Norwich Fire Department handles eight calls in two-and-a-half hours
Three of the four ambulances from the Norwich Fire Department arrive at Chenango Memorial Hospital to transport people in need on Monday, and officials said the fourth ambulance was handling a call outside of Norwich’s district. (Submitted photo)
NORWICH – The Norwich Fire Department needed all of its ambulances on Monday after eight 911 calls were received, including a wires down on house call, transport calls, and a call for a lift assist.
According to City of Norwich Fire Department Chief Jan Papelino, between 8 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. on Monday, Norwich handled a total of eight calls, with one of the eight being a mutual aid call not within Norwich’s district.
“All eight calls were handled with crew members, including on duty, off duty, and volunteers; and six of the calls were within 30 minutes of each other,” said Papelino. “To have that many calls in such a short timespan, it’s certainly not the norm.”
“We respond to on average of probably nine to ten calls per day, it’s unusual to have almost that many in half an hour.”
Papelino said the department needed to use all four of its ambulances, and its main engine during that time span. He said it all started off with the wires down call.
“We received a call at 8:37 a.m. with a caller stating that there were wires down, and we were there waiting for NYSEG and the property owner to get there when the series of medical calls started to come in,” he said. “Fortunately the house didn’t catch fire, and the resident inside wasn’t hurt.”
“NYSEG ended up shutting down several homes to get the issue fixed.”
He added that the medical calls were all transports to hospitals except for one, which was a lift assist.
Papelino said the fire department had three ambulances at the hospital at the same time, and that if those ambulances had been in other districts covering calls then it may have left the Norwich Fire Department uncovered.
“This isn’t the first time all four ambulances have been out on calls,” said Papelino. “Since I’ve been chief it’s happened a couple of times, it’s part of the reason why we try to keep four ambulances in service.”
“If we were out of the area on other calls, we’re not sure how long it would have taken for another agency to get to Norwich.”
He said some departments throughout Chenango County have made an active effort to improve, and named Guilford as a great example of a smaller department doing a lot of good in the area.
According to City of Norwich Fire Department Chief Jan Papelino, between 8 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. on Monday, Norwich handled a total of eight calls, with one of the eight being a mutual aid call not within Norwich’s district.
“All eight calls were handled with crew members, including on duty, off duty, and volunteers; and six of the calls were within 30 minutes of each other,” said Papelino. “To have that many calls in such a short timespan, it’s certainly not the norm.”
“We respond to on average of probably nine to ten calls per day, it’s unusual to have almost that many in half an hour.”
Papelino said the department needed to use all four of its ambulances, and its main engine during that time span. He said it all started off with the wires down call.
“We received a call at 8:37 a.m. with a caller stating that there were wires down, and we were there waiting for NYSEG and the property owner to get there when the series of medical calls started to come in,” he said. “Fortunately the house didn’t catch fire, and the resident inside wasn’t hurt.”
“NYSEG ended up shutting down several homes to get the issue fixed.”
He added that the medical calls were all transports to hospitals except for one, which was a lift assist.
Papelino said the fire department had three ambulances at the hospital at the same time, and that if those ambulances had been in other districts covering calls then it may have left the Norwich Fire Department uncovered.
“This isn’t the first time all four ambulances have been out on calls,” said Papelino. “Since I’ve been chief it’s happened a couple of times, it’s part of the reason why we try to keep four ambulances in service.”
“If we were out of the area on other calls, we’re not sure how long it would have taken for another agency to get to Norwich.”
He said some departments throughout Chenango County have made an active effort to improve, and named Guilford as a great example of a smaller department doing a lot of good in the area.
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