Harwich Fire and Rescue Department Chief

The Harwich Fire Department is committed to providing professional emergency services essential to the health, safety, and well being of the community. We will accomplish our mission through fire prevention, education, fire suppression, advanced emergency medicine, hazard mitigation, and related services. As always, we will utilize all of the resources entrusted to us, to effectively and efficiently provide a service deemed excellent by our community. Personnel Our Fire Service Personnel is our most important resource. The Harwich Fire Department has a long history of recruiting and retaining some of the finest men and women the fire service has to offer. I am happy to report this tradition continues and it is an honor to serve alongside these dedicated, professional, and compassionate individuals.

In calendar year 2008 your Fire Department responded to 3746 calls for emergency services. Sixty-nine percent of our call volume is for emergency medical care of the sick and injured. All of our Fire Fighters are cross trained as either Emergency Medical Technicians or Paramedics and are on duty 24 hours a day, three hundred and sixty five days a year ready to respond to your emergency calls for assistance. Total Calls for Emergency Service 3746

Thanks to the receipt of a $53,903 FY07 Assistance to Firefighters Grant from the Department of Homeland Security our Harwich Firefighters received a significant amount of training in calendar year 2008. Under the coordination of our Training Officer Captain Joseph Mayo, Sylvester Consultants was hired and conducted classes in the handling of Hazardous Material Emergencies. This Operational Level training was conducted in January and February and consisted of both classroom and practical sessions. In addition, Rapid Intervention Team (RIT) training was conducted in March and April. This extensive and physically demanding program teaches Fire Fighters techniques in self-rescue and the rescue of others under fire conditions. Classroom sessions were conducted at Fire Headquarters and practical sessions were staged in various structures within the Town of Harwich. Training culminated in October at the Barnstable Fire Training Academy burn building allowing participants to test their skills under live fire conditions. In August of 2008 the Harwich Fire Department received news that we had been awarded a second Assistance to Fire Fighter Grant totaling $78,000. This grant was written by our newly promoted Lt. David LeBlanc and reviewed by Phillip Burt of the Barnstable County Resource Development Office. This money will be used to outfit our Fire Fighters with new fire fighting protective clothing and portable radios to improve fire ground communications and Fire Fighter safety.

Emergency Medical Services (EMS)

The Harwich Fire Department has made dramatic improvements this year in our EMS operations. On July 1st Fire Fighter Robert K. Sanders took over the responsibilities as the Harwich Fire Department’s EMS Officer. Rob is a 22-year veteran of the Harwich Fire Department and holds numerous instructor certifications. Rob also served proudly as a Paramedic in the United States Air Force prior to joining the Harwich Fire Department. As the EMS Officer, Paramedic Sanders works under the direction of the Chief of Department on all EMS issues. The EMS Officer also serves as the alternate designated Infectious Disease Control Officer and represents the Harwich Fire Department at local, county, regional and state level meetings. The EMS Officer is also responsible for EMS supplies, equipment, training, our quality assurance / quality improvement program and report review as required under MGL 105 CMR 170.

A second major improvement, thanks to citizen support at last May’s Annual Town Meeting, is the purchase and installation of the AMBUPRO patient records and reporting system. This system consists of mobile laptop computers in our 3-Advanced Life Support (ALS) certified ambulances and 2-ALS engines. This system not only improves the delivery of patient care but is an important tool in our quality assurance / quality improvement program, a requirement of our ALS licensure. I would like to thank Fire Fighter Paramedic Scott Tyldesley for his assistance in implementing this valuable program.

Injury prevention is another key component in the mission of the Harwich Fire Department. According to the Center for Disease Control, motor vehicle injuries are the leading cause of death among children in the U.S., but many of these deaths can be prevented. Placing children in age-and size-appropriate car seats and booster seats reduces serious and fatal injuries by more than half. The Harwich Police and Fire Departments continue to join forces in offering car seat safety checks by appointment. FF/EMT-P Leighanne Deering, Officer Aram Goshgarian and Officer Paul Boorack are to be commended for their commitment to this service. We would also like to thank Cape Codders to End Driving Deaths amoung Youth (Cape Cod EDDY) for their financial assistance in this very valuable program.

The Harwich Fire Department will continue its efforts to obtain the Commonwealth’s approval of our Cape-wide “Primary Service Zone Plan”. Two years ago the Massachusetts Office of Emergency Medical Services asked each city and town in the Commonwealth to submit an individual plan on providing Emergency Medical Services. Our coalition, under the leadership of Cape and Islands EMS with the approval of the Barnstable County Chiefs Association, submitted a regional plan that focuses on the sharing of resources and is based on the existing Barnstable County Mutual Aid Plan. The Primary Service Zone plan establishes a more formal local EMS delivery planning process and makes optimal use of available EMS resources. Although our Regional Plan has met some resistance at the State level, we are continuing our efforts with the Office of Emergency Medical Services to have our regional plan approved. We would like to thank the staff at the S.E. Massachusetts Region Council Office, their Director Fred Fowler and the Council members for their support and understanding in our efforts to gain approval of our Regional plan.

