Warren Fire Department Articles & Posts (2004)

[wfd historian]

est as paid
> > > career dept feb 1899 with full and part-time employees
> > > full-time worked 2 weeks continuously and had one sunday off and
> > > meal-time off every day so meal leave was staggered to insure
men at all times at the station at least 2 minimum
> > > minute-men were on-call and paid according to service rendered
so they were part-time
> > > chief worked nite shift and later assistant chief worked day shift
> > >
> > > 1st chief delos k moser appointed to
> > volley dept 1881
> > >
> > > original station at park and franklin opened 1897 with new
holloway chemical wagon
> > >
> > > city service horse drawn tillered straight frame ladder rig
> > purchased 1903
> > >
> > > new north end no.2 drive thru horse drawn hose wagon station at
> park and dana in 1908
> > >
> > > new seagrave auto hose wagon/chemical truck in 1911 for central
> > > station at park and franlin
> > >
> > > new robinson 700gpm auto pumper/chemical truck for central
station no1 pump in 1912...1911 seagrave relocated to north end station no.2
> > >
> > > horses retired 1916
> > >
> > > robinson pump used to pull formerly horse drawn city service
> tillered ladder truck when needed
> > >
> > > jackson auto converted for fire duty as no3 in 1916 for minor
alarms at central fire station
> > >
> > > dec 31 1917 delivery of seagrave 900gpm pump no 4 for central
station
> > >
> > > 1918 seagrave 75ft straight frame tillered hook and ladder
aerial truck for central station
> > >
> > > dec 25 1918 old no2 station at dana and park replaced by new
> building at park and hall; old torn down to make way for ohio lamp
works
> > >
> circa 1918 assistant chief drennan died of spanish flu
> > >
> > > nov 1920 american lafrance 750gpm pump no.3 to replace damaged 1916 jackson auto fire unit
> > >
> > > oct 1921 new seagrave pump no1 1000gpm for central station and
new seagrave city service truck for central station
> > >
> > > jan 1922 new west side no.3 station opened with 1920 american
> lafrance 750gpm pump at w. market and nevada
> > >
> > > 1929 american lafrance master 200 series first off the line from
> > > elmira ny plant no.5 pump for central station 1250gpm
> > >
> > > 1931 chief dk moser passes and edwin oldacres is appointed
chief after serving as captain originally appointed 1921
> > >
> > > july 1931 new east end station opened at youngstown rd and
homewood
>
> 1911 seagrave hose wagon and 1912 robinson pumper decomissioned
>
> > > with 1917 segrave no.4 pump
> > >
> > > 1932 seagrave city service truck purchased 1921 completely
rebuilt by seagrave to like new condition
>
> 1.5 inch hose introduced for first time in wfd
> > >
> > > 1936
> > > hotel fire next to present bank one killed 4 residents and
required response from niles,girard,newton falls, and youngstown to
extinguish
> > >
> > > 1936
>
> > > 1917 and 1921 seagrave pumps rebuilt to like new condition by
> > > seagrave
> > >
> > > 1939 nov
> > > new closed cab american lafrance 500 series 85ft
> > > all-steel hydraulic aerial tillered ladder truck to central
station replacing 1918 seagrave 75ft
> > > new truck labeled H&L Co 1
> > >
> > > 1943 new seagrave closed cab k series 750gpm pump to central
station
> > >
> > > new american lafrance 500 series closed cab 750gpm pump no.2 to
> west side station
> > >
> > > new mack commercial chassis E series pumper/tanker
500gpm/600gwt to central station emergency truck
> > >
> > >
> > > 1948
> > >
> > > new seagrave jr aerial 65ft w/booster ladder co 2 to central
