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Chief's Message
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2006 Annual Town Report
Calls for emergency service continue to increase to the Bridgewater Fire Department.
In 2006 The Bridgewater Fire Department responded to 5088 calls for services resulting in a 5% increase from last year.
The majority of these calls are Medical Emergencies.
The Fire Department responds to an average of 14 calls for services each day.
The Fire Department continues to maintain eight personnel on duty at all times.
This staffing level is far below which is needed to adequately protect the citizens of Bridgewater.
Several members of the Bridgewater Fire Department retired this year.
Deputy Chief John Nelson retired after 34 years; Captain Edward Murphy retired after 31 years.
Lieutenant Randall Damon retired after 29 years, Lieutenant Scott Mackinnon retired after 35 years and Lieutenant Kenneth Mahoney retired after 29 years.
These members had a long and distinguished career protecting the citizens of Bridgewater and we should be thankful for their efforts.
There have been several new promotions within the Fire department.
Tom Levy has been promoted to Deputy Chief. He is in charge of Fire Prevention and Fire Investigation.
The Deputy Chief works days managing code compliance and plan review with the Building Department.
Since the Deputy Chief has been on days we have doubled the revenue generated for permits.
John Hennessey and Raymond Wilcox have been promoted to Captain.
They are the Shift Commanders of their duty group and they are in charge of daily operations.
During fiscal year 2006, the Fire Department collected $752,307.42 in ambulance receipts.
The estimated ambulance revenue for fiscal year 2007 was $650,000.00.
We are projected to collect $830,000.00 an 11% increase.
I am recommending that the additional revenue generated will be used to increase our duty group strength by hiring four new Firefighter/Paramedics (one per group).
We have also been fortunate this year to receive funding from the Conant Medical Fund for three laptop computers for the ambulances.
These computers will provide instant past Medical information for patients being transported to the Hospital.
They provide our Paramedics with the tools they need to effectively treat their patients.
The patient's history, medications, treatment and family contacts will be in our database.
With these tools the Bridgewater Fire Department will be able to increase its efficiency and will provide the best in patient care.
This will save numerous patients' lives.
These computers also enable the Bridgewater Fire Department to electronically bill for Ambulance runs and this will increase our revenue.
This increased revenue will help pay for equipment and additional manpower which has been lost due to budget cuts.
Bridgewater State College has also agreed to give the Fire Department $20,000.00 per year donation for services rendered.
We will use these funds to update equipment.
In 2006, members of the Bridgewater Fire Department were once again successful in securing grants from the Assistance to Firefighting Grants program.
The funds for this year will be used to replace self-contained breathing apparatus and fire hose that is over twenty years old.
The total cost for this project is $112,784.00.
Several Firefighters from this Department helped prepare the application and I want to thank them for their efforts.
Members of the Bridgewater Fire Department continue to be involved in the community by helping with Operation Santa, coaching youth sports and helping in various programs through the Senior Center.
Members continue their hard work to support Muscular Dystrophy as always.
There have been significant upgrades done to Fire Headquarters at School Street.
Personnel from this Department have volunteered their time to paint, build and upgrade several areas of the Station.
The work could not have been completed without their efforts. These members certainly went above and beyond the call of duty.
In the last year over twenty members have become State certified Firefighter I/II, certified Officers and Fire Inspectors.
This training has taken a year to complete.
The Town of Bridgewater will benefit greatly from the training these members have received.
This training was completed on their own time.
I would like to thank the men and women of the Bridgewater Fire Department who continue to protect the citizens of Bridgewater.
Their professionalism and dedication to this community is second to none.
I want to thank the Selectman for their continued support of the Fire Department.
I would like to thank my wife Kathy and my two daughters Jessica and Ali for their continued support and understanding of the commitment it takes to be Fire Chief in such a great community.
George W. Rogers Jr.
Chief
Bridgewater Fire |
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