Austintown Fire Department...

[yfdgricker]

To quote Squad55 on 4/20/2002:

"Can someone tell me why Austintowns squads have their numbering messed up? For instance Squad 55 has Engine 3 painted on the door and Squad 17 has Engine 1 i believe on the door while Ladder 2 has Squadd 55 painted on the door. If anyone is looking for an unusual truck. Austintown Ladder 2 is a Freightliner with a 75 foot telesquirt. Thanks"


Welcome to the wonderful world of the Austintown Fire Department.

When the three new Freightliners were ordered, the 55 foot squirt was ordered specifically to run as Austintown's first full time fully manned truck. There are two reasons 55 was numbered that way it was. One reason could have been that the department was trying to keep the departments "old" numbering scheme I can remember Rescue 154 and Engine 156 at my grandfather and uncle's station. Most likely the reason is much simpler, Squad 55 had a 55 foot long stick so they called it "55". The rig was designated "155" or shortened to "55" and placed in service at Station No.2 at Wickliffe Circle.

The other two freightliners were numbered Engine 1 and Engine 3 and placed in service as front line pumpers at Station 1 (SR. 46) and Station 3 (Raccoon Rd). When the department decided to add a second full time truck to meet the growing need of having at least some firefighters available to respond should a fire occur between 9am and 5pm, when most of the department's volunteers were at work, Squad 17 was instituted at Station 1 (SR. 46) and began responding with the Freightliner Engine 1. It was never repainted and I don't know how the department came up with the number 17 (too much Backdraft movie watching I think).  I know that 117 doesn't fit nicely into their numbering scheme so that's not it.

So now you have Squad 55 running with the 55 foot stick and Squad 17 running with Engine 1. Now a while later, someone decided 55 was getting too many miles put on it and said hey let's rotate the current Squad 55 with Engine 3 since it hardly gets used. So it was done. The original Squad 55 went to Station 3 and Engine 3 began running as Squad 55 out of Station No. 2.

So how did the 55 foot stick end up running as Ladder 2? Well the department's 102 foot aerial was running out of Station 2 for a while. That's why the bay farthest from the parking lot is so much larger and higher than the others. The 102 foot aerial cat was there. Eventually, it was decided that the aerial cat be moved to Station 1. Probably when their Sutphen aerial was deemed too old to continue use. 55 was then moved from Station 1 over to Station 2 and began running as Ladder 2.

This is what I recall but I will check with my uncle and make sure. If there are any corections I'll let you know. Also for your viewing pleasure, here is a photo of Squad 55's 55 foot stick...

[Squad55]

Can someone tell me if Austintown got a new truck at station 4 that runs as a rescue or if they just put another truck they already have into service there?

[W8YSU]

I BELEVE THAT THEY USE AN OLD VAN AS A RESCUE @ STATION # 4

DEAN

[yfdgricker]

From the WFMJ TV21 Web Site...

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Turner Road Fire Station Closing

Austintown Township is closing its fire station on Turner Road.

Trustees are cutting costs -- so as of Sunday, fire calls will be handled by the township's remaining fire stations.

The Turner Road station has been manned on a part-time basis.

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Seems funny to me that the section of Austintown with the highest or second highest activity in terms of development is closing. Personally I can think of a big reason why the department is closing stations but I'll keep my opinions to myself.  :roll:

[W8YSU]

That wouldn't  have anything to do with a levy on the ballot would it???





Dean

[yfdgricker]

From the Youngstown Vindicator Website on Sat 4/26/2003...



Closing of the Turner Road fire station sparks apprehension among residents

Officials say they still have to cut $500,000 to $700,000 from the budget.

By IAN HILL

VINDICATOR STAFF WRITER

AUSTINTOWN — The pumper and rescue trucks are set to leave fire station No. 4 by Sunday, taking with them some of the security Maribeth Kreiger and her family have felt for a decade.

"I'm disappointed, because it's so close," said Kreiger, who lives just north of the station on South Turner Road. "We've lived here 10 years, and it's just sort of security, being right next to you."