> station replacing 1921/32 seagrave service truck
> > >
> > >
> > > 1949
> > >
> > > new international commercial chassis/american fire apparatus
> > > pumper/tanker 500gpm/600gwt to central station emergncy truck
no1
> > >
> > > 1943 mack pumper/tanker relocated to east end station no4
> > >
> > >
> > > 1951 feb
> > > 2 new american lafrance 1250gpm pumpers 700 series closed cab to central station no1 pumper and north end station no2 pumper
> > >
> > > sept 1953
> > >
> > > edwin oldacres passes and nov 1953 george mock -
chief...appointed 1921
> > >
> > >
> > > 1954 dodge/powerwagon brush unit to no3 station at nevada and w
market
> >
> > 1917/36 seagrave pumper no7 decomissioned
> > >
> > >
> > > 1957
> > >
> > > new northeast fire station no.5 at atlantic st and kenilworth av
> but not opened till early 1960 due to lack of manpower
> > >
> > > new seagrave anniversary series pumper no5 1250gpm to reserve at central station
> > >
> > > 1959
> > > market house commercial block general alarm at high and park
> > > no1,2,3,4,5,6, pumps, ladders 1,2 emergency truck no16 ,18
> > >
> > >
> > > 1960
> > >
> > > northeast station no.5 open circa feb
> > >
> > > 1961
> > > 4 young children perish in dwelling fire on niles rd ...2nd
alarm response
> > > no4 pump,no16 tanker,no19 service truck,no1 pump,no5 pump,no3
pump.
> > > no2 pump fill-in at central
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > 1963
> > >
> > > new seagrave k series cab forward 1000gpm/300gwtno.1 pumper to central station
> > >
> > > 1951 alf 1250gpm to east end station
> > > 1943 alf 750gpm no.7 pumper to reserve
> > >
> > >
> > > dec 1963
> > >
> > > 2 new fire stations
> > >
> > > 1275 palmyra rd at austin av southwest no3 station
> > > 2454 parkman rd northwest station no6
> > > nevada st station closed former no.3 station
> > >
> > > 1964
> > >
> > > new international co8190/seagrave 1000gpm/300gwt pumper no5 to northeast station
> > >
> > > 1957 seagrave 1250gpm to southwest station no3
> > > 1943 seagrave k series 750 gpm to northwest station no6
> > >
> > > 1965
> > >
> > > dodge/fwd high pressure mini-pumper no10 to central station
> >
> > 1966
> >
> > 1921/36 seagrave pumper decomissioned
> > 1929 alf 200 series pumper decomissioned
> > 1943 mack e series pumper/tanker decomissioned
> > >
> > >
> > > 1968
> > >
> > > new american lafrance 900 series 90ft aero-chief closed cab
snorkel
> > > ladder no3 to northwest station no6
> > >
> > >
> > > 1969
> > >
> > > new gmc/gerstenslager hi-pressure/squad no1 to central station
> > >
> > >
> > > 1971
> > >
> > > new central fire station at 111 south st at s. park av opened
> spring 1971
> > >
> > > mock retires and bruce labaugh ...chief...appointed 1941
> in-line pumping introduced
> formerly pumpers supplied water directly from hydrants
> now they would catch plug and hook up
> 2 pumpers to be dispatched henceforth instead of only a
district pumper on all calls at box alarms or phone alarms on
structures
> > >
> > > spring
> > > north end station no2 at park and hall and east end station no4
at youngstown rd and homewood closed permanently
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > 1974
> > > march
> > > new gmc/american lafrance midmount 100ft aaerial ladder diesel
> powered to central station replacing 1948 seagrave jr aerial which
was decomissioned
> > 1943 seagrave keries pumper decomissioned
> > 1943 alf 500 series pumper decomissioned
> > >
> > > feb
> > > 2 new gmc/american lafrance 1000gpm/500gwt cab over diesel
