job with a private ambulance service. David left behind a wife and five children, his fire department family, and many other loved ones and friends. He was a vital part of our team and is greatly missed. Sincerely, 2 Franklin Fire Department An ISO Class 2 Department Rocky Garzarek, Fire Chief 2009 QUICK FACTS City Information • Land area protected—41.51 square miles • Resident population protected—56,000 (2008 Special Census) • Estimated value of property protected—$7.9 billion (taxable property) • Firefighters—144 • Administrative personnel—12 • Civilian personnel—3 • Firefighters per shift—48 In 2009, the men and Fire Operations women of the Franklin • Total incident responses – 5,638 Fire Department • Medical and rescue responses – 3,816 (68%) answered 5,638 calls • Average response time – 4:33 for assistance –a three Fire Prevention percent increase in call • Public education and community relations events participated in – 280 volume over 2008. • 1st grade students instructed on fire and life safety – 938 • Construction plan reviews – 568 • New construction inspections—793 • Existing building fire code inspections – 204 • Youth firesetting intervention – 2 referrals Budget • 2008‐2009 fiscal year budget (personnel, operations and capital) – $12,188,511 Equipment and Facilities • Stations – 6 • Training center – 1 • Administrative office suite in City Hall – 1 • Engines – 4 • Ladders – 3 • Towers – 3 • Rescue, light – 2 • Rescue, medium – 1 • Rescue, air – 1 • Brush truck – 1 • Boats – 2 • Hazmat response vehicle – 1 • Reserve engine – 1 • Reserve rescue – 1 • Staff vehicles – 12 www.franklintn.gov/fire Annual Report 2009 3 MISSION, VISION AND VALUES Mission The Franklin Fire Department dedicates our efforts to provide for the safety and welfare of the public and the preservation of life, health, property, and the environment utilizing prompt service, continual training, and teamwork. Vision Serve the community by maintaining a highly trained professional fire department with a commitment to excellence. Values Being members of a dedicated team of The Franklin Fire professionals, it is our responsibility to treat everyone with dignity and respect while providing the best service possible. Lives are more Department was valuable than property. We value the faith and trust of the community and continually work to established in 1820 as deserve that trust through our attitude, conduct, and accomplishments. We use technology to a volunteer enhance our efficiency and effectiveness in the services we provide to our customers. We value department. Today we the diversity of the people in our department and our community. We promote teamwork through a positive environment. are an all‐career department with 144 firefighters. Pictured above: 1995‐2009 Summary of all incidents Franklin Volunteer Fire Department on July 4, 1910. Photo courtesy of Bob Canaday. 4 Franklin Fire Department An ISO Class 2 Department OPERATIONS DIVISION Deputy Chief of Operations Mike Culberson (615) 550‐6753 [email protected] Operations Responsibilities • Fire suppression • Emergency medical services • Hazardous materials response and mitigation • Technical rescue Battalion Chief, A Shift Battalion Chief, B Shift Battalion Chief, C Shift operations Gentry Fox Eddie House Greg Baltimore [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] • Pre‐incident planning 2009 Incident summary by category • Participation in community events 792 128 14% to provide 159 2% 3% residents with fire 353 6% and life safety 3,821 information 357 68% 7% • Training Rescue & EMS Incidents Good Intent Calls Service Calls Hazardous Conditions Fires False Calls www.franklintn.gov/fire Annual Report 2009 5 OPERATIONS DIVISION 2009 Summary of fire incidents by type Vehicle 19 Vegetation 22 Fire of In 2009 our average Structure 49 response time for 90 Type Total percent of all incidents Refuse/rubbish 33 was 4:04 minutes. Other 5 Our average response time for all calls was 0 102030405060 4:33 minutes. Incidents 2009 Summary of incidents by station 1800 1589 1622 1600 1400 1155 1200 1000 800 Incidents 562 Total 600 400 305 335 200 70 0 1234567* Station *Station 7 is a proposed future station in the Goose Creek area, presently covered by Stations 2 and 5. 6 Franklin Fire Department An ISO Class 2 Department OPERATIONS DIVISION 2009 Summary of incidents by day of week 1000 896 874 838 900 800 761 768 800 701 700 600 500 400 Incidents 300 200 100 0 of the department’s calls in 2009 were medical in nature Day of Week 2009 Summary of incidents by time of day 400 350 300 250 200 150 Incidents 100 50 0 00:59 01:59 02:59 03:59 04:59 05:59 06:59 07:59 08:59 09:59 10:59 11:59 12:59 13:59 14:59 15:59 16:59 17:59 18:59 19:59 20:59 21:59 22:59 23:59 ‐ ‐ ‐ ‐ ‐ ‐ ‐ ‐ ‐ ‐ ‐ ‐ ‐ ‐ ‐ ‐ ‐ ‐ ‐ ‐ ‐ ‐ ‐ ‐ 00:00 01:00 02:00 03:00 04:00 05:00 06:00 07:00 08:00 09:00 10:00 11:00 12:00 13:00 14:00 15:00 16:00 17:00 18:00 19:00 20:00 21:00 22:00 23:00 Time of Day www.franklintn.gov/fire Annual Report 2009 7 NOTEWORTHY INCIDENTS January 13, 2009 – House fire, Knob Ct. A teen boy playing with antiperspirant spray and a lighter in his bedroom set his family’s home on fire. Damage was estimated at $15,000. Second annual toy January 15, 2009 – Mall fire, CoolSprings Galleria Mall and clothes drive a A suspicious fire damaged the service corridor behind the Oasis Food Court. The blaze, which success! evacuated a portion of the mall, was contained by automatic fire sprinklers and extinguished by firefighters. Damage was estimated at $10,000. Thanks to the February 12, 2009 – House fire, Church St. generous Fire that started in the kitchen of a downtown Franklin rental house quickly destroyed the contributions of the home, displacing a family of four. The house was a total loss, estimated at $75,000. community, Franklin March 18, 2009—Fire station fire, Franklin Fire Station 5, Noah Dr. Firefighters were able A small fire broke out at Franklin Fire Station 5, when the motor in a restroom ventilation fan to present coats, overheated. Firefighters were at the station, when they smelled smoke just before 5 p.m. Upon clothes, shoes, and investigation they discovered the fire, which was burning above the ceiling in the restroom located just off the apparatus bay. The fire was placed under control in less than 15 minutes. toys to more than 300 No one was injured and no apparatus or equipment was damaged. The damage was contained to the area above the fan, the restroom was still usable and the station remained in service. children during their Damage was estimated at $3,000.