The Fire Department and Code Enforcement Office has had an extremely busy year. The Department responded to approximately 625 calls for service during the year. The number of structure fires increased, as did the number of service / rescue calls. While we handled five major alarm fires in the City, there were no citizen fatalities and only three minor injuries. We also responded to two major incidents outside the City, with the largest being a three day response to the City of Gloversville for the Twin City Leather Fire / Hazardous Materials Incident. Working with Gloversville Fire Department more actively is another high light of 2006. Not only did we respond to their City, they responded to our City on several occasions to aid in fighting three structure fires. Although these responses stand out, the two departments work together on almost a daily basis; sharing equipment, covering when apparatus is out of service, combined training advancements and the daily exchange of information to list a few. This cooperation is a year-end highlight and a promise for the future.

The Fire Department also continues its annual Fire Prevention Programs which include multiple dwelling inspections, commercial building site survey inspections and school inspections.      

Fire Prevention:
The Department continued to provide our Fire Prevention Program. This program provides Fire Safety education to schools, businesses, individuals and other agencies throughout our community.  We provide in-house tours / fire safety programs and demonstrations for schools from Johnstown and surrounding communities, in 2006 more than 1,500 students, teachers and parents benefited from these programs. While these programs consisted of over 400 man-hours, all was accomplished with on duty staff. In addition to our on-site program, we also conducted several presentations on various schools, including Johnstown High, FMCC, Warren St., Glebe St., Jansen Ave., Pleasant Ave., Broadalbin-Perth, for their respective Career / Wellness / Safety Presentations. These programs serviced approximately 1800 students and staff, averaging 16 man-hours each. 

Our Training Division also provided Fire Safety training to local businesses and agencies such as, the Wells House, Willing Helpers Home, Pine View Commons, Johnstown Senior Citizens Center, Wal-Mart Distribution, Benjamin Moore, Power Logistics, Super 8 Motel, Catholic Family Charities, YMCA, BOCES, Frontier Communication and the Johnstown DPW to list a few. These programs are provided free of charge, but require a commitment of many hours by the members of the Fire Department.

Multiple Dwelling/Commercial Building/School Inspections:
In 2006, the Fire Department completed 45 multiple dwelling inspections; these inspections are of dwellings containing three or more dwelling units and is required by NYS Multiple Residency Law to be conducted at least every three years or sooner, if necessary. In Johnstown we have 143 known multiple dwellings, ranging from three unit two story house style to the multiple unit complex such as Trackside Homes. Depending on the size of the complex, these inspections can range from 3-8 hours each including paperwork and follow up inspections. 

We also conducted 127 Commercial / Industrial Building Site Survey Inspections. These inspections are of our existing business, industrial, City / County, health care, day care and public access properties, to develop a floor plan, vital information contact and provide fire safety information to be used in the event we are called to these locations. They also provide the property owners with valuable fire safety and housekeeping tips to keep their businesses and employees safe. Each inspection can range from 1-2 hours for two firefighters and are usually conducted by the on-duty staff. 

The Department also conducts annual school inspections for both public and private schools in the City. There are currently six (6) public and one (1) private school, meeting the Department of Education criteria for these inspections. The inspections are conducted at different times of the year. This is to allow for the different environments that occur as the school year progresses. Inspections are based on the strict guidelines set down by the Dept. of Ed.; they are not only of the classroom buildings but of all the buildings that make up that particular School District owned property. It takes approximately 125 man-hours a year to complete these inspections, the necessary paperwork and the report to the respective School Boards, and they are provided to these Districts FREE of charge. 

Training:
In 2006, Asst. Chief Michael Heberer took over as Municipal Training Officer; he will be assisted by Capt. Gary McCoy. Both have received extensive training as instructors and they continue to attend seminars and courses to stay abreast of new Firefighting techniques and programs. 

