As a young paramedic I took oath that said, "I shall share my medical knowledge with those who may benefit from what I have learned". I try to honor that oath, and the paramedics that came before me.
Ellen tells us she has worked for the fire district for 10 years. I don't understand why someone with limited web and computer skills was being paid over $16.00 an hour. That's more per hour than a firefighter paramedic with 3000 hours of training gets paid. Why....
When I asked why information was outdated on the LMRFD web page, she said she didn't know how to change it. I question her computer skills. When I requested information i was told she would need to charge me for information because it would take hours, and she would need to print hundreds of pages to find a few fire calls I had asked about.
$16 an hour, really.... Anyone that knows databases could find the information is a couple minutes, and print it on one page of paper.
It's funny that for 2 years the LMRFD web page had information that mislead people wanting to visit or move to the area. Telling them the LMRFD had 7 ALS ambulances, 4 rescue vehicles, and lots of man power, when it really only had 1 ambulance and 2 EMT's most of the time.
When I complained about the misleading information, Ellen told me she didn't know how to fix it and their web master had quit. What I find funny, is how good she is at running the LMRFD SUPPORT page, when she couldn't run the fire districts page.
LMRFD Budget
We've been told over and over that the LMRFD needs $62,000.00 a month to operate, and we have no money. We're also told the LMRFD receives $1,100,000.00 in tax revenue. So how is it we have no money?
12X$62,000=$744,000
$1,100,000-$744,000=$356,000
Do we have an extra $356,000 or $29,666 a month?
LMRFD and the NACFD
The LMRFD doesn't have a bad relationship with NACFD. We have had a mutual aid agreement, and will continue to have a mutual aid agreement with NACFD. It's a standard agreement between neighboring fire districts.
At several fire board meetings prior to the consolidation vote by NACFD, Mr Flynn told us he didn't care if we decided to consolidate with NACFD or go as a stand alone fire district, he would be there to support us during the process.
After consolidation his attitude changed and at fire board meetings he appeared to be mad the NACFD vote didn't go his way. What happened to I'll support you no matter what the decision?
At one time the LMRFD had many local paid and volunteer firefighters. We went broke, we got that, but so did Rural Metro Ambulance Service. They were the second biggest EMS provider in the nation, and they went broke, so stop blaming everything on the old fire board.
The good ol boy system is alive and well in Mohave County. Rather than do a nation wide search for firefighters, we were told no body want's to work here. Then they hire their buddies part time from the "small community" of local fire fighters. They work one day here, one at their fire department, and then get a day off.and do it again. Pretty good deal...
We don't have one LMRFD firefighter who lives inside the LMRFD. The only firefighter with a stake in the community is Mike Pettway who's lived in the area for a long time. He's worked for the fire district for many years and truly cares about the community. I feel Mike is the only firefighter who is truly a POC, Paid on Call firefighter, he's the only one closes enough to respond if needed off duty. All the other firefighters live in Kingman and Lake Havasu 40 to 100 miles away.
In a major weather event, or worse, we would have the 3 firefighters working at the time. On a bad day, and Mr Flynn doesn't want to admit it, but on some days, there is only one firefighter working in the LMRFD, and not always a paramedic on duty.
I've asked Chief Moore, Mr Flynn, and the county attorney who's responsible when the fire board allows firefighters to leave the fire district on ambulance calls, and my home burns down.I pay $200 a year to the LMRFD so firefighters are in the fire district to protect my home if needed.
Homeowners Insurance Class 8 ISO
Homeowners Insurance is going to go up because over the last 3 years the leadership has gotten rid of all the volunteer firefighters.
To receive an ISO rating of 8, the LMRFD would need to pump 250 gallons per minute continousley for 2 hours. Tell me how with 2-3 firefighters, that's 30,000 gallons of water
Minimum Criteria for Class 8 or Better
To receive a Public Protection Classification (PPC™) of Class 8 or better, a community must first have the minimum facilities and practices needed for a PPC rating and must earn a score of at least 20 points when evaluated according to the criteria in the Fire Suppression Rating Schedule (FSRS). The community must also have these additional minimum facilities:
There must be a minimum water supply of 250 gpm for a 2-hour duration for fire protection in the area.
If the fire department delivers the 250 gpm through tanker shuttle, large-diameter hose, or other alternative water supply, the water must be available within 5 minutes of the arrival of the first-due engine, and the department must maintain the flow, without interruption, for the 2-hour duration. ISO Rating Info
Hostile and Slanderous Attacks
There were no hostile or slanderous attacks from me. I asked questions Mr Flynn questions he didn't want to answer.
Like why was the turnout time, the time it takes to leave the fire station, over 5 minutes on some calls when NFPA 1710 recommends a turnout time of less than 80 seconds, and many departments have a time of 60 seconds for turnout time on fire responses.
Like the question about the Two-In-Two-Out Rule.
I asked if two firefighters could enter a burning home to do a rescue. After a long pause, Mr Flynn said yes. Commonly referred to as the 2-in/2-out rule, it's a federal mandate said to be "the most important advance in firefighter safety in decades", and "a regulation that goes a long way in making one of the most dangerous professions safer".
His answer was correct, but... OSHA says "If an immediate action is necessary to save a life, an exception or deviation to the 2-in/2-out rule is permissible. If initial attack personnel are aware of an known life hazard that can be alleviated by immediate action, deviation from the 2-in/2-out rule may be permitted as an exception to a fire department operational plan.
However, such deviations can result in OSHA issuing a "de minimis" citation. A "de minimis" citation does not require a monetary penalty or corrective action, but any actions taken in accordance with this exception provision require an investigation by the concerned fire department with a written report to the Fire Chief.
If firefighters decide to deviate from the 2-in/2-out OSHA rule, and it leads to injury or death, then OSHA fines us a lot of money, and the families file lawsuits.
The safety of the citizens and firefighters must come first.
Landmark Residential Fire Study Shows How Crew Sizes and Arrival Times Influence Saving Lives and Property
Well written!
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