Rochester Hills Legistar System

Members of the Committee expressed their concerns that Fire Department staffing

is inadequate to meet the emergency needs of the community and questioned the

use of mutual aid from neighboring communities, as well as perceived animosity

between the full-time firefighters and the paid-on-call firefighters.

The following personnel addressed the issues noted above, as well as additional

questions from Committee members:

* Nicholas Burgess, Paid On Call Fire Fighter/EMS

* Ron Crowell, Assistant Fire Chief

* James Donnelly, Paid On Call Fire Fighter - District Chief

* Barbara Holder, City Council Member

* Michael Kiekbusch, Paid On Call Fire Fighter - Captain

* Steven Swann, Paid On Call Fire Fighter/Light Equipment Operator

* David Wood, Paid On Call Fire Fighter - Captain

* Gerald Yurgo, Fire Fighter

The following issues and comments were discussed:

* The system for dispatching ambulances and/or Firefighter/Paramedics to a

medical emergency range from Alpha calls (the least severe emergency) to Echo

calls (the most severe emergency):

- Alpha Call (Respond with no lights or sirens)

- Bravo (Nearest unit responds with lights and sirens)

- Charlie (All units respond with lights and sirens)

- Delta (All units respond with lights and sirens)

- Echo (All units respond with lights and sirens)

* Response times vary depending on the severity of the emergency, as determined

by the standardized dispatch system. Less severe emergencies, not requiring a

response with lights and sirens, will have longer response times.

* Firefighter/Paramedics typically respond in a fire engine or a Suburban SUV,

both of which are fully equipped to respond to the most severe emergencies. Often

they are able to delegate "basic calls" to EMTs on the scene.

* Paid-on-Call Firefighter/EMTs respond in the ambulances, all of which are

equipped for basic medical calls and for safe transport of patients.

* It is considered unnecessary for Firefighter/Paramedics to respond to medical

emergencies with the ambulance, as transport of the patient can often be handled by

the EMTs, thus allowing the Firefighter/Paramedics to be available to respond to

other emergency calls including fires.

* Mutual aid between communities results in lowered costs for all communities

and is a standard practice.

* Mutual aid is only used in instances when City units cannot respond in a timely

manner due to other fire or medical emergencies.

* Response times fall within the prescribed amount of time, typically within four

(4) minutes.

* It is extremely rare that Firefighter/Paramedics must leave a fire engine

unattended at the scene of an emergency and accompany a patient to the hospital in

an ambulance. In such cases, dispatch is notified and the appropriate Fire personnel

are sent to retrieve the engine.

* The working relationship between full time Firefighter/Paramedics and

Paid-on-Call Firefighter/EMTs has improved substantially through a concerted

effort by Fire Department administration.

Several audience members noted that no formal invitation was sent to Fire

Department staff requesting that they attend the night's meeting nor informing them

as to the purpose of the meeting. Committee members apologized for this

oversight.

It was suggested that Committee members arrange to ride along with emergency

units to gain first-hand knowledge of the systems employed by the Fire Department.

Mr. Robbins stated that he has attempted to do so, but has been denied access by

City Administration. He further noted his frustration at being unable to gain

up-to-date data on emergency response times from the Administration.

Mr. Lee Zendel, 1575 Dutton Road, discussed the number of full-time firefighters

assigned to each fire station and expressed concern that, assuming sick time and

vacation time, Fire Department personnel is stretched too thin, resulting in reliance on

mutual aid from other communities. He expressed his fear that other communities will

"get tired of furnishing mutual aid" to Rochester Hills.

Committee members discussed their recommendation to City Council that two (2)

full-time Firefighter/Paramedics be added to the two (2) EMT positions that the Fire

Chief requested be added to the 2005 budget. City Council consensus was that the

Public Safety Committee recommendation would be too costly and was not necessary

according to Fire Chief Walterhouse.

Mr. Robbins noted that the Committee and City Council have received inconsistent

information regarding the actual cost to the City for a full-time Firefighter/Paramedic.

The Committee moved to have the City's Fiscal Department provide a definitive answer

to the cost to the City for a full-time Firefighter/Paramedic.

A motion was made by Robbins, seconded by Raschke, that this matter be

Approved.

Whereas the Public Safety Committee has received inconsistent data regarding

the cost to the City for a full-time Firefighter/Paramedic.

Be It Resolved that the Rochester Hills Public Safety Committee respectfully

requests that the Rochester Hills Fiscal Department provide accurate and

up-to-date data indicating the total cost to the City of Rochester Hills for a

full-time Firefighter/Paramedic.

The motion carried by the following vote: