Fire Chiefs ReportIff 0 âşI III .._ L1 10 I
CHANHASSEN FIRE DEPARTMENT
Station i
PO Box 97
7610 Laredo Drive
Chanhassen, MN 55317
TO: Todd Gerhardt, City Manager
FROM: Don Johnson â Fire Chief
Mark Littfin â Fire Marshal
DATE: May 15, 2014
SUBJ: Monthly City Council Update
Fire Department Overview:
Station 2
6400 Minnewashta Pkwy.
Excelsior, MN 55331
Staffing is at 45 total firefighters as of April 30, 2014 with three firefighters currently on leave
and four firefighters still completing a one -year probationary period.
The fire department has started a hiring process for 2014 that began with an orientation evening
on April 29th providing information to perspective candidates who are interested in the position.
On May 6th the candidates participated in a physical agility test administered by fire department
volunteers. Interviews are planned for June 171h and 18th. We can discuss the authorized number
of candidates after the interviews are complete.
Year to date we are at 219 calls as of the end of April, compared to 183 for the same period in
2013.
Staff Time (not call related): Our staff time for community events, fire education, duty crew
standby, and department meetings is at 870 hours for YTD compared 689 hours in for the same
period in 2013. The difference is driven by the 2014 severe weather station standby of 103
hours.
Training: Training hours we are at 1,627 for the year versus 2,066 in 2013. Currently we are
focused on completing our mandatory training that is required by OSHA & NFPA (Right to
know, Blood Borne Pathogens, Lock Out /Tag Out, etc), and EMS re- certification. Fire
department training included initial response for arriving crews and was a continuation of the
Blue Card training adopted within the past year. This training guides initial response activities
and provides truck officers with guidance for on -scene activities and command roles. Training
in April included fire alarm systems presented by the Minnesota State Fire Marshal's Office.
Safety: Safety is always important to us and we embrace the continued health and wellness of
our members through risk reduction endeavors such as health surveillances, ongoing education,
and our safety officer program.
Compliance: Our annual health surveillance, ladder, pump, SCBA, PPE, and hose testing is
scheduled throughout the year. Annual compliance testing begins in the second quarter of this
year.
Fire Marshal:
Fire Prevention: A meeting has been set up with managers from our apartment complexes in
the City to review fire, severe weather, and security issues. The fire department will be offering
an onsite presentation with our kitchen fire simulator. We have used this prop at our last two
open houses to dramatically show what happens to a burning pan of oil on top of a stove when
water is applied in an attempt to extinguish the fire. The resulting fire ball is very dramatic and
makes people think twice if a fire happens in their home. Improperly discarded smoking material
and unattended cooking fires are the leading causes of fire in Chanhassen. Hopefully this
demonstration will help reduce kitchen related fires.
Fire Investigations: There are no fires to report on at this time.
Fire Inspections: There are a variety of projects in the City at various stages of construction
and /or planning. Powers Point office /warehouse, K. Hovnanian Townhomes, Great Plains strip
mall, Sinclair site, Snap Fitness, John Arthur Townhomes, Bluff Creek Cottages, Southwest
Transit Townhomes, BIG office /warehouse, and the Bernard Group remodel. As far as existing
inspections â City restaurants are almost complete. Apartments and hotel inspections will be
starting in the near future.
Fire Calls
Summary of Total Calls
April 2014
1 2014 YTD
April 2013
2013 YTD
Total
41
219
50
183
Detail of Incident Types
April 2014
YTD
April 2013
2013 YTD
Incident Type
713
Fire
3
2
6
Structure Fire
-
-
3
Grass Fire _
1
1
-
-
Misc Fires
_
2 _
11
2
3
-Overpressure Rupture, Explosion, Overheat
0
0
1
1
Rescue & Emergency Medical Service Incident
17
81
27
83
Medical
12
65
24
67
PI Crash
5
16
3
16
Misc Calls
-
-
-
-
Hazardous Condition
3
15
1
6
Gas Leak
2
4
1
2
Misc Calls
1
11
-
4
Service Call
2
13
5
14
Mutual Aid
1
8
3
8
Misc Calls
1
5
2
6
Good Intent Call
6
43
6
29
Rescue/Medical - Dispatched & Cancelled
4
40
3
13
Smoke Scare, Odor of Smoke
-
-
2
6
PI - Dispatched & Cancelled
-
-
1
2
Misc Calls
2
_
3
-
8
False Alarm & False Call
10
54
8
44
CO Alarm
1
7
1
6
Di /Old Smoke Detector Activation
-
-
-
2
Unintentional Transmission of Alarm
1
9
3
19
Burnt Food Smoke Detector
-
-
-
2
Misc Calls
8
38
4
15
Severe Weather & Natural Disaster
0
0
0
0
Total Incident Count
41
219
50
183