pumpers to central station engine no1 and southwest station engine no3
> > >
> > > 1963 seagrave k cab forward pumper to northwest station no6
> > >
> > > 1975
> > >
> > > new jeep brush unit no7 to central station
> > >
> > > 1976
> > >
> > > july
> > > 2 new american lafrance pioneer III pumpers 1000gpm/500gwt to
> central station engine no1 and southwest station engine no3
> > >
> > > 1974 gmc/alf 1000/500s to northeast station no5 and
> > > northwest station no6
> > >
> > > 1964 int/sgr decomissioned
> > > 1963 sgr pumper to reserve no6 pumper
> > 2- 1951 alfs 700 series nos 2 & 4 pumpers decomissioned
> > >
> > > 1977
> > >
> > > labaugh retires
> > >
> > > 1978
> > > roger hernon-chief...appointed 1960
> > >
> > >
> > > 1979
> > >
> > > gmc/braun paramedic unit to central station rescue 1
> > >
> > >
> > > 1980
> > >
> > > july
> > >
> > > duplex/fmc 1000gpm/750gwt pumper to central station engine no1
> > > 1976 alf/pio III to northeast station engine no5
> > > 1974 gmc/alf pumper to reserve eng 5
> > 1957 seagrave aniiversary series pumper no8 decomissioned
> > >
> > >
> > > 1984
> > >
> > > dec
> > >
> > > duplex/fmc omega 1250gpm/750gwt to central station engine no1
> > > 1980 fmc to southwest station engine no3
> > > 1976 alf/pio III to northwest station engine no6
> > > 1974 gmc/alf pumper to reserve eng 6
> >
> > 1985
> > rescue no1 1979 gmc.braun medic unit rebuilt after accident with
> > all-new chassis
> > >
> > > 1989
> > > sept
> > >
> > > pierce/arrow 1250gpm/750gwt to central station engine no1
> > > 1984 fmc to northeast station engine no5
> > > 1976 alf/pio III to reserve eng
> > 1974 gmc/alf pumper decomissioned
> >
> > 1990
> >
> > 1939 alf 500 series 85ft tillered aerial decomissioned
> > >
> > > 1991
> > > hernon retires
> > > kent fusselman-chief...appointed 1962
> >
> > 1963 seagrave k series pumper decomissioned
> > 1974 gmc/alf pumper decomissioned
> > 1976 alf/pioneer III pumper decomissioned
> > >
> > >
> > > 1992
> > >
> > > dec
> > >
> > > e-one cyclone t/c 1250gpm/500gwt 4-door to central station
squad 1 e-one hurricane 1500gpm/200gwt/95ft aerial platform rear mount
> 4-door to central station ladder 1
> > >
> > > 1989 pierce to northeast station engine no 5
> > > 1984 fmc to northwest station engine no6
> > > 1976 alf/pio III to southwest station engine no3
> > > 1980 fmc to central station engine 1
> >
> > 1968 alf 900 series aero-chief 90ft snorkel decomissioned
> > 1969 gmc/gerstenslager squad decomissioned
> > 1979/85 braun medic unit decomissioned
> > >
> > > 1995
> > >
> > > southwest station no3 at 1275 palmyra rd permanently closed
> > >
> > > 1997
> > > feb 28
> > >
> > > e-one hush 1500gpm/750gwt to central station squad 1
> > > e-one hush heavy rescue hazmat to central station rescue 1
> > > 1992 e-one to northwest station engine 6
> >
> > 1976 alf/pioneer III pumper decomissioned
> > 1980 duplex/fmc pumper decomissioned
> >
> >
> >
> > >
> > > fusselman retires and jay mulligan -chief appointed 1976
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > 2001
> > >
> > > mulligan retires
> > >
> > > 2002
> > >
> > > k nussle - from captain to chief... appointed 1988
> > >
> > > 2003
> > > march
> > > council approves lease/purchase of quint apparatus
> >
> > 2013
> > k nussle retires
> > b smith-chief...appointed 1990
> >
> > 2015
> > b smith retires
> > d beauchene appointed chief- appointed ff 1994
> >
> > 2019
> > beauchene retires
> > j rodgers-chief...appointed 2002
> >
> > 2027
> > rodgers retires
> > dustin beauchene-chief...appointed 2011



