Public gets update on regional fire district study
By Danielle Toth
Westshore
Published March 17, 2010

Although the study of a potential regional fire district is not yet completed, officials from Emergency Services Consulting International, the firm conducting the study, hosted public meetings last week to inform the public about its progress. They also answered questions from the approximately 35 people in attendance, ranging from firefighters and fire chiefs to area mayors and local residents.

“We scheduled the public meetings at a strategic point in the study,” Phil Kouwe, project manager for ESCI, said. “The purpose of the meetings is really two-fold. We feel that during the planning process, we really should have a public input opportunity. We want the public to learn what’s going on and have the opportunity to submit feedback. We also want to provide an update on our analysis.”

While the study has not yet determined if a regional fire district or authority would be feasible for the seven cities – Bay Village, Fairview Park, Lakewood, North Olmsted, North Ridgeville, Rocky River and Westlake – Kouwe noted the cities already operate similarly. ESCI’s analysis evaluated the departments’ organization; governance; management; current resources, such as facilities, apparatuses and staffing; support programs; dispatch and communication; and service delivery, such as deployment capability and response time.

Kouwe highlighted the cities’ four-minute travel time capability, which is the national standard. While there are pockets in the cities outside the four-minute travel time – some of which are areas where there are no streets, such as parks – the majority of the area is covered, he said.

ESCI also looked at overlap between the coverage areas. Some overlap is necessary when cities receive multiple calls, especially in densely populated areas or areas with a higher risk of flammability.

“The fire station locations are very complimentary to each other,” Kouwe said. “Performance wise, the departments are doing pretty well.”

ESCI also evaluated the potential fluctuation in the cities’ population growth. The company found population growth should be steady, except in North Ridgeville, where there are more rural areas and plans for development, Kouwe said. However, the cities’ use of emergency medical services will most likely increase, Kouwe said.

“We looked at changes in demographics, specifically aging,” Kouwe said. “As a population ages, they are more likely to utilize EMS services. The call volume should go up some.”

Kouwe also noted if the cities were to merge, there would be a decrease in travel time, cross-staffing and call-back overtime. Because units would respond based upon the closest station to the call rather than city boundary lines, seconds could be shaved off each call’s travel time. Also, one district would not need seven fire chiefs, for example, so jobs could be allocated to other areas, such as fire safety and education. And because stations within the potential district would cover for a station that was called out, individual stations would not need to call in overtime hours to cover a station.

Rocky River Mayor Pam Bobst said she was pleased with the presentation.

“What struck me about them (ESCI) when I read the proposal is this is a very practical, reasonable, grounded approach that says if consolidating doesn’t make sense financially or for any other reasons, they won’t recommend it,” she said. “They’ve recommended full consolidation only a small number of times.”

Many residents support the idea of consolidating regional services.

“I think regionalizing our fire departments is a good idea,” Rocky River resident Ellen Todia said. “The cities already help each other out when additional trucks or manpower are needed with larger fires and disasters, and we also share Hazmat and other equipment. So we are already sharing resources. I hope the study will point out additional ways to share resources and conserve our limited tax dollars.”

Eric Van Scyoc, a Bay Village resident, is friends with several firefighters and is concerned about their reaction to potential consolidation.

“While there is merit in exploring cooperation, firefighters are very dedicated to the people they serve and will resist any change that might leave vulnerable the people in their home community,” he said.

ESCI will continue its study in the next few months and expects to have a draft report in April or May, Kouwe said. It will then be up to the seven cities’ mayors to decide what steps, if any, to take.

Previous West Life articles:

• Regional fire district considered by Westshore cities (Sept. 24, 2008)
• Regional fire study to begin (July 15, 2009)
• $100K grant fires up COG study (Aug. 12, 2009)