LeClaire Fire Rescue Department

LeClaire Fire and Rescue 2011 Year End Report

Major Accomplishments:

•Secured a grant from DHS/USCG to purchase a state of the art $185,000 fire/rescue boat which includes a fire pump. For the first time in our history LCFD will now have the capabilities to fight water bourn fires and also supply water from the river to any home along the river if necessary. NO local funds used, delivery expected in June 2012

•Maintained and in some areas, exceeded current State and Federal training requirements for all members from basic CPR to firefighting and Haz-Mat.

•Chief Slagle continues to act as the representative for the County Fire Chiefs for the SECC (Scott Emergency Communications Center).

•LCFD was proud to have been one of 1500 departments in the nation to have received an artifact from the World Trade Centers. This piece was the focal point of a county wide moving memorial that traveled to every fire department in Scott County on September 11, 2011, the 10 year anniversary of 9/11. The procession ended at the city hall plaza for an hour service to honor all of the victims of 9/11.

•LCFD has begun the process to design and raise funds for a permanent 9/11 memorial with the WTC I-Beam as the focal point.

Department Stats:

•Lost two members and added four new probationary members bringing our current staffing to 31 members:
27 firefighters and 4 probationary members
Our medical qualified staff includes: 9 EMT-B and 1 First Responder.

•Completed our annual maintenance and ISO inspections on all of the apparatus.

•Provided over 5950 volunteer man hours of service to the community. Besides training, cleaning, equipment maintenance and responding to calls we hosted our annual fire prevention open house, performed requested inspections, and participated in local events including Tug Fest.
Hours
Fire/EMS (Time spent on calls) 2237.32

Non-Alarm Activities
•Meetings/Admin - 1066.08
•Equipment Maintenance/Inspection 195.0
•Public Education/Relations 1320.75
•Cleaning 161.50
•Tug Fest 562.00
•Training (Fire/EMS) 407.49

Total - 5950.14

•That is an average of 192 volunteer hours per member with a member high of 629 hours and 7 members over 300 hours.

•Responded to 352 requests for services making LCFD one of the busiest volunteer fire departments in Scott County.

•We attribute the drop in calls over last year (-46) to I-80 having considerably less road work and the mild winter.

Department Goals:

•Increase the level of the firefighter stipend fund. This program is in its 8th year and is well received by the members. This program is intended to retain and compensate FD members for their dedication and personal out of pocket expenses. The competition between volunteering and other time demands in peoples’ lives is growing every year with the nation’s volunteer fire service losing. The practice of compensating members at a higher level is the growing trend but we are convinced that the stipend is helping LCFD retain the staff as compared to other fire departments not only in Scott County but across the nation.

• We are over due to replace a pumper. We again recommend to purchase a new frontline rescue pumper and move Engine 1 (1991/21 years old) to a backup pumper and keep Engine 5 (1980/32 years old) as a reserve unit.
1. We recommend purchasing a chassis in the 2012-2013 budget and build the remainder of the truck in the 2013-2014 budget.
2. We have missed the opportunity with the new emissions requirements now adding $20,000 to the total cost.

• We reached the ISO rating level of 4 and want to maintain it which in turn helps our community through lower insurance costs and will greatly increase firefighter safety.

• LeClaire Fire is one of only thirty nine fire departments out of 2447 in the State of Iowa that have achieved and maintained a class 4 rating. If the city is serious in attracting more commercial base, this is an extremely important rating to maintain.

“The PPC (Public Protection Classification) program recognizes the efforts of communities to provide fire-protection services for citizens and property owners. A community's investment in fire mitigation is a proven and reliable predicator of future fire losses. So insurance companies use PPC information to help establish fair premiums for fire insurance — generally offering lower premiums in communities with better protection. By offering economic benefits for communities that invest in their firefighting services, the program provides a real incentive for improving and maintaining public fire protection. The program also provides help for fire departments and other public officials as they plan for, budget, and justify improvements. But the most significant benefit of the PPC program is its effect on losses. Statistical data on insurance losses bears out the relationship between excellent fire protection — as measured by the PPC program — and low fire losses. By helping communities prepare to fight fires effectively, ISO’s PPC program saves lives.

This community is very fortunate to have the highly trained and dedicated members of LeClaire Fire and Rescue serving for them. We are fortunate as well to have the equipment that we do but we got to this point by always moving forward and being on the leading edge of not only firefighter safety but the safety of the community as well.

As always, I invite any member of the City Council, First Fire District or members of the public to contact me for a tour of the station and to answer any questions.

Mark J. Slagle
Chief of LeClaire Fire and Rescue