Township trustees are closing the station as part of an effort to save money. South Turner Road resident Lorenz Schill said he thinks that closing the station could put some township residents in jeopardy.

"The nearest fire station will be too far away," he said.

The station is not staffed full time. Twelve part-time firefighters use it to respond to calls. Walt Donitzon, a part-time firefighter from No. 4, said other residents on the township's west side also are concerned about the station's closing.

Reason for fear

"They should be scared," said part-time firefighter Bill McMahon. The firefighters estimated that closing the station would add 5 to 6 minutes to the time the township fire department needs to respond to a call on the west side.

Fire department statistics show that the township's full-time units take an average of about 5.4 minutes to respond to a call on the west side of the township.

"Someone's going to get hurt, real bad, whether it's a firefighter or a resident," McMahon said.

On Monday afternoon, part-time firefighters from No. 4 are expected to protest the closing outside the station. They're also encouraging local residents to attend the trustees meeting at 7 p.m. Monday at the township administration building to express their concern.

Trustee David Ditzler said he's open to suggestions as to how the township should solve its budget problems. "If they have options or ideas, we're all in this together, so help us out," he said.

Budget cuts

Township Clerk Michael Kurish said trustees need to cut between $500,000 to $700,000 from their budget for this year to end the year without a deficit. Kurish said there's no exact figure yet because trustees aren't sure if the state will cut funding to local government in its new two-year budget.

"If these guys want to protest or hold press conferences, they should do it in Columbus," Ditzler said. He added that he thinks the closing will have a minimal effect on response time.

After the station closes, the only firefighters who will be called to immediately respond to an alarm will be at the full-time stations on state Route 46 and Mahoning Avenue. The captain on duty will determine if part-time firefighters should be called.

Six of the part-time firefighters from No. 4 will be assigned to the main station; the other six will be assigned to the part-time station on Raccoon Road. The pumper truck and rescue truck that had been housed at No. 4 also will be moved to the main and Raccoon Road stations.

Trustees said closing No. 4 will save about $6,000 each year.

Averting layoffs

Ditzler stressed that trustees are trying to cut the budget without additional layoffs. They've already laid off a maintenance employee, a police officer, a part-time firefighter, and a full-time and two-part time caseworkers from the police juvenile diversion program, which has been eliminated.

Trustees also have decided not to hire six part-time firefighters after their probation period ends, Ditzler said. They are paid during their probation period.

Ditzler noted that the trustees will have a better grasp on how much they need to cut by the end of May, after they've finished negotiating new contracts for full-time police and firefighters.

He added that if the budget situation worsens, trustees also may have to close the No. 3 station on Raccoon Road..

The part-time firefighters from No. 4 said they think trustees closed their station to send a message both to the police and firefighters unions as well as the voters.

"You look at all the departments that have taken a hit; they're all in negotiations right now," McMahon said, adding "I would think [trustees] are trying to scare me into passing a levy."

Kreiger, however, noted that she understands why the township trustees have decided to close No. 4. "You can only give so much ... before you can't give anymore, before you have to cut," she said.

South Turner Road resident Nancy Welch also said that though she isn't happy the station is being closed, she understands that the trustees are trying to cut their budget. "They have to save money somewhere," she said. "Maybe they'll reopen it before we realize it."

Trustees have said they'll reopen the station if the budget situation improves.

hill@vindy.com

[yfdgricker]

From the WYTV Channe 33 Web Site...


Fire Station to Close
Austintown
Demetrius Ivory

This Sunday, Austintown Township will close Fire Station No. 4, leaving the township with 3 remaining to service the 25-mile area.

Township Administrator Michael Dockry says closing the station is necessary to balance the budget.

The township will save only $5000 per year, the cost of utilities for the station. No firefighters will be laid off.


AND ALSO...


Austintown Fire Station Closes
Austintown
Jeff Levkulich

People in Austintown are upset over the closing of one of their fire stations. Fire station four closed Sunday. Trustees say they can save money to help balance the budget. The closing means slower response time. Township Trustee David Ditzler says this is only the beginning. He says another station may close, and there could also be layoffs.

