Fire & Rescue Quarterly Report for Oct. 1 – Dec. 30, 2023

From the Desk of Chief Michael Dondiego

Quarterly Activity Report to the Select Board

What has your volunteer Fire-Rescue Department been up to lately?

Your Fire-Rescue Department has a critical need for volunteers to help us protect our families, friends, neighbors and properties in Town and our surrounding communities.

If interested in becoming a First Responder, Fire Fighter or EMT; or helping in other ways, please contact any of our current Department members or myself at: (413) 441-0957.

Brush burning season is open, call 238-4445 before 8pm the night prior & leave requested info.  Brush only – No commercial debris, No construction or demolition debris. 

If weather conditions warrant (too dry, high winds), permits can be cancelled or suspended.

Below are the highlights of our Fire-Rescue responses, training programs and other activities for the quarterly period of ~ October 1 to ~ December 31, 2023.

Responses:

• Medical Responses – 39
• Fire Alarm calls – 8
• Power Lines down – 1
• Vehicle accidents – 2
• Chimney fire – 1
• Structure Fire – 1 (mutual aid)
• Wellness check calls – 3

• Carbon Monoxide Alarm calls – 1
• Miscellaneous Hazards – 1
• Basement flood – 3
• Illegal fire – 0
• Brush Fires – 0
• Search & Rescue – 0
• Lightning strike – structure – 0

Training & other “behind the scenes” activities

• Station – 2^nd Monday each month – vehicle checks; regular FD meeting; review of incidents; upcoming in-house & external training; planning FD action items, etc.
• Station – 4^th Monday each month – available staff undergo training, recurrent training and review procedural applications. We also identify new training aspects to take place at our Fire-Rescue Station and with Mutual Aid partners.
• I feel we need to also point out that we also do significant training with several of our mutual aid & regional partners.  Several of these (**) are listed below.
• 9/30 ** Hampshire County Advanced Firefighter class.
• 11/14 ** Plainfield – Fire Investigations for the 1^st Responder, over 60 people from 6 departments attended, presented by Massachusetts State Police Fire Investigations Unit.
• 11/27 conducted annual Fire Code Safety inspections for (4) Worthington restaurants/venues.
• 11/28 distributed “Sand for Seniors” with CoA/TRIAD, Worthington Police Chief & Fire Department 1^st Responders.
• 12/5 ** Chesterfield – Firefighter – Saving Ourselves – Self-Rescue Skills
• 12/11 ** Hilltown Ambulance – new 99-A2 ambulance briefing and equipment demonstration, refresher on 1^st Responder skills.
• Provided transport for Santa Claus around town and to the town pond for annual Christmas tree lighting & other festivities.
• Completed (6) Carbon Monoxide (CO)/Smoke detector inspections & (2) Propane/Oil Tank Install/Remove Inspections.
• December: Submitted Massachusetts Department of Fire Services Grant ($10,500) for purchase of new fire-fighting gear and turn-out gear dryer equipment.
• December:  Submitted Massachusetts Emergency Management Grant ($2700) for purchase of new portable pump, hose, fittings & personal fire-fighter safety lights.
• 1/21 & 1/28/24 ** Huntington – 1^st Responder & CPR certification training for new members, recerts for existing members completed at Gateway Regional High School (over 60 people signed up from 6 towns).

Miscellaneous / Upcoming:

• Worked to diagnose & repair Fire Station emergency generator with manufacturer’s technician.
• Worked with local plumbing contractor & Police Chief to repair station furnaces/boilers to remedy inspection issues.
• Performed maintenance and repairs on Engine-1, Tanker-1 and Rescue-1
• Preparing to develop & submit Federal Assistance to Firefighters grant.
• On-going updates of vehicles/equipment binders including checklists, tools inventory, squawks, maintenance schedules & general operational guidelines.
• Started review and update of Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) & Standard Operating Guidelines (SOGs).