Each year our Training Division not only completes the NYS required minimum training of 150 hrs. per firefighter (3750 employee hours), but conducts additional training in many areas. In 2006 this included: all required OSHA Training in topics ranging from respiratory protection to blood borne pathogens and hazardous material communications / general safety, annual CPR/AED/First Aid refresher training, mandatory 24 hr. per employee in-service code enforcement training, safety and survival training and live fire training to list a few topics. This continued education allows us to maintain the highest level of readiness, providing the best trained, most qualified firefighters in the County. 

Personnel:
The Johnstown Fire / Codes Department consists of 25 members, including the Chief. The Fire Department is made up of four platoons, each are manned (at full staff) by 6 members, the department operates a 4 member minimum staff. These minimums allow us to barely comply with Federal OSHA and New York State mandated safe staffing levels. 

2006 has seen the retirement of two senior staff members, Chief Steven Hart and Asst. Chief Kurt Ackerknecht. To maintain our staffing levels, the City has hired two new Firefighters John Swedick and Brian Miller; both have completed the mandatory 380 hr. basic training programs and are working on their respective shifts. These retirements have also created openings for promotions. These include: Chief Bruce Heberer, Asst. Chief Michael Heberer, Asst. Chief Donald Biron, Capt. Nelson Pedrick and Capt. Gary McCoy. The new officers, Nelson Pedrick and Gary McCoy, both attended mandatory 160 hr. First Line Supervisors Training program in New York City and are working at their new assignments.

Although 2006 has been marred with three members out on extended sick leave, due to injuries that occurred while off duty, The Fire Department still had 18 members who did not use any sick days and two more members who only used one day they are: 

        Chief Bruce Heberer                         Asst. Chief Michael Heberer
        Asst. Chief Donald Biron                   Capt. John Duesler
        Capt. Nelson Pedrick                        Capt. Gary McCoy
        Firefighter Kevin Hale                      Firefighter Gary Ackernecht
        Firefighter MaryAnn Mowrey              Firefighter Thomas Maye
        Firefighter Richard Palsgraf               Firefighter Lucas Yuenger
        Firefighter Michael Frank                   Firefighter Steve Maxson
        Firefighter David Simonds                  Firefighter Rich Danelorich
        Firefighter John Swedick                    Firefighter Brian Miller

Two Firefighters used only one (1) Sick day, they are:

        Asst. Chief Mitchell Zelich                   Asst. Chief Daniel Ackerknecht

As evidenced above, the Fire Department continues its commitment to the City, with 20 of its 25 members using 1 sick day or less. The other 5 members, 3 of them outside of their extended illness, would have used 0 days and the remaining two; one used 2 days and the other only 4 days. 

In my opinion, the Fire Department is staffed by the best trained, most committed members of our community, and it has little to due with the pay that they receive. 

Code Enforcement:
The Code Enforcement Division has seen the busiest year since the Fire Department took over the program in 1990. We issued 480 permits for the year with an estimated construction cost for all permits at $47,596.234.00 and we collected nearly $38,832.00 in permit fees. There were 9 new homes built in 2006 crushing the 20 year average of 3 per year. The number of renovation / addition / repair permits increased to almost 250, accounting for more that $2,000,000.00 in estimated project cost. We have seen the addition of two large commercial / industrial buildings (Steet Toyota and Fage Yogurt); in addition to these we have seen a huge amount of addition to our current stock of commercial and industrial buildings. These are all great indications that Johnstown continues to be a great place to work and live. With 5 commercial plans for expansion and renovation, and one new home plans already in the works 2007 may even be a busier year. 

Although we are busy with all of this new construction, we are still handling complaints on a daily basis. Though the number of complaints have raised this to 525 most of the increase is attributed to a more proactive enforcement policy. Nuisance automobiles continue to be a problem, with yard debris being the second. Our policy of getting voluntary compliance vs. using the court system seems to be working extremely well, with only 6 cases going through the legal system. The Codes Division conducted over 4,649 inspections for the year, which does not account for the countless hours of paper work that accompanies these inspections.  

