Union Meeting

Monday January 11, 2010

20:00 hours

Union Hall

 

REMINDER:

Final Round of Nominations will be opened

for Vice President and two Executive Board Positions.

 

 Any Questions or concerns may be directed to President Turner.

 (302) 540-6686

(POSTED 1/7/2010) KOT

 

 

Thanksgiving Food Drive

           This year in addition to 60 families that we help during The Christmas Food & Toy Drive, The Wilmington Firefighter's Holiday Fund will be providing Thanksgiving Food Baskets to 20 needy families within the City of Wilmington. I'm asking for members to help with time or donations. I will be delivering boxes or plastic bins to all Wilmington Fire Stations, Fire Marshals' Office and The Fire Chief's Office. All wishing to donate food may stop by one of the above locations and place items in one of the containers.  Anyone wishing to help with time or give cash donations may contact me @ (302) 420-1780 or can deposit directly into or Fire & Police Credit Union account.

      Let's make this a great and memorable Thanksgiving Season for some special families. If anyone knows of a family or elders that may need some help this season do not hesitate to forward the information to me before November 7, 2009 so I can place them on The Thanksgiving and/or The Christmas list. More info with place, dates and times will be forwarded.

 

** The more help I receive,

the more families I can help. THANK YOU.**

 

  

Gabriel M. Pabon Jr.

Wilmington Fire Department

Firefighter/EMT-B

Work: (302) 571-4591

Cell: (302) 420-1780

 (POSTED 10/22/2009 KOT)

 

Response to Rolling Bypass Question

 

The Honorable Councilwoman Shabazz,

 

     I just had the opportunity to read you very nice comments about the Wilmington Fire Department and their response to the 1200 block of Peach Street yesterday. I know the men and women of our department are greatly appreciative. 

 

     However, I am providing you and all of your fellow council members with additional information that you are probably not aware of and when this information is publicly disclosed it will spur questions for the fire department from you, your fellow council members and your constituents.

 

    I am attaching a spreadsheet of fire department unit response times that clearly illustrate the demand for Fire Department services just prior to the fire on Peach Street, as well as additional information about the incident that clearly shows that while the department did have a Battalion Chief onscene in 2 minutes and 36 seconds, no fire suppression units were onscene for approximately two minutes after his arrival.

The first arriving engine company (Squrt4) had to respond from a previous run in the 2000 block of Baynard Blvd. It took 5 minutes and 23 seconds before this Engine arrived at the fire scene and was able to attack the fire, the Ladder Company arrived in 5 minutes and 24 seconds, almost simultaneously with the Engine.

The extended response time of the Engine Company was caused by the rolling bypass as well as a number of companies that were placed in bypass for EMT training at the Public Safety Building. In many cities a 5-6 minute response time is considered the norm. By the grace of God I was told a Wilmington Police Officer rescued the woman who was trapped in her home and received serious burns during the fire.

 

     In Wilmington, our citizens have come to expect a level of Fire Department service that far exceeds the national minimum response requirement. In light of a 15% tax increase, our citizens deserve more appropriate response times and prior to the initiation of this year's rolling bypass they had them. 

 

     I will be contacting Ms. Loretta Walsh to make a request that a Special Council Workshop be set for all sitting council members, in regard to providing information about day to day Fire Department response and operations. I would like to see a cooperative effort between the Union and the Fire Administration in the planning and execution of this workshop.  

 

     If you have any questions or concerns that I may address, please feel free to e-mail me or call me at (302) 540-6686. Thank you for you time in this matter.

 

Sincerely,

 

Kevin O. Turner - President

Wilmington Firefighter's Association

Local 1590

 

CC: All Wilmington City Council Members

 

 

 

11:42:18 AM		Minutes/Seconds		1222 Peach Street	House Fire/Subject Trapped	2009-13636
11:42:18 AM	11:47:41 AM	5:23	SQ4	1222 Peach Street	House Fire/Subject Trapped
11:42:25 AM	11:45:01 AM	2:36	Battalion 1	1222 Peach Street	House Fire/Subject Trapped
11:42:25 AM	11:47:57 AM	5:32	Battalion 5	1222 Peach Street	House Fire/Subject Trapped
11:42:25 AM	11:47:51 AM	5:24	Tower 2	1222 Peach Street	House Fire/Subject Trapped
11:42:25 AM	11:45:01 AM	2:36	F8 (PIO)	1222 Peach Street	House Fire/Subject Trapped
11:44:01 AM	11:49:26 AM	5:25	Engine 6	1222 Peach Street	House Fire/Subject Trapped
11:44:04 AM	11:48:07 AM	4:03	PA4	1222 Peach Street	House Fire/Subject Trapped
11:44:22 AM	11:52:10 AM	7:45	Rescue 1	1222 Peach Street	House Fire/Subject Trapped
11:46:42 AM	Unknown	0:00	Engine 5	1222 Peach Street	House Fire/Subject Trapped
11:46:59 AM	11:47:02 AM	0:03	Deputy 2	1222 Peach Street	House Fire/Subject Trapped
11:50:33 AM	11:51:29 AM	0:56	SB2	1222 Peach Street	House Fire/Subject Trapped
11:50:46 AM	11:58:58 AM	8:12	PA1	1222 Peach Street	House Fire/Subject Trapped
11:52:48 AM	11:54:47 AM	5:59	Deputy3	1222 Peach Street	House Fire/Subject Trapped
11:55:05 AM	12:04:47 PM	9:02	FM13	1222 Peach Street	House Fire/Subject Trapped
11:57:14 AM	11:57:46 AM	0:32	PA101	1222 Peach Street	House Fire/Subject Trapped
12:00:57 AM	Unknown	0:00	FM18	1222 Peach Street	House Fire/Subject Trapped
12:12:26 AM	12:12:30 PM	0:04	FM16	1222 Peach Street	House Fire/Subject Trapped

