CHILDERSBURG, Ala. – For the first time in two years, the Childersburg Fire Department is fully staffed, cutting back on overtime while maintaining the department’s normal level of services.
Chief Shane Phillips reports, “Since our commitment to lower insurance premiums, we have received 12 qualified applicants, 7 of whom are firefighter paramedics. This marks a significant milestone in our efforts to bolster our emergency response capabilities.”
2. Community Engagement and Training: Chief Phillips reports that, over the past two weeks, staff members assisted by proctoring and volunteering to be practice subjects for students at the Central Alabama Community College Phlebotomy class, “This involvement supports local education and fosters community relations while providing valuable experience for the students.”
Phillips proposes to use a surplus of older vehicles to acquire a pair of newer and more useful vehicles, “At the Mayor’s request, we have compiled a list of nine vehicles to surplus. Our goal is to use the proceeds from these surplus vehicles to purchase a dedicated brush truck for woods fires and to replace a staff vehicle that has logged over 255,000 miles, ensuring our fleet remains functional and reliable.”
The department reports a need for four new sets of firefighting turnout gear, for which they will soon make a formal request of the City Council, “Currently, employees are sharing gear, which is not practical for rapid response to fire calls.”
Phillips says that his department plans to apply for FEMA Grants to meet future planning needs, “FEMA Grant Award notifications have started this week. We have applied for the second year in a row for funding to acquire an ambulance and basic fire equipment.”
The Chief added that regardless of the grant outcome, the need exists to plan for the replacement of a 2006 model fire engine, which he says is overdue for replacement per the NFPA 12-year replacement schedule. At the same time, he says that the Council needs to consider the purchase of another ambulance if the department does not receive the grant funds for a new one.
“We have made significant progress in recruitment, community engagement, and planning for future equipment needs. The fully staffed department will enhance our service capabilities, while our plans for vehicle and equipment upgrades will ensure we continue to meet the community’s safety needs,” Phillips summarized.
During the month of June, the Childersburg Fire Department reports the following Calls for Service:
Incidents 155
Transports 79
Response Times June:
Fire – 00:03:34
Rescue & Emergency Medical Service Incident – 00:02:53