The Harwich Fire Department continues its partnerships with Cape and Islands Emergency Medical Services, Cape Cod Health Care, and the Barnstable County Sheriff’s Communications Center in our delivery of pre-hospital emergency care. We would like to thank our Medical Director, Cape Cod Hospital Emergency Room Physician Jeff Herbst, for his guidance over the last year. We would also like to thank Cape and Islands Emergency Medical Services Executive Director Alden Cooke for his assistance.

Fire Prevention

This has been a challenging year for the Fire Prevention office of the Harwich Fire Department. An unfortunate illness has sidelined our dedicated and courageous Inspector creating a challenge in meeting the demands of the public. True to the spirit and tradition of the fire service, many individuals and Departments have offered their assistance and those who did, have a new appreciation of the technical expertise required to fulfill this very important position. I would like to thank Deputy Clarke, Susan Pires, Fire Fighters Romme, Young, and Mabile, and the executive board of Local 2124 for their assistance in fulfilling our fire prevention mission. Special thanks to Captain / Inspector Roy Eldredge of the Chatham Fire Department for sharing with us his knowledge and expertise during our Inspector’s absence.

In an era focused on energy conservation, Fire Prevention is faced with the challenge of keeping up to date with new advancements in heating equipment, building construction, and technological changes in fire/CO detection and extinguishment systems. This year we found ourselves dealing with a variety of new fire prevention issues including the storage of cryogenic gases, multi-purpose detection and suppression systems and the manufacturing of alternative fuels. The industry does a great job in researching and testing new technologies prior to public availability but often problems are not discovered until equipment is installed and the human factor is added. A key component in any Fire Department’s prevention program is to prevent fires and associated injuries before they happen. Having a well-educated staff that is knowledgeable in the latest advancements that come under the Fire Department’s inspectional authority is the key to saving lives and reducing property loss.

The Harwich Fire Department’s prevention program under the direction of Captain Robert W. Johnson continues to work towards the goal of reducing the frequency of fires through education, inspection and enforcement. In addition to conducting inspections Captain Johnson also serves as Harwich’s Right to Know and Hazardous Materials Coordinator as well as Incident Safety Officer at large-scale emergency incidents. Captain Robert W. Johnson continues to inspire us all demonstrating his commitment to the Harwich Fire Department and the community he serves under the most difficult of circumstances.

Facilities

Construction is well underway in combining the new Police facility with the present Fire Headquarters. The joining of the facilities is a significant task requiring a true spirit of cooperation. We appreciate the support of the citizens in this project and would like to thank Chairman Ray Jefferson and his committee for all their efforts. Deputy Fire Chief Norman M. Clarke, Jr. has served on the Police Department Building Committee since its inception and we greatly appreciate the committee allowing him to bring forward the concerns of the employees who will be occupying the facility. We look forward to the completion of this project and to working with the members of the Harwich Police Department.

Station II in East Harwich is 33 years old. This station is quite active due to its strategic location and the significant growth in the East Harwich area. We will be seeking funds this year to replace the existing heating system due to several mechanical failures that have occurred over the last year. We continue to look into the possibility of sharing this facility with our surrounding communities in an effort to obtain appropriate staffing levels and improve operations. We have participated in introductory discussions with the Town of Brewster this year and have identified several areas that must be clarified before any talks resume. We will actively continue to explore regionalization options and will work to expand dialogue with other communities. We also look forward with great interest at the potential role East Harwich Station #2 will play in the development of the East Harwich Center Initiative.

Communication

A key component of the new facility will be the combined Police/Fire dispatch center. As directed by the Board of Selectmen, we are moving forward with great progress on the combined dispatch facility. Present Police and Fire Dispatchers have been going through months of training, learning the different facets of each Department’s operation. The completion of the new dispatch center is the first priority of the present construction project. Once constructed, the dispatch center will be under the direction of Deputy Chief Norman Clarke. I would like to thank Police Chief William Mason, the Unions representing both Police and Fire and Deputy Clarke for their ongoing efforts to bring this project to fruition. I would also like to commend the present Police and Fire Dispatchers for their professionalism, cooperation and understanding as we transition through this groundbreaking project.

Summary

Lt. Dan Spencer retired after 30+ years of service with the Harwich Fire Department. Prior to his career with Harwich, Lt. Spencer was an auxiliary member of the Quincy Fire Department and served our country as a member of the United States Marine Corps. His ancillary duties while with Harwich Fire included serving on the safety committee at Cape Cod Regional Technical School and liaison to Harwich’s Council on Aging. Lieutenant Spencer was awarded Cape and Islands EMS EMT of the Year for 2008. This prestigious award is granted to one EMT each year who exhibits exceptional professionalism and leadership while performing their duties. He was also active as an instructor at the Barnstable County Fire Training Academy. Lt. Spencer's last shift as Lieutenant of Group 2 was Sunday June 29th. We wish Danny and his wife Chris all the best and many years of health and happiness.

