Message from the Chief:
What does the future hold? This seems to be the question I keep asking myself lately.
In 2007, the fire department took delivery of a new water rescue apparatus replacing one that was unsafe to drive and the operational cost had exceeded the cost of a replacement. This replacement vehicle cost the City less than $5,000.00 of the total price, which was $119,000.00. Through extensive grant writing, and in addition to Kanawha County Commission agreeing to provide $20,000.00 per year for the next three years, the purchase was made possible. After this purchase, the fleet is in good shape with the exception of replacing the 1992 Pierce Pumper within the next few years. It is my intention to apply for another federal grant in 2008 seeking money to purchase a new pumper, and then the 1992 pumper can be placed into reserve.
In 2007 the recurring problem of inadequate staff reappeared. Exuberant amounts of overtime have been spent when several staff where off on extended medical leave as well as military call-up to active duty. The past three years have been devastating to the budget. The amount of overtime expended could have been used to hire additional personnel in lieu of paying overtime.
It is the belief that hiring more staff is too expensive. When the situation is recurring, and the cost of overtime is as much or more than additional staff, then it is time to take action by not comparing apples to oranges. With every effort possible, I will be seeking three additional employees for next year’s budget. This will reduce, or almost eliminate, overtime and will make it safer for existing staff by having more personnel.
The number of employees has not increased since the early 1970’s, yet the requirement of the fire service and the call volume has increased over 650%. No longer are firefighters expected to just respond to fires…firefighters handle all other emergencies and non-emergencies when someone in the community doesn’t know who else to call; firefighters are expected to be knowledgeable in building construction, vehicle extrication, emergency medicine, building collapse, hazardous materials such as chemicals, confined space for tank car incidents, trench rescue when a utility worker becomes trapped; firefighters are also supposed to know how to rescue a drowning victim in swift water as well as lakes and pools, high angle rescue using ropes, when a cell phone employee or radio tower repairman may become trapped they can safely be rescued; firefighters are expected to be educators of the public, teaching at seminars and in schools the importance of fire safety and what to do when an emergency occurs; and firefighters are expected to know how a building should be built for the protection of its occupants. The firefighter of the 1960’s is long gone and the highly trained firefighter of the 21st Century is here to stay.
All of these scenarios require extremely high levels of training and skill; in addition it requires many personnel to perform tasks of this complexity. It is in the best interest of employee safety, as well as public safety, to have sufficient staff. Continuing to use existing employees to fill vacancies that will occur in the future, for whatever reason, is unsafe due to fatigue from working three or four twenty-four hour shifts straight to ensure enough on-duty staff. The department is already incurring the cost of additional employees every time overtime is paid.
The department finished the terms of the Health and Wellness Federal Grant awarded under the “FIRE Act” in 2007. This grant, totaling $75,000.00, was awarded to provide funding for immunizations against communicable diseases, purchase exercise equipment, to provide extensive physical examinations, and purchase small amounts of personal protective gear and monies for training classes and materials. This is the second Fire Act Grant in the past few years totaling over $240,000.00 federal monies received.
As most know, two African firefighters traveled to our city to receive training from our staff. I met these two firefighters while in Malawi in September of 2007. I had agreed to travel there at my own expense as a Christian Missionary to provide them with training and to work in small villages. The trip changed my life and my perception of how we live here in the U.S. Even the most poorest in West Virginia have it better than most Africans.
While in Malawi, I met with government officials, both U.S. and Malawian, and arranged the training trip for the two Malawian firefighters. Once the African firefighters arrived it was a great experience for St. Albans firefighters to learn different cultures and provided diversity training as well. I will travel back to Malawi in the spring of 2008 to continue to provide training, work in villages and to promote regionalized fire service and training facility.
As stated in my opening: What does the future hold? I believe that the department should never, ever settle for mediocrity and always strive to be the best that we can be individually, as well as a unit; unfortunately it is a difficult task trying to get everyone on board with that concept. It requires time, effort, commitment and resources. I believe that our citizens who employ us deserve nothing less than the best. It has always been my goal to have the best employees, training and equipment. Unfortunately, when we fall short it’s because of our biggest obstacle – money.
I would like to take the opportunity to express my gratitude to Council and the Mayor for all the confidence that has been placed on me. To continue to give me the opportunity to lead this department is appreciated, and I pledge to you I will give nothing less than my best to make this department something you can be proud of and that makes the City of St. Albans the envy of others.
I would like to also express my appreciation to the ones who are on the front lines everyday…the firefighters. They are the ones who can truly make or break us. They are the one the customers, (citizens), deal with routinely and impact the most. Even though there will always be differences of opinions on how something should or could be done, at the end of the day they make the difference.
Chief Stephen D. Parsons