 :wink:

[yfdgricker]

Here's another Warren FD article from the Warren tribune Chronicle from 2/17/2004...

Firefighters seek boost in budget

By RON SELAK JR. Tribune Chronicle

WARREN - The Fire Department is asking for more money after its 2004 budget came up $50,000 light.
Chief Ken Nussle and Assistant Chief Gary McBride Tuesday asked City Council's Police and Fire Committee to find money in the 2004 budget to replenish three critical budget items that received $50,000 less this year compared to 2003.

The money would make up for losses of $25,000 in the equipment and supplies account; $10,000 in the training and education account; and $15,000 in the vehicle maintenance account. The department is also asking for an additional $27,050 for training, which would take the 2004 training costs to $37,050.

Auditor David Griffing was charged with trying to find the money in this year's budget.

Last year, nearly all was spent of the $40,000 in the equipment and supplies fund, which is used to purchase hose, axes, nozzles, water rescue equipment, ladders and other gear. Training was slashed from $20,000 to $10,000 and the department's aging truck fleet likely will need more than $10,000 budgeted for repairs, despite a new truck that is being advertised for bid.

''There is not any way that I can see that making it though the year,'' Nussle said of the mechanic's budget.

A section of hose costs roughly $700, while each set of bunker coat and pants is almost $1,500. If the money is not replaced, Nussle said there will have to be a change in priorities.

''If we can't get additional hose to upgrade, but if someone needs gear, that will be the priority,'' Nussle said.

There also would be priority shifts in training if the money isn't found.

''If we don't have money for training, we simply have in-house training,'' Nussle said. ''There will be no specialized training. We'll get by with our own resources.''

McBride presented the committee with minimum training goals, including $3,000 for an ice rescue course, in which firefighters who take the course will also become certified trainers.

There also is a request for $2,700 for CPR training through the American Red Cross. Nussle added that two firefighters are now becoming certified CPR trainers. A $17,700 hazardous materials course is being paid through a grant from Bowling Green State University.

Vehicle maintenance in the department was cut from $25,000 to $10,000. Nussle is estimating that vehicle maintenance will top the $18,000 mark this year.

''The trucks aren't getting any newer,'' Nussle said.

Councilman Gary Fonce, D-at large, said he would like to see a plan put together to upgrade the trucks and other vital equipment. However, he cautioned the committee to take a look at the large picture because other departments, including the Police, probably received less than last year as well.

And the city only has a $123,000 budget carryover, Fonce said.

''We have to take a step back and say where are we going to get the money from,'' Fonce said.

The committee instructed police Chief John Mandopoulos to create a document showing which accounts in his department were shortchanged this year.

rselak@tribune-chronicle.com

[yfdgricker]

From the Warren Tribune Chronicle...

Fire crews rely on old truck

By RON SELAK JR. Tribune Chronicle

WARREN - Brake troubles have forced the Fire Department's ladder truck out of service, leaving the department to rely on an outdated piece of equipment.
The replacement, a 1973 ladder truck, hasn't passed a ladder test for about three years and should be relieved because of the failure.

Fire Chief Ken Nussle said new rotors, calipers and brake pads on all four wheels of the frontline ladder will cost roughly $5,000. Repair work is likely to take between five and seven days.

''It can't be used,'' Nussle said. ''One of the rotors was actually sheared off.''

The 1973 ladder was kept around because it was the only backup to the department's 1992 aerial. And its replacement is still at least several months away from being delivered.

''We've used it on a limited basis,'' Nussle said about the current backup. ''We really can't use that ladder unless it's supported on a wall.''

''We have been considering getting historical plates for it,'' Nussle said of the 31-year-old vehicle. ''It's a historical piece of fire apparatus that is being used as a front line piece.''

Mayor Michael J. O'Brien said he would be contacting officials in Howland in case the Fire Department needs assistance. The city has a mutual aid agreement with the township.

Nussle said among other tasks, the ladder company provides rescue and access to the upper stories of structures, ventilation and secures the utilities.

The last time the 1973 vehicle fought a fire was in a 1999 blaze at the former Hotel Regency on U.S. Route 422, Nussle said.

The new vehicle, better known as a quint, should arrive as soon as the end of July. The vehicle is called a quint because it will have five features - a fire pump, hose body, water tank, ground ladders and aerial ladder. It will be 75 feet long.

''That new truck can't get here soon enough,'' Nussle said. ''We're hoping we can get through the next week.''

It has been more than a year since City Council approved legislation authorizing the city to purchase a new multi-purpose, hazardous material response vehicle.

Nussle said he was told the reason for the delay in bidding for the new vehicle is because he was told the money was never available to buy the truck.

Auditor David Griffing said part of the reason is that the Fire Department didn't prepare specifications quickly, and there were concerns from the prior administration regarding tipping fees and the money being used for a hazardous material vehicle.

