Norwich Fire Department continuing to work on mutual aid, hiring new firefighter
NORWICH — During last week's joint committee meeting, Fire Chief Jan Papelino addressed ongoing mutual aid issues, as well as the retiring of FD Captain Jason Gray.
"EMS calls outside our CON (Certificate of Need). So since the last council meeting, which was two weeks ago, we've been activated 19 times, and we responded to 18 of them," said Papelino. "One of the ones in Sherburne got cancelled on us."
Papelino explained that these 19 calls came from nine different municipalities.
"Six in Oxford, three in McDonough, three in New Berlin, one in each in South Otselic and South New Berlin, one in Guilford, one in Pitcher, one in Pharsalia, and there were two in Sherburne but one we were cancelled on," he said.
There has been an ongoing trend of Norwich EMS being called to areas outside of their CON area, which led to overworking of staff.
“The staff is tired. The staff is beat," said Fire Captain Jason Gray at a meeting earlier this year. “They cannot be expected to be up all night long, handling everybody else’s emergencies.”
Earlier this year, Papelino explained that Norwich EMS had to make changes to reduce the strain, including keeping a fire truck on reserve for emergencies within their CON area, if another truck was already out on a call.
"If we have one ambulance out, we’re not sending another one out, we’re keeping that reserved," explained Papelino. "If one of the crews that’s in the station is tied up on something, the other crew is not going out of our CON area."
Luckily, the Oxford Fire Department is in the process of hiring new employees, according to Papelino. This would also help to reduce the strain put on Norwich EMS.
"It's my understanding that they've interviewed seven people so far," he said.
Another big change coming to the Norwich Fire Department is the planned retirement of Fire Captain Jason Gray.
"Captain Gray is planning on retiring at the end of October," said Papelino. "So I would like to look at starting on replacing him."
According to Papelino, 22 people signed up for the civil service exam, but they are still awaiting test results. From there, the selected hire will be sent to a training academy.
"There is a fall academy, there's two that are starting up in September, and that's what I'd like to do. I've already put a John Doe in for the academy," Papelino explained.
As far as replacing Gray, Papelino stated that firefighters interested in becoming Captain will have to take the Captain's test.
Because hiring and promoting are a somewhat lengthy process, Papelino is staying focused on moving things along in order to benefit the fire department.
"I mean if you look at how the overtime has been running since we're almost full staff, it makes a big difference," he said. "So I would like to, you know, move that forward and then when the civil service exams come back we can pull from the list and see who we can hire."
"EMS calls outside our CON (Certificate of Need). So since the last council meeting, which was two weeks ago, we've been activated 19 times, and we responded to 18 of them," said Papelino. "One of the ones in Sherburne got cancelled on us."
Papelino explained that these 19 calls came from nine different municipalities.
"Six in Oxford, three in McDonough, three in New Berlin, one in each in South Otselic and South New Berlin, one in Guilford, one in Pitcher, one in Pharsalia, and there were two in Sherburne but one we were cancelled on," he said.
There has been an ongoing trend of Norwich EMS being called to areas outside of their CON area, which led to overworking of staff.
“The staff is tired. The staff is beat," said Fire Captain Jason Gray at a meeting earlier this year. “They cannot be expected to be up all night long, handling everybody else’s emergencies.”
Earlier this year, Papelino explained that Norwich EMS had to make changes to reduce the strain, including keeping a fire truck on reserve for emergencies within their CON area, if another truck was already out on a call.
"If we have one ambulance out, we’re not sending another one out, we’re keeping that reserved," explained Papelino. "If one of the crews that’s in the station is tied up on something, the other crew is not going out of our CON area."
Luckily, the Oxford Fire Department is in the process of hiring new employees, according to Papelino. This would also help to reduce the strain put on Norwich EMS.
"It's my understanding that they've interviewed seven people so far," he said.
Another big change coming to the Norwich Fire Department is the planned retirement of Fire Captain Jason Gray.
"Captain Gray is planning on retiring at the end of October," said Papelino. "So I would like to look at starting on replacing him."
According to Papelino, 22 people signed up for the civil service exam, but they are still awaiting test results. From there, the selected hire will be sent to a training academy.
"There is a fall academy, there's two that are starting up in September, and that's what I'd like to do. I've already put a John Doe in for the academy," Papelino explained.
As far as replacing Gray, Papelino stated that firefighters interested in becoming Captain will have to take the Captain's test.
Because hiring and promoting are a somewhat lengthy process, Papelino is staying focused on moving things along in order to benefit the fire department.
"I mean if you look at how the overtime has been running since we're almost full staff, it makes a big difference," he said. "So I would like to, you know, move that forward and then when the civil service exams come back we can pull from the list and see who we can hire."
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