As a result of the vacancy created by Lt. Spencer, Fire Fighter David LeBlanc was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant. Lt. LeBlanc started his career with the Harwich Fire Department over 15 years ago as a Fire Alarm Operator. In 2000 he left the Fire Alarm division and was appointed FF/EMT. His ancillary duties include fire investigations, communications and IT support. The vacancy created by this promotion allowed us to welcome our newest member of the department, Fire Fighter/EMT Joseph Rego III. Joe joins us after serving 3 years full-time with the Nantucket Fire Department. Fire Fighter Rego holds a bachelor’s degree in fire science from Anna Maria College and successfully completed the Massachusetts Fire Academy recruit-training program.

Thanks to the generosity of voters at last May’s Annual Town Meeting, the Harwich Fire Department implemented year one of a multi year project to update our protective breathing apparatus. This article request was necessitated due to the fact that our present breathing apparatus did not meet current National Fire Protection Association standards. Besides meeting the new safety standards, these air-pacs are much lighter in weight improving Fire Fighter mobility and fatigue while working under fire conditions. I would like to thank Fire Fighter Paramedic Josh Ford for his assistance in implementing this project.

Also this year Harwich Division of Highway and Maintenance took over the responsibilities of maintaining Harwich Fire Department’s apparatus. Centralized maintenance was one of the recommendations put forth by the Operations Review Task Force. I would like to thank our Town Administrator James Merriam and Highway Director Lincoln Hooper for coordinating this transition. Charlie Tuominen and his staff have done a wonderful job providing exceptional service in meeting the mechanical needs of our department.

On May 14, 2008, the capabilities of the Harwich Fire Department were put to the test in the handling of a Tier-2 HAZMAT incident. Just three months after the completion of our HAZMAT training the Harwich Fire Department received a call for a gasoline tanker rollover. Thankfully the tanker was actually carrying fuel oil instead of gasoline. However, to complicate the incident a pick-up truck with an injured occupant was pinned underneath the leaking trailer. Our Fire Fighters were faced with the challenge of controlling two separate active leaks from a trailer carrying 10,500 gallons of product while attempting to extricate and treat the injured victim. Initial actions taken by Harwich’s Fire, Police and Highway Departments were a true example of interagency cooperation and professionalism of all employees involved. In addition, offers of citizen assistance from the Thacher family were received during the initial stages of the event. The incident required significant mutual aid from surrounding communities and a response from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts HAZMAT Team, Incident Support Unit and Rehab Unit. The accident turned into a prolonged event and involved multiple State and Local agencies. Fortunately, due to the training received, pre-established mutual aid agreements and assistance from Eastham’s Deputy Chief Mark Foley of the Regional Planning Committee Incident Management Team, the incident objectives were met with only minor obstacles. In conclusion it was determined that less than 10% of the product was lost, the victim was successfully extricated and treated, plus the environmental impact was kept to a minimum. My thanks to all involved in a job well done.

For those who are not aware, the Harwich Fire Department launched a new website this year, www.harwichfire.com/ This informative website, designed and maintained by our own FF/Paramedic Thomas Gould and financially supported by the Harwich Fire Association, provides great insight into the daily operations of our department. In addition we would like to thank Harwich Port resident and professional news photographer Jake O’Callaghan for providing the action shots posted on the site. The website is updated regularly and provides photos, news, related links, and information on CPR classes. Please take the time to explore this excellent and informative site.

The Harwich Fire Department continues to provide the very best service possible with the resources provided. This would not be possible without the cooperation and input from a very dedicated and committed Fire Department staff. Unfortunately it is becoming more and more difficult to maintain our present level of service. As recommended by the National Fire Protection Association, the Harwich Fire Department evaluates our level of service, deployment delivery, and response time objectives on an annual basis. A recent review of our response times compared with nationally recognized fire and EMS standards show we have some areas of concern. I assure the public that we run a very efficient operation and would only request additional funding if absolutely necessary. We will keep the public updated on a regular basis as to our Department’s capabilities and concerns during these difficult financial times. It is our goal to provide accurate information so that informed decisions can be made and we look to the citizens for guidance as to the level of service they expect from the Harwich Fire Department.

In closing I would like to thank all the members and staff of the Harwich Fire Department for their support. Our firefighters are committed to providing the very best in emergency services for our community with the highest degrees of professionalism, caring, compassion, and excellence. We appreciate the support of our Board of Selectmen, the Town Administrator and the citizens we serve. I would also like to thank our fellow employees in other Town Departments; through their spirit of cooperation we continue to have one of the finest communities on Cape Cod.

Respectfully Submitted,

William L. Flynn Jr. Fire Chief