You are here: Home → Public Safety → Minutes → Minutes of Fire Chiefs Meeting - 09-05-07
Document Actions

Minutes of Fire Chiefs Meeting - 09-05-07

Activity:                                  Fire Chiefs’ Meeting
 
Date:                                       September 5, 2007
 
Organizations Represented:
Public Safety Administration
Department 1/Rocky Mount Fire
Company 3/Ferrum Fire
Company 4/Glade Hill Fire
Company 5/Callaway Fire
Company 7/Boones Mill Fire
Company 9/Burnt Chimney Fire
Company 10/Scruggs Fire
 
Organizations Not Represented:
Company 6/Snow Creek Fire
Company 8/Fork Mountain Fire
Company 11/Smith Mountain Lake Fire
Company 12/Hardy Fire
Company 13/Cool Branch Fire
Company 14/Henry Fire
 
TOPICS OF DISCUSSION: Please find below a summary of the topics that were discussed and relevant information regarding those topics. If you have any questions, please contact your Rescue Captain or Fire Chief for details.
 
  • The meeting was moderated by Public Safety Director, Daryl Hatcher. Mr. Hatcher opened the meeting by welcoming everyone and thanking them for their attendance.
 
  • Operations Chief Billy Ferguson advised that the office had obtained a grant for carbon monoxide detectors. These detectors will be placed in individual homes which heat with a source that creates carbon monoxide. The detectors must be installed by a Public Safety volunteer or employee. Billy also indicated that as a part of this grant, tracking would be done to see how many actual and false alarms each department responded to as a result of the detector. For more information on this program, contact Billy.
 
  • Billy Ferguson advised that the Swift Water Rescue team continues to receive training. Anyone interested in joining the team, contact Billy.
 
·         Billy Ferguson advised that the Franklin County Board of Supervisors has agreed to allow billing for false alarms. There was an ordinance adopted in the 1990’s which allowed residential or commercial buildings that exceeded the maximum of 2 alarms per year be charged for any alarms received after the maximum number at a rate of $75.00 per billable alarm.. The billing process has not been utilized for several years but the procedures are in place to start again. Tracking and billing went into effect as of January 1, 2007. The Public Safety administrative offices will handle tracking and invoicing any billable alarms and then any revenue which is collected as a result of alarm billing will be returned to the budget of the department who answered the alarm call. At this time, two billable alarms have been invoiced and paid for. For more information regarding alarm billing, contact Billy Ferguson.
 
  • Billy Ferguson advised everyone that the Public Safety Administrative offices have been contacted over the years by many individuals seeking volunteer opportunities. These individuals wish to volunteer limited amounts of time and do not want to belong to an agency. To tap into this resource, the Volunteer Cadre has been implemented. These volunteers will be required to volunteer 8 hours per month to Public Safety and in turn they will be given uniforms and the tools necessary to perform at their level of training and will be stationed as needed throughout the County. If you have any questions regarding the cadre, contact Billy.
 
  • Billy also indicated that new information is constantly being added to the Public Safety website. Be sure to check out the site for information regarding Public Safety. If your agency has information that they would like to have included on the site, contact Billy.
 
  • Bennie Russell presented information on new truck specs and truck bid information. For more information regarding vehicles, contact Bennie.
 
  • Mike Pruitt, Training and Retention and Recruitment Coordinator, indicated that the NIMS 300 certificates for those completing the class will be available shortly. Contact Mike for more information.
 
  • Mike indicated that the Firefighter 1 class that just started is full. He advised that a class entitled Attaining Excellence in Customer Service will be offered to all Chiefs and Captains on October 27, 2007. He also advised that any department that would like specialized training to contact him and he will work on getting the classes offered.
 
  • Bennie Russell advised that Franklin County was under a burn advisory at this time. He advised that extreme caution should be exercised in any open burning. For more information, contact Bennie.
 
Meeting adjourned.