Story posted Wednesday, June 24, 2009
Fire Dept. Handles Fewer Calls So Far In '09
By RICHARD MAYER Assistant Managing Editor
The Prospect Hts. Fire Protection District has received 120 less calls through the first five months of 2009 compared to last year, according to Fire Chief Donald Gould.
Gould presented that statistic and many others during his monthly report at the June 16 fire board of trustees meeting.
According to Gould, the fire district received 174 calls (-13) in January, 117 (-52) in February, 138 (-8) in March, 127 (-32) in April, and 133 (-15) in May, which brings the total for the year so far to 689. The fire district received 1,989 calls throughout 2008.
Of the 133 calls, 70 were for general EMS requests, while another 25 were for fire and EMS mutual aid to neighboring communities. The remaining calls consisted of ambulance requests (5), auto accidents (1), service call/car fire (11), trouble alarm/lock out (3), carbon monoxide alarm without illness (8), reported fire (1), and activated fire alarm (9). Since 1999, on average, the fire district receives 1,695 calls per year, with numbers averaging between 124-154 per month.
Gould also said in his report that on May 14 the fire district received a refund check in the amount of $5,172, which was based on the audit of the 2008 estimated premium and the actual 2008 payroll expenditure.
Gould informed trustees the fire district recently received a $1,000 check from the Prospect Hts. Lions Club after more than $1,000 was raised during an annual pancake breakfast at Fire Station 9 on May 3.
"They plan on doing it again next year," said Gould.
The fire district is also looking at selling its reserve ambulance in the amount of $16,000 to a private company based in Utah. A new ambulance is expected to be delivered to Prospect Hts. in early September.
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