The Codes Division was given a much need boost in mid 2006, when the Mayor and Common Council agreed with the request to increase the number of members in the program from 9 to 13 including the Chief. This has allowed us to handle the increased work load in stride with still being able to maintain the high level of readiness that our Fire Department has been known for. Our secretary continues to provide an invaluable service, while only working 16 hrs. a week; a number that may have to increase if this work load continues. 

The Code Enforcement Division operates very efficiently with the numbers we now have. The intercommunication between members works very well and the relationship with our DPW staff is unbelievable. 

Vehicle, Building, & Alarm System Maintenance:
Every year the members of the Fire Department perform a myriad of maintenance tasks in and around the Fire Station but 2006 was a little different. Along with all the tasks we normally do, I asked our members to take on several remodeling tasks and the results were unbelievable. We first relocated the codes office to a larger space, allowing us larger space for the department gym. Next we moved upstairs, changing the Business Office to the new Training / Conference Room while adding a door to Chief’s office. Then finally the kitchen, where we removed a wall, gutted the kitchen and the remodeling began. The entire Department pitched in to complete this makeover, to what only can be explained as awesome. The pride and workmanship is above all. This is just another example of the type of employees the Johnstown Fire Department has. Look out 2007. 

Our vehicle maintenance crew has completed another year of outstanding service, conducting hours of preventive maintenance along with 95% of required repairs. For those repairs outside of our expertise, these members work side by side with hired help learning and helping to keep costs down. This in-house staff with their knowledge and expertise has saved the City what can only be expressed in hundreds of thousands of dollars over the years while continuing to keep our fleet and equipment in A-1 condition. In 2006 the total man-hours for the maintenance crew was approximately 480 hrs. (if this had to be hired out at @$125.00 an hour that would have been approx. $60,000.00 in labor charges alone). 

2006 Johnstown Fire Department Fleet: 

1983 Grumman Aerial Platform
            1990 Ford Super Duty Bucket Truck
            1991 Central States Pumper
            1993 Jeep Cherokee Sport (Inspection/Travel Vehicle)
            1997 Central States Pumper
            2005 Chevrolet 1500 Pick-Up (Command / Inspection Vehicle)
            2006 Dodge Durango (Chief’s Vehicle)

Alarm System Maintenance:
The Fire Department personnel also maintain the City’s Fire Alarm System. In 2006 we continued our never ending service of the aged system, also new lines and alarms boxes as businesses expand or are created. The system consists of 121 Boxes with 64 being Master boxes located on various businesses, and the remaining 57 are located around the City as street boxes. A total of 300 man-hours were spent this year were spent maintaining, servicing, testing, repairing and adding to the alarm system. Approximately 700 ft of new wire has been run, including new installations and replacing old wire. If this work had to be hired out, the cost would have been over $45,000.00. By doing the work in house not only do we save money, but the members get a working knowledge of the alarm system and the buildings they serve.

The Johnstown Fire Department and its members provide important and vital services to the City and its taxpayers; whether it’s Fire/EMS emergencies, maintenance work or code enforcement, our Department is providing the best service, bar none. We are very conscientious about getting the job done, no matter what it is, 24/7/365 year in year out. The Department takes pride in every task from the garbage complaint to the life saving rescue, from mowing the lawn to remodeling the kitchen. While the Department has been swamped with work, the building and grounds are impeccable, the members are conducting training and maintaining the high level of readiness, some on their off duty time, with no compensation. The work they do is not reflected by the money they are paid, the citizens of Johnstown are served by a full time paid Fire Department, they do get money for their job but this Department is more than that. This Department is 25 of the most dedicated, selfless individuals an employer can have, they go above and beyond the call of duty each and everyday, which makes the job of Chief, for the most part, very easy. The Johnstown Fire Department will continue to provide this outstanding service, and continue to provide the highest level of readiness on all levels that the taxpayers expect and deserve.