[yfdgricker]

From the WYTV Channel 33 Website on 4/28/2003


Firefighters Work to Save Station
Austintown
Jeff Levkulich

Firefighters plan to take their fight to reopen a station closed over the weekend to township trustees.

About a dozen Austintown township firefighters stood out in front of station number four Monday on Turner Road.

Station number four was closed Sunday due to budget cuts. The fliers are being handed out to let people know what closing down the station means to them.

They hope to garner community support to back them at the trustees meeting.

[yfdgricker]

from the Warren Tribune Chronicle Web Site on April 26, 2003...

Fire crews, residents hot over station closing

By RAYMOND L. SMITH Tribune Chronicle

AUSTINTOWN - Cary Turner worries that when the township's fourth fire station is closed this weekend in a cost-cutting measure, she and her southwest side neighborhood will be at risk.
''I think it is terrible what the township is going through financially,'' said Turner, 36. ''(But) if there is a fire or someone has a health emergency, how much longer will it take for them (firefighters) to get here?''

Several of the firefighters assigned to Station 4 at New and Turner roads agreed.

''Our response time currently is about three to four minutes,'' fire Lt. Tom Matas said. ''Depending on where the call comes from, the response time can double.

''For someone having a heart attack, that increase of a minute or two can be a matter of them living or dying,'' said Matas, a part-time firefighter for more than 18 years.

Firefighter Walt Donitzen, 46, said, ''If we have a truck that arrives at a fire, they have to wait until a backup truck arrives. They cannot go in to fight a fire without the necessary backup. Our equipment will move to the other fire stations. It will take longer to get it to the emergencies.''

Township Administrator Michael Dockry said saving about $6,000 is only part of the reason the township is closing the station. It probably would have happened even without the budget crisis, he said.

''There have been discussions about doing something like this for more than a year,'' Dockry said. ''The township has had times when there were not enough bodies to fill a truck at a station. By having a larger number of people assigned to fewer stations, we hope to reduce the chances of that problem.''

''There may be a problem of increased response time in some instances, but we've had times when we did not have enough people show up at a station to send a truck out,'' Dockry said.

Fire Chief Andrew Frost said the dozen part-time firefighters will be reassigned to Station 1 on Ohio 46 and Station 3 on Raccoon Road. All the firefighters assigned to Station 4 live within a mile of that building.

Firefighter Bill McMahon, 28, said the southwest side is the fastest growing area of the township.

''It does not make sense to close the station where the (township) is seeing the most growth, especially if the township's savings only will be about $6,000,'' McMahon said. ''If it cannot find other ways to save $6,000, we're in more trouble than we think.''

Dockry said a lot of other cuts already were made.

''When we began the year, we were projecting a $1.5 million deficit,'' he said. ''After taking specific actions to reduce spending during the first four months of this year, we still are projecting an approximate $500,000 deficit. We must look at every possible way to cut back on our expenses.''

Other cuts included abandoning the township juvenile diversion program, eliminating a full-time and two part-time positions; laying off two police officers and not replacing two others who retired; scrapping the road resurfacing program; abolishing part-time maintenance positions in the police and fire departments; and laying off a mechanic.

''By not doing the resurfacing program, we are not spending $350,000 that was spent in 2002,'' Dockry said. ''I expect the trustees to take other actions before the end of the year to get control of the budget.''

Township officials will be looking very closely at first-half tax revenues to ensure collections are at least at the levels projected at the beginning of the year. They also are awaiting an arbitration ruling on the firefighters' contract.

''If tax revenues are below expectations, we'll have a bigger budget deficit to deal with,'' Dockry said. ''We also are looking to see how these contract negotiations are decided.''

[yfdgricker]

I just got a look at an old Austintown, Ohio pumper 1950-60's vintage. Austintown use to have this logo on the doors of their rigs. Part of me wishes they would go back to using it!

[daysleeper47]

Yeah, but you wouldn't want it around forever, because it might soon turn into a fad...  