 

SQ4- Engine Co. responded from 2000 Block of Baynard Blvd – Incident # 13632 (1^st arriving Engine)

Battalion 1 – 1^st F.D. unit onscene

Battalion 5 – 2^nd due Battalion Chief

Tower 2 – Ladder Co. responded from 3^rd/Union Streets (Station 6 – Short staffed w/3 Firefighters)

F8 – Public Information Officer

Engine 6 – Engine Co. responded from 4th/Delamore Streets – Incident # 13633

PA4,PA1, Basic Life Support Ambulanes

Rescue 1- Heavy Rescue Co. responded from Public Safety Bldg.

Engine 5 – Engine Co. responded from 1900 Block of W 9^th Street

- Incident #16335

SB2 – Engine Co. responded delayed from Public Safety Bldg – (Normally 1^st due)

Deputy Chief 3 – City Fire Marshall

FM13,FM18, FM16 – Fire Investigators

 

 

Unit in Bypass for the Day                                       Location

 

Engine Co. 1 (Normally 2^nd Due)                        2^nd/West Streets

 

Units in Bypass for Schooling

 

SB2 – (1^st Due)                                                    Public Safety Bldg

Engine 3 – (Normally 3^rd Due)                            Public Safety Bldg

Ladder 1                                                               Public Safety Bldg

Rescue Co. 1                                                        Public Safety Bldg

 

 

 

How Long

Can you

Hold Your Breath ?

 

What would you do if your house was on fire,

your family was trapped inside and 9-1-1 says its

going to be awhile for help to arrive?

_________________________________________________

 

A fire doubles in size every 30 seconds, Without enough trained firefighters, you face longer waits for fire engines to arrive when your home is on fire and delays in firefighter’s ability to rescue you from a burning building.

 

Yet the City of Wilmington laid off 8 firefighters, and began a rolling bypass (brownouts) the rotational closing of an Engine Company every day since July 1st.

 

These cuts are dangerous for the people of Wilmington and its  Firefighters.

 

You cannot put a price on safety...a balanced budget

is not worth losing homes or lives.

 

BUDGET CUTS ARE PUTTING YOUR LIVES AT RISK !

 

Call the Mayor and the City Council and tell them that these

CUTS ARE UNACCEPTABLE

(302) 576-2100 / (302) 576– 2140

 

MAKE PUBLIC SAFETY A TOP PRIORITY

RESTORE F.D. FUNDING IMMEDIATELY! 

 

A message from Wilmington Firefighters Association—Local 1590

  

           Staffing Reduction/Rolling Bypass

Wilmington Budget and Rolling Bypass

Puts Public Safety at Risk

 

Staffing reductions and engine company closure

will reduce effectiveness of fire fighters’

response to your emergencies 

  

Wilmington, DE (July 1) – The Wilmington Firefighters’ Association is asking for public support in opposing the City’s reduction of fire department staffing. Fire fighters are concerned that these personnel cuts and brownouts (the temporary closure of an engine company on a daily basis) will put public safety at risk in the event of a fire or medical emergency. These brownouts are designed to reduce fire department overtime costs, even after Mayor Baker has raised taxes by 15 percent.

 

“These staffing cuts and the implementation of rolling brownouts make it impossible for fire fighters to safely and effectively protect the City,” says Kevin O. Turner, president of the Wilmington Firefighters’ Association.

 

 “Taking away life-saving resources and balancing the budget on the backs of public safety is a dangerous and risky game. Times are tough. Wilmington is experiencing a downturn just like everyone else. But public safety should be the last thing cut – not one of the first.”

 

The Wilmington Firefighter’s Association urges citizens and visitors to let Mayor James Baker and the City Council know that you oppose these cuts and brownouts.

  

“You cannot put a price on public safety…a balanced budget is not worth losing homes – and it’s certainly not worth losing lives,” says Turner.

 

Effective Wednesday July 1, 2009, at 08:00, Rolling Bypass will begin and reduce the service to the City and put public safety at risk.