Agreements with Consolidated Fleet Services and FireCatt Precision Service Testing were approved at the monthly meeting of the Warsaw- Wayne Township Fire Protection Territory Board on Monday.
CFS will be performing the required annual inspection of the department’s ladder truck at a cost of $945. This test must be completed yearly to comply with NFPA and ISO. The test will include aerial ladders, platforms and water towers that include operational, magnetic particle, ultrasonic, timing, load, drift, visual and turntable bolt torque. A hydraulic oil sample will also be taken. The ground ladder inspection includes visual, horizontal bend load, extension ladder hardware and roof hook hardware.
FireCatt’s agreement totals $6,400. This is to test 20,000 feet of fire hose at $.29 per foot and $1.50 per foot on ground ladders with 400-foot of ladders.
Advisory board members also acknowledged the agreement with Elliott’s Heating and Cooling for maintenance of all furnaces and air conditioners at both fire stations. The cost is $385. The agreement was approved by the board of works on March 20.
During other business advisory board members acknowledged the common council’s approved ordinance establishing a hazardous material response fund and schedule of charges. The ordinance was approved by the common council April 6.
Fire Chief Mike Brubaker presented the February activity report for the department. The department had 116 responses, 95 in the city, 19 in the township and two out of the area. The report also showed there were two mutual aids given and 27 mutual aids received. The mutual aids received was the result of the Warsaw Chemical Fire in early February.
He stated the department was notified of 15 confined space entries and the inspection division inspected, plan reviewed or consulted 13 businesses in February. Firefighters spent 382 hours on training in various areas.
Mayor Joe Thallemer stated he had received a note from Nappanee EMS regarding its response to the Mason Health Care fire in early March. It was noted Nappanee Mayor Larry Thompson had instructed the service not to charge for the mutual aid. A letter acknowledging the generosity and compassion was sent by the mayor.
Brubaker briefly talked about the fire and the relocation of over 70 residents at Mason Health Care. “Life hazards are the most concerns we have in a facility like that with a huge number bedridden,” said Brubaker. He stated the staff at Mason did a phenomenal job in the evacuation and there were 15 ambulances from all over Northern Indiana. He stated those in the effected area were not ambulatory and were taken to Kosciusko Community Hospital right a way.
The president of the facility brought up a bus from Marion and transported patients to that facility temporarily. “It took us 4 1/2 hours to evacuate and get residents where they needed to go with medications and information.” He noted firefighters from Warsaw-Wayne Fire Territory, Winona Lake, Pierceton, Multi-Township EMS and Mason’s staff worked together.
The next meeting of the Warsaw-Wayne Fire Territory board will be at 3:30 p.m. Tuesday, May 5, in the upstairs conference room. This is a time and location change to the regular meeting.