[Dk653]

I just returned from Austintown which is where i'm originally from and must say I have never seen this department in worse shape. How does closing a fire station to save 6000.00 make sense when you are protecting $100,000 - $150,000 homes and their residence ? There is obvious mis-management in the township and in the Department. I currently serve on a department that has grown from no career FF in 1997 to 54 career FF today. The key to this was the FD admin making presentations to the township board that adaquate fire protection is a must for a community thrive. It's the townships board and FD admin that will have answer to someone(most likely a lawyer) when their property is destroyed and or a life is lost. Is there any short range plan for the dept? Is there a long range plan? Where does the department intend to go? I say no where but down. I understand from talking to one of their career FF the dept. doesn't even use ICS or a RIT team at any working incident. They also don't even have an accountability system. These are the most fundemental things that the fireservice has been using for 20 years or more and the FD admin has no plans of using it. WAKE-UP folks, it's time for a change  before someone is hurt or killed. Your sitting on a time bomb. Everyone be safe

[yfdgricker]

Austintown Fire Stations
From the WKBN Web Site on 10/14/2003


(10/14/03) Some firefighters in Austintown are still not happy about a fire station that closed earlier this year. Many of them are supporting the efforts of a local candidate, who also wants to see the station re-opened.

Lisa Oles is a candidate for board trustee, but says re-opening this station has nothing to do with politics. But as far as the fire station goes, station four closed in late April. About 12 part-timers were reassigned to two of the three remaining stations...

Now it looks like the township may need to pass a levy to keep adequate police and fire protection.

Fire Station four at New and Turner Roads, closed at the end of April. Trustees say the closure was necessary because the township was facing a budget crisis..

Lisa Oles, a candidate for board trustee, doesn't buy it.. She lives in the neighborhood and says recent spending by the board indicates, money could have been used to re-open the station..

At a board trustee meeting, Lisa asked the board about recent spending...Trustee members say the money spent, is small, compared to the bigger issues of the township.

The township is currently looking to pass a police levy. If passed it would bring in about 1.4 million dollars a year to the township. Trustees say a levy, will benefit the police department and the fire department. Both have experienced substantial cuts.

[yfdgricker]

Austintown Remembers 9/11
Mahoning County
From the Channel 33 Web Site. Story by Melissa Mack

An unveiling of a piece of our country's history took place in Austintown Thursday afternoon.

The Austintown Beautification Committee got their hands on a piece of the World Trade Center which collapsed during the September 11th attacks.

The artifact came from the New York State Museum in Albany and will be encased in a monument to remind us of the sorrowful day.

The Committee Chairman Patrick Connolly says there will also be a memorial gazebo and a walkway inscribed with names of those who lost their lives. The memorial will be located on South Raccoon Road between the new school and library.

[yfdgricker]

I know personally know Scott O'Hara. Imagine if he wasn't on the Fire Department and didn't have the station number handy!


From the WFMJ TV 21 Web Site on 4/6/2004...

Unanswered 911 Call Prompts Backup Plan
Michelle Nicks

An Austintown father's desperate call to 911 goes unanswered. Now, that father tells 21 News that no one else should be forced to face that uncertainty and panic.

Austintown is a growing community, and as it grows, so does the need for emergency services. But one man questions why only one person was answering 911 calls -- and why his emergency call went unanswered.

3-month-old baby Brady is breathing easy now, but last week, his parents -- Scott and Amy O'Hara -- say it was obvious he was in distress. Something blocking his airway caused him to stop breathing. So they immediately dialed 911 for help, but their emergency call went unanswered.

O'Hara is a longtime firefighter who realized he had no time to waste, so he hung up and dialed the Wickliffe Road Fire Station directly. They arrived to help just as Brady began breathing again. By then, the 911 dispatcher was also returning the family's call.

But the O'Hara's say an emergency call shouldn't ring more than 4 times. Austintown's interim police chief says this was an unusual circumstance; the dispatcher was working alone and had taken a restroom break for only about a minute and a half.

But authorities guarantee no one will be put in that position again, because now they have a backup plan. And that's good enough for the O'Hara's and baby Brady, who just want a guarantee that someone will answer any future cries for help.