Nussle said the specifications were complete and sitting in his office, and he was waiting for word that the money was secure.

The money to pay for the more than $520,000 vehicle is coming from tipping fees the city receives from Stericycle on Pine Avenue S.E., not general fund or taxpayer money. The truck, which is not being built, will be stationed at Fire Station 6 on Parkman Road N.W.

rselak@tribune-chronicle.com

[jimm]

I'm puzzled as to wyh it took so long to notice that the brakes were in need of major repairs. You certainly do not wait for a rotor to be sheared off before repairs are made. Perhaps the WFD needs to inspect the trucks more frequently to avoid this in the future.

[YARBFD10]

Because the Warren Fire Department is forced to run their vehicles into the ground because the city refuses to stick to their word.

 :evil:

This is what firefighters must rely on when politicians strike!

[YARBFD10]

I am suprised that no one has even mentioned the fact that back a few weeks ago the Police/Fire income tax issue in Warren failed 51% to 49%.

Why don't we talk about the fact that cuts will be coming?

 :?:

They might want to order a couple of ambulances along with that quint.

[yfdgricker]

Van ignites at gas station

From the Tribune Chronicle Saturday 3/27/2004

WARREN - A Warren man said he had run out of gas and was attempting to start his stalled, full-size Chevy van at the entrance of the USA Gas Mart on South Street when flames shot from the vehicle's engine Friday morning.
Brian Fiorentino, 34, said his vehicle was completely engulfed by the fire within three minutes at the gas station's entrance - feet from gas pumps and the underground storage tanks.

The man was able to pull a few items of value from the back of the van before it was fully consumed by the fire.

Fiorentino said the van had stalled near the entrance to the gas station when it ran out of gas. He said he put some gasoline on the carburetor to help start the engine, and when he attempted to start the van, a flame shot from the engine.

City firefighters responded to the blaze about 11:30 a.m. and were able to put out the flames within minutes, according to witness accounts.

The interior of the van was gutted. The metal frames of each of the seats were all that remained inside the vehicle.

Firefighters hosed down the entire vehicle and the engine once they were able to open the compact front hood of the van.

Employees at the gas station called the department and seemed concerned about the activity outside. However, they offered no comment about the accident.

[yfdgricker]

Overtime drops for Warren police and fire units
Published: Mon, Apr 5, 2004

Total overtime rose slightly from 2002 to 2003.

By DENISE DICK

VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF

WARREN — Although heavy rain and snow increased overtime for some city departments from 2002 to 2003, additional personnel in the police and fire departments allowed those departments to decrease overtime costs.

Overtime for all departments totaled $764,530 in 2003, up slightly from 2002's $747,788.

The fire department's overtime decreased from $123,777 in 2002 to $51,161 in 2003.

Chief Ken Nussle attributed the higher 2002 overtime to fewer firefighters. Because of minimal staffing requirements of 17 firefighters per shift, additional personnel had to be called out to meet that level if someone was out sick or on vacation.

The city hired 17 firefighters in 2002, the last in December 2002, bringing the number to 75 and reducing the need for overtime. The idea is to schedule 18 per shift, allowing a cushion if someone calls off. Having more firefighters on staff gives the chief more flexibility to schedule.

A firefighter with up to one year of service earns $11.43 per hour, and assistant chiefs earn $24.84 hourly.

Besides covering for sick and vacation time, overtime also is used during an emergency call-out or holdovers to another shift.

A holdover occurs when firefighters from a shift are held over into another shift because additional personnel are needed to battle a blaze or other emergency.

Explanations

A firefighter held over for a second alarm must be paid for a minimum of two hours.

An emergency call-out, for which a firefighter must be paid a minimum of four hours, occurs when an emergency demands more personnel than those on a shift.

Regular overtime and overtime needed for court in the police department both decreased from 2002 to 2003. Regular overtime dropped from $144,962 in 2002 to $109,191 last year. Regular overtime is needed when an accident or other emergency call happens near the end of a shift and officers may stay over to complete the work, or when additional personnel must be called to work because someone has called off.

