DIVISION OF FIRE

Firefighters from MFD, EMA, Allen, Union and Leesburg Twp. Fire Departments participate in a training fire on April 26th.

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Marysville City Councilman John Marshall confers with Assistant Chief Riley and Chief Johnson during the training fire on April 26th.  The Marysville Division of Fire has an aggressive training program in place with a total of 10 state-certified instructors on staff.

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MARYSVILLE DIVISION OF FIRE GOALS FOR 2008

• Continuous self-improvement.

• Identification of the one vs. 2-station concept for the immediate future as well as funding mechanism for additional manpower.

• Add an additional Full-Time Inspector to the Prevention Bureau, creating 2 full-time fire inspector positions.

• County Implementation of the Juvenile Fire Setters Program.

• 100% completion rate of existing occupancy inspections (Over 650 occupancies require annual inspections and approximately 1,000 inspections are performed annually in the MFD district.

• Increase fire safety educational opportunities for the youth of Marysville and surrounding community.

• Increased training for the prevention staff.

• Remodel the smoke trailer acquired in 2007 with donations already received, improving the existing educational capabilities to also include not only fire safety but general safety education as well.

• Work with the City attorney and the court system to collect nearly $50,000 in outstanding false alarm fees.

• Remodel of downstairs offices to facilitate better public access and streamline administrative operations.

• Complete the AVL/mobile computing project, adding 2 more vehicle laptops, finalizing 911 PSAP mobile communications interface, city server/Firehouse software interface, and the addition of Pictometry.

• Develop the "revamped" Juvenile Fire Setter program into a county-wide resource.

• Establish a county-wide Special Operations Unit with the Marysville Division of Fire taking the lead (responses to collapse, trench, confined space, and high-angle rescues).

• Increase the frequency and complexity of multi-agency county-wide drills with at least 3 drills conducted in 2008, one being a night drill.

• Increase frequency of fire company familiarization "walk-through" of local business establishments.

• Incorporate critical operational, safety, and administrative changes into training and ultimately, the culture of the Division of Fire to reinforce our commitment to continuous self-improvement, commitment to the community, professional development, and our firefighters.

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DIVISION INFORMATION

The Marysville Fire Department (Marysville Division of Fire) was organized in 1845.  In 1952, Emergency Medical Services (EMS) was established and in 1973 Marysville became one of the first communities outside the metropolitan Columbus area to institute paramedic services.  The Division of Fire has evolved significantly since this time, into a largely full-time division providing fire, Advanced Life Support (ALS) EMS, and technical rescue services to the City of Marysville and several surrounding contracted townships.

The Marysville Division of Fire proudly protects 30,000 people living in an area of 86 square miles.  We operate out of one station that protects a diverse area including residential, business, industrial and agricultural uses.  Our department is a public department whose members are on a paid status.  We have an ISO rating of 4.  The Marysville Division of Fire is composed of 28 full-time and 18 part-time firefighters.

Of the 28 full-time firefighters, two are chief officers and one Lieutenant is permanently assigned to the inspection bureau.  The Division also employs one civilian as a full-time administrative assistant.  There is a heavy emphasis on organizational excellence through both mandatory and voluntary training and education.  There is also a significant emphasis on mission readiness and personal/professional development.  Apparatus in the Division is composed of one aerial tower, one quint, two engine companies, one grass fighter, two ALS ambulances, one rescue, one utility trailer, and two rescue boats.