2017 Annual Report Bemidji Fire Department Page TABLE OF CONTENTS 2017 Annual Report Description Page No Welcome ............................................................................................................................................................. 3 Services Provided................................................................................................................................................. 4 Fire Injuries, Deaths & Property Loss .................................................................................................................... 4 Calls for Service by Type ...................................................................................................................................... 5 Water Supply ...................................................................................................................................................... 5 Calls for Service by Local Government Units ......................................................................................................... 6 Response Numbers by Apparatus ......................................................................................................................... 6 Mutual Aid .......................................................................................................................................................... 7 Cold Water Rescue .............................................................................................................................................. 7 Alternative Funding ............................................................................................................................................. 8 New Firefighters .................................................................................................................................................. 9 Recruitment ........................................................................................................................................................ 9 Firefighting Training .......................................................................................................................................... 10 Training Hours ................................................................................................................................................... 11 Hands on Training ............................................................................................................................................. 12 Public Education/Youth Fire Prevention & Intervention (YFPI) ............................................................................ 13 Fire Inspections ................................................................................................................................................. 14 Wildfire Suppression.......................................................................................................................................... 14 Technical Rescue ............................................................................................................................................... 15 Fire Department Fleet ........................................................................................................................................ 16 Hazardous Materials ......................................................................................................................................... 17 Firefighter Fitness .............................................................................................................................................. 18 Community Planning Assistance for Wildfires .................................................................................................... 19 ISO Information/Classification and Impact on Insurance .................................................................................... 20 2017 Equipment ............................................................................................................................................ 21-25 Service Area Map .............................................................................................................................................. 26 Page 2 Welcome 2017 Annual Report IT HAS BEEN ANOTHER EXCITING AND BUSY YEAR AT BEMIDJI FIRE Here are some of the highlights for 2017: We responded to 1,985 calls for service, including 105 fires, which continues to make us one of the busiest fire departments in the state. Updating of old equipment, new vehicles: Tender 10 (Rural purchase), Rescue 1 (Donation by Bemidji Firefighters Relief Association), Marine 1 (Joint City/Rural purchase) and Squad 3 (Rural purchase). ISO evaluation completed. Retained 4/7/10 public protection classification. Completed the Community Planning Assistance for Wildfires (CPAW) assessment. Expanded our local mutual aid partnerships by adding the Chippewa National Forest and Red Lake Fire Department. (now have 12 local mutual aid partners along with being a member of the Statewide Mutual Aid plan). Secured over $113,000 in alternative funding. Our fire prevention efforts continue to be a major focus for us with numerous fire prevention education events, fire safety inspections and smoke alarm installations supported by The American Red Cross. These ongoing efforts will no doubt have huge dividends in the future for our community. Our training program continued to provide numerous high-quality training opportunities to our firefighters and regional partners. Our technical rescue teams provided the Bemidji area with high quality, timely responses to emergencies needing specialized rescues such as: motor vehicle crashes, water, ice, rope, structural collapse, confine space and trench cave-ins. We recruited nine new paid-on-call firefighters. We continue to face challenges in regards to staffing a combination department. CHALLENGES AHEAD Beltrami County has one of the highest death rates due to fire in the state (Average per 100,000 people: State: 1.03, Beltrami County 2.737) North end Fire Station – site placement, staffing and equipment Staffing shortages – addressing staffing challenges Implementation of CPAW recommendations, need for Community Wildfire Protection Plan Hope you have a safe 2018! David A. Hoefer Fire Chief Page 3 SERVICES PROVIDED 2017 Annual Report The Bemidji Fire Department provides fire protection, fire prevention, technical rescue and emergency services to the following: Beltrami County Cities and Townships: Cities of Bemidji, Turtle River and Wilton Townships of Durand, Liberty, Turtle Lake, Port Hope, Eckles, Northern, Turtle River, Grant Valley, Bemidji and Frohn Hubbard County Townships: Townships of Fern, Rockwood, Helga, Lake Hattie and Schoolcraft Bemidji Firefighters also provide: Non-transport emergency medical services to the City of Bemidji Dedicated and non-dedicated Fire, Rescue and/or EMS stand-by at numerous community events throughout the year Fire Injuries, Deaths and Property Loss Sprinkler Saves The Bemidji area had no deaths or injuries due to fire in 2017 In 2016 there were 73 sprinkler saves in The estimated dollar loss to property from fire in 2017 was $979,690 Minnesota. This means that every The estimated dollar value saved from fires in 2017 was $3,227,686 month there were almost seven fires extinguished by automatic fire sprinkler systems. These sprinkler activations saved 73 buildings from devastation by fire, minimized property loss, greatly reduced business interruption and po- tentially saved lives. Minnesota State Fire Marshal 2016 Report MISSION STATEMENT Our mission is to provide the best fire, rescue and emergency medical services possible to our community and fire protection area. Page 4 Calls for Service by TYPE 2017 Annual Report Fires 105 Water Supply Building fires, chimney fires, dumpster/trash fires, (43 Building fires) Trent Eineichner, Firefighter vehicle fires, wildland/grass (22 Wildland fires) fires (27 Vehicle fires) Bemidji Fire Department uses several means to sup- Rescue & Emergency Medical Services 598 ply water for firefighting operations. Our four en- gines each have a 1000 gallon capacity for initial Motor vehicle accident with injuries, (401 Medicals) attacks. Our fleet of three tenders each carry over confined space rescues, high angle (26 Sanford EMS) 2000 gallons of water to the fire scenes. The ten- rescues, water or ice rescues, medical assist ders relay water by shuttling from various water sources to the rural fires where the water is stored Hazardous Conditions (No Fire) 53 in drop tanks so we can keep the tenders on the Carbon Monoxide incidents, gas/fuel spills, move. gas leaks/ruptures, downed power lines Our engines then draft the water into their pumps Service Calls 973 for fire ground operations. When fires are within a reasonable distance of a pressurized fire hydrant, a Water problem, assist police, animal rescue, (926 ARFF) large diameter hose is used instead of the tenders assist public, unauthorized burning, ARFF coverage to supply the engines. Good Intent Calls 37 Our water can come from various sources. We Prescribed fire, smoke/steam scare, have 11 dry hydrants strategically located through- wrong location, investigations out our rural fire protection area. These dry hy- drants provide water in our areas that are not ser- False Alarm & False Calls 212 viced by the Bemidji municipal water system. Our Malicious/non-malicious false calls, municipal water system has nearly