He said the department is performing a needs assessment for all four city fire stations. The analysis was part of MFD’s strategic planning process.
“Once we complete this evaluation, we will sit down with city leadership and determine the best course of action to proceed,” he said.
“They are in need of repair/remodeling to bring them up to NFPA (National Fire Protection Administration) recommendations. Our goal is to have a plan to present by the third quarter of this year.”
Station 82, which is located at 3765 Dixie Highway, houses an engine and a medic unit. The 2,800-square foot station was built in the 1960s by Franklin Twp. but was transferred to the city of Middletown following the 1996 annexation of the Towne Mall area. The city renovated that fire station in 1997.
OFCA identified an optimal site for Station 82 on Ohio 122 near Towne Boulevard between Interstate 75 and Cincinnati-Dayton Road. Lolli said the average age of Middletown’s four fire stations is more than 50 years, and they are in need of renovations.
The OFCA reviewed and analyzed MFD’s fire and EMS response for 2017. It found a performance gap existed in each response district between the division’s actual performance and baseline performance criteria based by national organizations.
Assistant Chief Tom Snively recently told this news outlet that the department did a Facility Analysis and Master Plan in 2010 that recommended moving Station 82 further east. He said the 2010 analysis also recommended moving Station 85 from its current location at 4310 Central Ave., to a location further north near University and North Breiel boulevards.
The OFCA analysis noted that two of the city’s four fire stations, Station 81 at 307 N. Clinton St., and Station 83/Fire Headquarters at 2300 Roosevelt Blvd., respond to 64 percent of the calls for service in the city.
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Lolli said in regards to the staffing recommendations, MFD has increased to at least 17 personnel on duty per day.
“While the study recommends the daily staffing levels of 19 on duty per day, as the city’s financial condition improves we will work with city leadership to accomplish that recommendation.” he said. “One thing we did initiate in 2018 was to create three new positions. .”
The analysis also recommended exploring the feasibility of adopting a false alarm ordinance.
“While this is still an option to pursue, we are working with the facilities that have the highest rate of false alarm responses,” Lolli said. “We are having some success in this endeavor.”
He said MFD has seen a significant reduction in false alarm responses to 600 N. Verity Parkway and 112 S. Clinton St. by working with Butler Metropolitan Housing Authority management to implement procedures and engineering controls.
“With this approach we are fostering great working relationships with positive results as opposed to seeking punitive action,” he said.
Other recommendations include:
• Consider adding another dedicated fire prevention position
• Explore implementing a community paramedicine program
• Develop a written standard of cover for service to take a micro vice in analyzing community risk
• Develop organization performance goals
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