BERWICK, Maine — The lack of a certified driver at the Berwick Fire Department contributed to the loss of a building owned by a Rochester Street business, according to a report from the assistant fire chief. But some residents remain convinced that the Fire Department didn’t respond fully because of an outstanding problem with the company in question.
On June 30, dispatch first notified the Fire Department at 7:42 p.m. about a building fire on 137 Rochester St. — the actual address later was reported to be 136 Rochester St. The building on fire was an 8-foot-by-8-foot gazebo-style building used by tenants of Hall Brothers Roofing to dispose of trash. The fire claimed the majority of the building and was permitted by Assistant Chief Bruce Plante to be torn down after his investigation.
In addition to the concern over a conflict with Hall Brothers Roofing, some residents have cited a spotty history of the Fire Department responding to calls for help within the community.
Specifically, Ron Long has put in a request for the Board of Selectmen investigate the matter. The board plans to discuss how to handle this request at their next scheduled meeting at 6:30 p.m. Aug. 7.
According to a report filed by the Berwick Fire Department in accordance with the National Fire Incident Reporting System, firefighter John Kennedy cites the absence of a certified driver as the reason he informed dispatch to contact Somersworth for mutual aid.
“I arrived at the station and had no drivers for the Engine or Truck One. After two tones and no drivers I had dispatch call Somersworth for mutual aid,” Kennedy’s remark states. “I arrived on scene with Squad Five and had an eight by eight building burning. Somersworth was first on scene and had the bulk of the fire knocked down.”
“At that point I assumed command from Lt. Clough from Somersworth Fire,” Kennedy’s report continues. “I notified dispatch the fire was under control and to cancel all other incoming units except station coverage and medical.”
Assistant Chief Bruce Plante arrived on scene a short while after and conducted an investigation into the incident.
His report corroborates Kennedy’s previous claims.
“When I spoke to John Kennedy he told me that when the call came in and he arrived at the station they had no drivers for engines or the truck so he contacted dispatch and had them put on a working fire assignment,” Plante’s report states. “When they arrived on the scene, Somersworth was already on scene and had the fire knocked down.”
South Berwick Fire Chief George Gorman, Somersworth Fire Chief Keith Hoyle, and employees of Hall Brothers Roofing present during the fire all confirmed these reports — Somersworth arrived at the fire and was followed shortly after by Berwick.
As Lt. Sam Tibbets explained, the Berwick Fire Department is primarily an on-call department, which results in a lot of limitations and restrictions. The fire on June 30 was an example of such a limitation.
“Mutual aid was called because we couldn’t get a truck out,” Tibbets reiterated. “We didn’t have a certified driver.”
Because Berwick is primarily an on-call department, the majority of firefighters were away from the station when the fire occurred.
“We certainly don’t have any issues with the company,” Tibbets said. “They are a great and active member in this community.”
“We’re looking at ways to try and improve upon a current lack of staffing,” Plante said. “It’s still a big issue after several years.”
© 2012 the Foster’s Daily Democrat
Distributed by MCT Information Services
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This is not a staffing issue but a training issue. Getting your people certified to drive, and respond with, the most basic of vehicle’s is what every Fire Dept in this State needs to do, more so with the on-call and Volunteer Company’s. And with the weather we are having right now, this is the time to do it. If the Berwick Selectmen are smart, they are going to be asking their Chief that question at the next meeting, ala, ‘Chief, in light of the last on-call fire you had, are you any closer to getting your people trained on driving the Engine or the Truck ? ‘. The answer’s they get are going to go along way toward improving the Fire Dept’s abilities, not to mention the confidence of the volunteer’s, in the Department. It’s also going toward answering what is going to be an very awkward, if not costly, question from the insurance company’s about the Fire Dept’s ability and the local fire insurance rate’s that are going to be looked at because of this fire.
Sorry, it’s not quite as simple as just “getting your people certified to drive”. There are legal requirements, safety requirements. It’s also not just about driving. Many people come into the fire service today lacking driving experience on anything larger than a passenger car. Do YOU want to be on the road when someone who’s never driven anything other than a Honda Civic is behind the wheel of a 50,000 to 80,000 lb. vehicle, and has not had extensive driver training?
Add the fact that operating the pumps and/or aerial ladders is technical and involves a LOT of training. On-call fire departments are struggling to recruit new members, especially those available on weekdays, and nobody has the time to do all the training quickly!
And I repeat Sir, it is a training issue. Legal and safety issues to be dealt with are a part of this. That’s what training management is all about. You have the need identified, you plan for what is needed to get the job done, you plan, answer or deal what is required to get the job done and then you just get down to doing what’s neccessary. You do it, and you don’t stop until it’s done.
I’ve been involved with Public Safety training for almost 25 years . When I keep hearing the ‘it’s not that simple’ speech, usually being used as an excuse to stall, that tells me that whoever is in charge of training either doesn’t know what they are doing, is severely lacking in motivation and the care of the people needing the training or, what’s worse, is the now clearly demonstrated fact that the ‘headshed is perfectly willing to ‘go along to get along’, even if it means they are willing to let someone get killed just so their particular apple cart doesn’t get upset. In Public Safety ‘Failure to Train’ is a liabillity issue and one that Judge’s, Jury’s, and increasingly municipal insurance underwriter’s, are looking at in terms of risk exposure, management and rate premium cost’s. And as far as jury’s go, ‘Failure to Train’ has been used in at least 2 wrongful death suit’s that have paid out almost $ 10 MILLION in damage’s. Guess who’s paying for that one ?
To the people who need the training, and depend on the training, it’s simpler. You don’t train, even if it on your own time, and you just don’t come back. Simple as that. And there is absolutely no excuse for any Chief or Truck Captain to go out with people not trained when the opportunity to train is available. It’s time, motivation and dedication. Ask anyone that’s come home from Iraq or Afghan’. You have the opportunity to train and don’t, you shouldn’t be wearing the bugle’s. And sending someone ‘home’ in the truck’s hose tray is a helluva way to have the point made, isin’t it ?