Police Chief John Mandopoulos attributed the overtime reduction to additional officers hired last year. But he stresses that the department still isn't at the 84-officer level that was promised to residents before the 2001 income tax passed.

The city hired 13 officers between 2002 and last year, although one of those officers left for another department. The department has 76 officers.

"If I had 84 officers, I could get overtime down to almost nothing," the chief said.

Police pay ranges from $14.07 per hour for officers with up to one year of service to $30.71 per hour for captains.

Court overtime, required when an officer came in off-shift to file charges, has been reduced through the narcotics division. Rather than having the officers who make an arrest handle the charges or a drug case, it's all done through the narcotics division, the chief said.

Holiday overtime and grant overtime increased from 2002 to 2003. Holiday overtime results when a holiday falls on an officer's regular work schedule. An officer earns time and a half for holiday pay.

That increased from $100,527 in 2002 to $104,195 last year.

"I can't control when holidays fall," Mandopoulos said.

Grant overtime is time worked outside a regular shift that is paid using state or federal grant money such as Cops in Shops, traffic or DUI enforcement. No city money is used to pay grant overtime.

Grant overtime increased from $44,226 in 2002 to $62,205 last year.

Manpower shortage

Of the top 10 overtime earners in city employment for last year, six of them were in the police department. As the causes, Mandopoulos points to the number of officers' being lower than 84, plus those on leave such as for injury, illness or administrative leave, and those on light duty.

Robert Stahl, street superintendent in the operations department, pointed to heavy snow and ice in the winter and drenching rains last summer as the reason that department's overtime expenses more than doubled.

Overtime in the street maintenance fund increased from $50,631 in 2002 to $102,519 last year. Pay in the operations department ranges from $9.72 per hour for laborers to $29.55 hourly for a superintendent.

Besides plowing and salting roads in winter months, which required overtime, street crews also racked up overtime responding to flooding last spring and summer. The department was called out to clear downed tree limbs and to clean up after accidents.

"Our department was on call 24 hours a day every day during the floods," Stahl said. "Crews were out during the floods setting up barricades, assisting the fire and police departments."

Tom Angelo, director of the water pollution control center, also blamed last summer's floods for overtime increases in the sewer maintenance and stormwater utility funds.

Weather problems

Sewer maintenance overtime increased from $6,192 in 2002 to $13,309 in 2003, and stormwater utility overtime increased from $3,127 to $9,771 during the same period. The stormwater utility was created by city council in mid-2002.

Angelo said he works to keep overtime down through scheduling so that when unforeseen events like last year's floods hit, the overtime costs are lower.

The number of calls received determines the response and the overtime required. Pay for sewer maintenance and stormwater utility employees ranges from $11.88 hourly for laborers to $29.55 per hour for a superintendent.

"If we only get one or two complaint calls, one crew will get called out and that's one or two men," Angelo said. "But if we get 40 or 50 complaint calls, we send four crews out."

Like the street department, sewer maintenance and stormwater utility crews worked a lot during last summer's floods.

"We had flooded streets and people stranded in their cars," Angelo said.

Flooded basements caused some residents' pilot lights to go out, producing a safety hazard. The departments worked with the fire department to turn gas off to prevent injury.

denise_dick@vindy.com

[YARBFD10]

Are you serious?  Don't toy with my emotions!!!

Is there going to be a manning increase to staff #3 house, or will Rescue 1 get the shaft?

 :?:

[YARBFD10]

Hey Greg (or Steve) can you post some pics of Station 3, to remind us what it looks like since it has been closed since the early 90's?

Thanks!

[yfdgricker]

Gladly,

The following photos were taken from http://www.steelvalleywebdesign.com/wfd/

[YARBFD10]

Is there going to be a manning increase, or will there be more overtime?

In case you can't tell, I'm pretty excited about this.

 

[yfdgricker]

Coop closed after fire

From the 4/21/2004 Tribune Chronicle
By RON SELAK JR.

WARREN - A 44-year-old employee of The Original Chicken Coop is awaiting arraignment on charges in connection to a deliberately set fire at the restaurant Tuesday.

Fire Chief Ken Nussle said the employee was arrested on arson charges and was scheduled to be arraigned this morning in Warren Municipal Court. He declined to give the woman's name.

