NORTHBOROUGH FIRE SERVICES

ANNUAL REPORT 2006

            The following information and statistics are provided for the Northborough Fire Department for 2006:

Department Staffing

            The department membership is categorized as follows:

1 Fire Chief

4 Career Captains

   10 Career Firefighter/EMTs

7 Call Firefighter/EMTs

4 Call Firefighters

4 Call Firefighter Trainees

3 Call Support Personnel

1 Full-Time Administrative Assistant

2 Part-Time Administrative Personnel

         36 Total

When benchmarked against other similar communities, Northborough’s career firefighter staffing is 42% below average or provides 56% fewer career and call firefighters per one thousand population.

Department Retirement

            I wish to acknowledge the retirement of Call Firefighter Paul A. Desautels in May of 2006.  Paul served the Town of Northborough faithfully and unselfishly as a call firefighter for over forty-one years – a truly remarkable achievement of service!  It should also be noted that Paul was a founding member of the Northborough Ambulance Committee which provided the town with its first ambulance service in the 1960’s.

Emergency Incident Response

            During the year, the Northborough Fire Department responded to 1,873 emergency incidents, performed 922 inspectional services, and issued 930 open burning permits.  Comparative analysis of fourteen other similar sized communities reveals the fire department operates at a 10% below average cost per capita.

            Fire loss during the year totaled $103,900, with $30,800 from structure losses, $62,600 from vehicle losses, and $10,500 from other unclassified losses.  I am pleased to report that were no fire-related civilian or firefighter injuries or fatalities during 2006.

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Ambulance/Advanced Life Support

            The fire department continues to operate two Class One state-licensed ambulances at the paramedic advanced life support level.  These units responded to 1,020 requests for emergency medical services in 2006. 

The Worcester Medical Center – Saint Vincent’s Hospital is the department’s affiliate hospital, which provides medical direction for advanced EMTs intermediates and paramedics.  At the local level, medical oversight and credentialing is provided by Doctor Joseph Currier, a Northborough resident.

Federal Firefighter Safety Grants

            In 2006, a Federal Fire Fighter Safety Grant was award to the department in the amount of $98,280 with a five percent town match of $4,914.  This grant replaced thirty sets of personal protective clothing and fifteen self-contained breathing apparatus air bottles and upgraded thirty-two self-contained breathing apparatus to the National Fire Protection Association Standards and breathing regulators to weapons of mass destruction response quality.  Upgrades for the department’s rapid intervention emergency breathing rescue pack were also made.

            In addition to the Fire Fighter Safety Grant, the department was awarded a Commercial Equipment Direct Assistance Program Grant which provided a Jaws of Life Heavy Extrication Tool.  This equipment included a spreader, cutter, ram extension, hydraulic gasoline pump, and hoses, and the estimated value of this equipment is $22,375.  This grant provides equipment for enhancement and support of regional response, mutual aid, and interoperability of responder equipment.

Fire Prevention and Public Education

            The department continues to be proactive in fire safety, first aid, CPR, and fire extinguisher training throughout the community.  Fire education, safety training programs, and the S.A.F.E. program and grant are under the direction of Captain Robert Theve.  To take advantage of any of our safety or educational opportunities, please contact us at (508) 393-1537.

Regional Firefighting Collaborations

            At the regional level, the department continues to be involved through Massachusetts Fire District Fourteen in the coordination of mutual aid resources, hazardous materials mitigation responses, dive rescue, confined space and trench rescue, weapons of mass destruction, decontamination, and ten alarm/disaster dispatching.  In addition, the department provides rapid intervention team support services to Berlin, Shrewsbury, and Westborough, and as in the past, the department continues to participate in state and county group purchasing bids.

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Household Hazardous Waste Collection

            Household Hazardous Waste Collection Days were held in May and October in cooperation with United Industrial Service/Zecco, Incorporated, and the town’s engineering department.  During these two events, households took advantage of the opportunity to dispose properly of their household hazardous waste.

Explorer Post 25

            Explorer Post 25, an affiliate of the Boy Scouts of America, Knox Trail Council, continues to provide valuable fire and community support services to the fire department.  Explorer members provide fireground rehabilitation for firefighters, assistance with Household Hazardous Waste Day, and snow shoveling of fire hydrants. 

Recruitment

            Anyone interested in joining the department or in learning more about career and on-call opportunities is encouraged to contact the department at (508) 393-1537.

I would like to thank the men and women of the Northborough Fire Department for their continued compassion and dedication in responding to the needs of the community and to the Town of Northborough for its support of the fire department.

                                                                Respectfully submitted,

                                                                 David M. Durgin

                                                            Fire Chief