4072-R2_ML&P_TownOfBuxton_Web

Buxton Fire-Rescue 185 Portland Road Buxton, ME 04093 Office (207) 929-3099 Fax (207) 929-3076

Chief Nathan Schools, EFO Deputy Chief Jeremy Redlon Deputy Chief Jason Grant Deputy Chief Jamie Grant

Department Website: www.buxtonfr.org

Buxton Board of Selectmen

April 6, 2015

185 Portland Road Buxton, Maine 04093 Board of Selectmen: I am pleased to submit the 2015 – 2016 Annual Report on behalf of the officers and members of Buxton Fire-Rescue. Over the past fiscal year, the department has been diligently working to reduce the Towns Insurance Services Office (ISO) Public Protection Classification (PPC) Rating. The capstone of this work was completed during the fall of 2015 when the department completed a water shuttle drill, simulating the work that is done at an actual structure fire. During that drill the tanker shuttle was able to provide nearly 1,000 gallons of water per minute. Hard work finally paid off and members were able to prove their proficiency in a drill that we have been working on for a year or more, Well Done! Water supply is not the only attributing factor to reducing the communities ISO PPC Rating, over the last twelve to eighteen-months the department has worked on the following initiatives that will all play a role in a lower rating: • Pre Fire Plans: In 2013 the department began visiting businesses to create a pre-fire plan, so in the event of a fire (or fire call) responders would have vital information prior to arrival, and at the fingertips of the incident commander. This information is helpful to understand the hazards associated with a commercial building response and reduces overall risk to responders. • Fire Safety Inspections/Plans Review: In late 2014 after completing pre-fire plans the department began conducting fire safety inspections, and to date we are inspecting more then 100 commercial properties per year, and are assisting owners in correcting code compliance issues. • Fire Protection Ordinance Adoption: During the winter of 2015 the department worked with the Planning Board to enact a fire protection ordinance. The ordinance, which actually is a performance standard within the Towns Zoning Ordinance outlines requirements for buildings that are new and are under renovations. Strengthening requirements for sprinklers, fire inspections, and other fire safety requirements helps to reduce risk within buildings, and in the eyes of ISO, helps to reduce the overall fire risk in a community. • Full Time Staffing: In 2013 the department was awarded a federal grant to hire four full-time firefighter/EMTs through the Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) Grant Program. The outcome of the grant program has been the departments ability to respond

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