A check of records at the Trumbull County Jail revealed Lisa Layne, 1860 Mahoning Ave. N.W., was being held in connection to the fire.

Nussle said the fire was reported about 10 a.m. when an employee opening the Parkman Road N.W. restaurant discovered there had been a small fire atop a stainless steel table inside the business. The fire didn't spread off the table, Nussle said.

The woman was caught on surveillance tape pouring three, one-gallon cans of gasoline inside the building, Nussle said, before lighting a pile of towels on fire.

From the tape, Nussle said it appeared the woman attempted to light the fire from the doorway, however, when the fire match wouldn't spark, she closed the door and went further inside the building.

The woman was then able to start the fire, which is believed to have occurred about 6 a.m. She was recognized by the owner from the tape as an employee, Nussle said.

Structural damage is estimated to be $1,000, however, damage to contents of the building is being determined because of the food inventory.

Chicken Coop owner Martha Karchut said the employee had worked there for about two years and would not consider her to be ''disgruntled.''

Building owner Joe Swipas said he is hoping to have the restaurant opened quickly. Karchut estimated it would be two weeks.

''We're in the process of contacting the insurance adjusters and getting everything back in order so we can get the building back open,'' Swipas said.

rselak@tribune-chronicle.com

[yfdgricker]

Dumb employees strike again

[yfdgricker]

From the Warren Tribune Chronicle 4/26/2004...

Firefighters get help to cope with trauma

By KEITH ARNOLD Tribune Chronicle

WARREN - Firefighters and other emergency service personnel wear some pretty hefty protective gear on the job, but that can't shield them from some of the most traumatic situations of daily life.
To deal with those things, Warren firefighters look to each other and the Rev. Charles Crumbley of St. James Catholic Church for support.

The crew that responded to Friday's deadly fire on the city's west side is working its first shift today since the early morning blaze claimed the lives of two family members. Chief Ken Nussle expects the crew will be going over the events of that morning - as the department does after every fire.

He's also hoping for some comforting words from Crumbley.

''We just brought him on force last year,'' Nussle said of Crumbley. ''He had been working with the Police Department for quite a long time ... providing counseling, and we thought it would be nice to have a chaplain on the force.''

Though Crumbley hasn't been outfitted with the official chaplain's hat and coat, the chief said he's fulfilling all the other duties of the post.

Most importantly, he helps firefighters who may need critical incident stress counseling, Nussle said.

It's common for emergency service personnel to develop post-traumatic stress syndrome after they witness some of the grisly results of fatal accidents, fire rescues and other disasters.

''We're all individuals, and everybody deals with that sort of stress differently,'' Nussle said.

''Basically, I try to get them to talk and to deal with their feelings as soon after the traumatic event as possible,'' Crumbley said. '' I would hope they would be able to express their feelings, but men tend to withdraw.''

He said most men feel they have to deal with the problem on their own.

''Unless they talk about it, they won't be freed from it,'' he added.

The help the priest offers has nothing to do with making firefighters and police officers forget what they experienced. Rather, Crumbley wants to help them be able to live with the experiences.

''What you don't deal with deals with you,'' he said.

Most civilians expect emergency service personnel to have a sort of higher threshold for dealing with some of the things they see, but Crumbley said that's not the case.

''People look at it as their job,'' he said. ''But when they see things, it's like anybody else who has those experiences.''

There also seems to be a tendency for firefighters, police and EMS workers to take personally their work.

''Many fireman consider a death on their turn a failure,'' he said. ''That's the thing they want least.''

He pointed to emergency workers who responded to the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center in New York City as evidence.

Firefighters in New York are still committing suicide because of the tremendous loss felt that day, he said.

Gary Cicero, human resources director for the city, said Warren also offers an employee assistance program.

The city contracts with a private counseling firm and offers a wide variety of advice - from financial to substance abuse - as a benefit to city workers.

''There are a lot of things that affect employees,'' he said. Dealing with those problems ''helps them become better employees.''

The service is strictly confidential, Cicero said.

City records indicate nine employees took advantage of the service between the first of the year and March 31.

karnold@tribune-chronicle.com