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REFLECTING, REPORTING ON THE YEAR 2011 IN THE VICTORIA FIRE DEPARTMENT Andrew Heger, Victoria Fire Chief, presented the annual report of the Victoria Fire Department for 2011, which summarized activities from January 1st of that year to December 31st. He said that in 2011 they responded to 187 calls, which roughly approximates the activity these past four years. In 2007 there was a blimp of 255 calls. As in the past, most of the calls in 2011 were related to Rescue and Medical which includes personal injury crashes and water and ice rescue (51%). Other calls: False Alarms (15%), Hazardous Conditions like CO alarms, chemical spills, electrical problems (12%), Service Calls like smoke problems, person in distress, mutual aid (11%), Fire (6%), Good Intent calls which are dispatched and cancelled en route, or there's a wrong location, or steam mistaken for smoke, or it was a controlled burning (4%), and Weather Related calls (1%). "Are the call-types fairly stable over time?" asked Councilmember Tom Strigel. Replied Andrew, "Medical was actually 60% in 2010 so that has dipped a little.” "We have three chiefs and four captains," he said, introducing Aaron Jurek and Troy Walsh as Assistant Chiefs. The four captains of the four companies are John Wong Dock, Tim Stedman, Tim Walsh, and Gary Sohns. Each of the captains has five or six firefighters in their company. He said there are currently 29 firefighters in the Victoria Fire Department. "Is 29 enough?" asked Councilmember Tom O'Connor. "We're always looking for help," replied Andrew. "We average 16 firefighters to a call, but we only have an average of six available for daytime calls. We don't have a formal recruiting program. There are not a lot of people who work in town during the day." Andrew said service pins were awarded to three firefighters: Tim Stedman, 15 years; Andrew Heger, 10 years; Joe Forrer, 5 years. He said that in 2011 the Fire Department spent a combined total of 2,070 hours in training. "We spend more time in training than in calls.” Over 600 people attended the Department's 2011 Open House. In 2011 the Department received a DNR grant in the amount of $1,500 for drop tanks. He explained, "Drop tanks are used when there are no hydrants in an area." The Department also received a $1,300 grant from Minnesota Valley Electric for accountability boards which, he explained, "are used to track where everyone is working." Andrew presented a photo of the chassis of the new fire truck being built to specifications for the Victoria Fire Department. "We visited the facility three weeks ago and saw the actual truck chassis. Now they'll start building the rest of it. We're looking at a June delivery. It's replacing the 1974 Chevy Utility Van." Stated Mayor Mary Thun, "I'd be interested, once you get the new fire truck, I'd like to come over and see it and what it can do. Maybe you and Don could work that out. I'd also be interested some time in seeing the actual [line item] expenditures of the Fire Department." Stated Councilmember Tom O'Connor, "I urge you to expand your recruitment process because of the age profile. You guys are more important than the truck." Asked Councilmember Kim Roden, "Will you be able to get to calls during [Highway 5] construction this summer?" Replied Andrew, "I think we're really, really prepared. We met with Chanhassen and they'll cover some of the area at Minnewashta Parkway for us. We'll be able to get there, only slowed down a little. We've got a good working relationship with all of the Departments around us." "Do you get called first if there's a fire at Carver Park?" asked Councilmember Kim Roden. "There are 3,500 acres out there and it scares me a little." Replied Andrew, "Yes." Stated Mayor Thun, "You guys are well trained and you do an excellent job."
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May 2012 |
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Victoria Fire Chief Andrew Heger at the podium flanked by Ass’t Chief Aaron Jurek, left, and Ass’tChief Troy Walsh, right. |