City of Melrose - Fire Department

PROJECTS AND GOALS

Facilitate interior remodeling of Fire Headquarters and the two Outside Stations (Engine # 2 & 3)

Relocate the Fire Alarm Office from the first floor of Headquarters to the second floor for Security purposes and additional space.

Relocate and rearrange the Offices on floor # 2 of Headquarters to accommodate the Public as they enter the second floor for secretarial and Fire Prevention services.

To continue to be on the cutting edge of Technology in Fire Equipment and Training, by the acquisition of a "Bullard" hand held Thermal Imaging Device that operates by seeking out a victim in a hostile fire environment by a persons body heat (similar to night vision glasses used in the Military service)

To procure Specifications and set up a committee to oversee the purchase of a new 1,250G.P.M. Pumper. The Department will need another new Pumper to replace the 14 year old Mack (formerly Engine #1) and now running as Engine #3.

To keep the Medical Training at its peak, by the establishment of an E.M.S. Coordinator, to oversee all aspects of Registration, Certifications and upgrades within the Fire Department and to hopefully entertain the training of Paramedics for the Fire Department in the future.

To upgrade the Computers now currently in use and enable the Department to operate at a higher level of competency for both Emergency and Administrative functions. Through the use of Fiber Optics, interconnect the Police Department and the Fire Department for future departmental services.

Organization

The Fire Department consists of four Companies

Engine 1	Headquarters
Engine 2	Tremont Street
Engine 3	East Foster Street
Ladder 1	East Foster Street
1 Brush Truck	Headquarters
3 Cars	C-1(chief) C-2(Captain) C-3(Fire Prevention & Arson)
1 Rubber Avon Boat

FIRE PERSONNEL

Chief of Department:
John O'Brien

6 Line Captains
1 Fire Prevention Captain
10 Lieutenants
38 Firefighters
3 Fire Fighter Recruits

Fire Prevention Officer:
Captain Edward Colina

Administrative Assistant:
Jaya Kar

MELROSE FIRE DEPARTMENT PERSONNEL

The Department is divided into four groups, which work 24 hours per tour
2- 24 hour shifts per week (48 hours a week) over an 8-week cycle averages 42 hours per week.

MELROSE FIRE DEPARTMENT
YEAR IN REVIEW

During the past year the Fire Department has made huge strides forward, with the widening and replacement of the three front overhead doors at Headquarters. The design of these new doors duplicates an older version that were hinged vertically and opened inward during the days of the horses.
The Fire Chief, Mayor Guerriero and the Engineering Department of the City met with the Historic Commission and were granted approval for positive upgrades to Fire Headquarters on Main Street. The floor of headquarters has been supported by the installation of steel columns set on concrete pads in the basement, to augment the original supports, enabling a much heavier load from the fire apparatus on the floor. The door openings have been widened by the removal of a course of bricks to enable the new (Engine #1) Seagrave Pumper to enter and exit with additional clearance on either side, and still in keeping with the original Architecture of the Building.
A new Ice Rescue Sled was put "in service" on the Ladder Truck and a new trailer for the Avon Rubber Boat was purchased to enable a much more efficient way of operation in the new millennium. New Medical Defibrillators were donated by the Willwerth Family, in memory of, their son, Keith. Two additional defibrillators were purchased through The Cardiac Survival Project and Hallmark Health Care. This enabled the department to have a Defibrillator on all four Companies "in service" for the city.

The Firefighters changed over to a 24 hour work schedule in May of 1999 working two 24 hour tours weekly in addition to the signing of a three year contract from July 1, 1998 - June 30, 2001.
Captain Eugene McCarthy now heads the Fire Prevention Division, on a four-day workweek from 7a.m.- 5p.m-(Monday - Thursday). Captain McCarthy also oversees the State funded S.A.F.E. program for Fire Safety in the schools teaching Elevator, Escalator Safety and the introduction of Firefighters in the classroom setting with their Protective gear and equipment.
The Department has also seen a number of retirements and the hiring of new recruits to replace the retirees. All new recruits attend the Mass Fire Academy in Stow Massachusetts for 11 weeks of intensive training.

The Fire Department Radio Antennas have increased by three for a total of four to give greater clarity and distance of signals. Two additional backup channels also.

The Melrose Fire Department changed over from a breakdown of Annual individual runs in 1999, to an Incident numbering system that conforms to the Massachusetts Fire Marshal's System, which oversees every Fire Incident in the Commonwealth. Therefore, all Incidents are recorded as such in the Department Journals and numbered. These Incident numbers classifying each fire category are then transferred to the Fire Marshal's Office. A record of all fires and types are collected, analyzed and statistics totaled. The records are then transferred again to Washington D.C. for a total of every fire in the United States, then published to track data and trends. The information is used in Fire Prevention nationwide in order to reduce the loss of life by Fire.

The number of incidents for the City of Melrose from January 1, 1999 until December 31, 1999 totaled - 3,096
The Melrose Fire Department Budget for FY 2000 is - $ 3,500,000.00

THE FIVE YEAR OBJECTIVES

Upgrade all Three Fire Stations to fullest capacity through repairs to their infrastructure.
Placement of the original Bell that was located in the old Fire Station on East Foster St. in the tower to an outside area adjacent to the existing station with a flower garden.
Completely computerize and interconnect all stations into the main frame at Headquarters and interconnect the Fire Department with the Police Department
Purchase another new Seagraves Engine for service to the city.
Replace the Heating system at Fire Headquarters (Boiler) and related equipment.
Replace the tower windows at Headquarters
Lowering of the interior front portion of the Main Floor at Headquarters to accommodate the Ladder truck.