2004-Annual Town Report - Laserfiche WebLink

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Operations Report of the Fire Chief During 2004, your Fire & Rescue Department responded to 2574 emergencies. This reflects a decrease in responses of 1% compared to 2619 To the Honorable Board of Selectmen responses in calendar 2003. and the Citizens of the Town of Mashpee: In November of 2003 the Federal Assistance to It is my honor to communicate to you the 2004 Firefighters Grant program awarded the Town of report of the Mashpee Fire & Rescue Department. Mashpee $235,000 to purchase a new wild land fire- fighting vehicle. The Town is responsible for 10% of Our Mission the cost of this vehicle. The vehicle is currently under construction and delivery is expected in March of "The Mission of the Mashpee Fire & Rescue 2005. Department is to minimize loss and suffering within oThis department continues to operate 6 pieces of our community. We accomplish this by education, training and the mitigation of emergency incidents fire apparatus (2 engine/pumpers, 1 aerial tower, two within the limit of available resources". brush breakers and one tanker), two Advanced Life Support Ambulances, three administrative vehicles Personnel and two support vehicles. As Fire Chief, I recognize that the greatest asset Significant Responses of this department is its thirty one full-time and one On January 14, 2004 this department responded part time employees. Time and time again our per- sonnel demonstrate to me that our fire department has to the Southport Sales Building at 3 Southport Drive the best Firefighters, EMTs and Paramedics on Cape for an automatic fire alarm. A fire had started in the Cod, and possibly, in all of Massachusetts. To each basement ceiling during an unmonitored pipe defrost- and every member,I thank you for your continued pro- ing operation which overheated and ignited the ceiling fessionalism and commitment to the people of our assembly. The damage was kept to a minimum due to ` community. the fact the heat from the fire triggered a basement detector notifying the fire department while the fire As a result of collective bargaining, the Town was still in the early stages of development. reclassified the position of shift command to the rank of Captain and now recognizes the position of com- On July 30, 2004 this department, with the assis- tance pany officer at the rank of Lieutenant. To this fact, of neighboring mutual aide departments, pre- vented the destruction of a longtime community busi Lieutenants Stephen Costello, Kevin Long, Joseph y Fellows and John Phelan were reclassified to the rank ness. At approximately 11 am this department of Captain on October 24, 2004. Furthermore, responded to a report of a large volume of smoke com- Firefighters Glenn Milliken, Daniel Bohnenberger, ing from the roof of Cape Cod Coffee located at 348 Main Street. First arriving units found heavy fire in the Joseph Peltier and Richard Thayer were promoted to the rank of Lieutenant. Congratulations to all! attic of the coffee processing area extending through the roof and deeper into the structure. This fire esca- At the May 2004 Town meeting, this department lated to a second alarm due to the size of the structure was authorized to hire two additional firefighters. and due to the extreme heat and humidity of a Cape Firefighter/EMTs Bradley Smith of Mashpee and Cod summer day. The business was able to reopen for Joseph Cogswell of Marstons Mills were hired in retail use within a few days of the fire and in now back October. Welcome to Brad and Joe. in full operation. In August, after 14 years of service, Firefighter On December 8,2004 this department responded Paramedic Thomas Bauer received a disability retire- to a kitchen fire at the home of the Fennessey family ment. In December, after 10 years of service, located at 251 Surf Drive. First arriving units found Firefighter EMT Michael Cannata left this department heavy fire spreading through the kitchen and living to pursue a different career path. On behalf of all the room of this one story ranch home. The fire started in members of the department I extend well wishes to a pan of cooking oil on the stove and extended when Tom, Mike and their families. the family attempted to control the fire themselves. Due to the delay in calling 911, the heat and smoke from the fire caused the family to be displaced during Christmas. 112