The STFD is on schedule to complete the capital improvement plan approved by the community in 2008. We anticipate delivery of our three new, fully equipped, rescue engines this fall, and will complete the renovation to Station # 4 in the next several months. Upon completion of the renovation, the Fire Department administrative offices will move to Station # 4. Please watch for a ribbon-cutting annoucement shortly. Property at Whiteford and Haddon has been acquired fro Station # 3, and groundbreaking will occur when all permits have been issued. We anticipate securing locations for Stations # 1 and # 2 within the next several weeks, and will be on target for our construction schedule. A separate report to the community will be issued, detailing the construction schedule once properties and permits have been finalized.
The new fire stations will utilize green and energy-efficient technologies whenever possible. Solar water heating systems will be installed, and building practices and materials with reduced environmental impact will be utilzied. We continue to puruse environmentally responsible building practices and green technologies for all new construciton. Additionally, the fire department has been diligent in seeking additional funding soruces through grant applications.
We have initiated a district-wide fire hydrant inspection and evaluation program. All fire hydrants in the northeast quadrant of the township have been checked and repaired when neccessary. We plan to continue our inspection of all fire hydrants by the end of 2009. We enhanced the department's Commercial Building Inspection Program in 2008, which now provides a more structured and frequent fire safety evaluation of all commercial buildings in the district. This ongoing inspection program is a vital part of fire prevention and public education efforts in the community.
The department is actively involved in recruitment for several positions in the fire department. Deputy Chief Tom Eisel, a 32-year veteran of the STFD, will retire this summer. Congratulations and thank you Tom! We have begun a recruitment and hiring process to fill the position of Deputy Chief. In addition, we are winding up the hiring process for new firefighter/paramedics. We have an outstanding candidate pool, and will be proceeding with the final steps of the hiring process.
The township has upgraded the "live burn" training tower located behind the police department on King Road. Our firefighters now have improved opportunities to train in a safe and controlled environment. Additionally, we ahve been training our firefighter/paramedics on driving the new resce engines and aerial ladder truck in anticipation of recieving delivery of our new apparatus this fall and winter.
Deputy Fire Chief Tom Eisel will be retiring from the Sylvania Township Fire Department on July 10th, 2009. Hired as a Firefighter on March 24th, 1977 and certified December 1977 as a Paramedic, Tom was one of the original nine paramedics for Sylvania Township. Tom was promoted to Lieutenant on July 23rd, 1995 and promoted to Deputy Chief on October 23rd, 2003. Tom has served as a firefighter and was an approved driver/oeprator of every piece of heavy apparatus in the department's fleet. For many years, Tom served as a Life Squad paramedic and has been nicknamed "Doc" Eisel, reflecting his service on the unit. As Deputy Chief, Tom was also the Township's Fire Marshal and he embraced that position with passion. Additionally, Tom is the primary fire investigator for the department and is routinely called out to determine the cause and origin of fires within our community.
Tom's duties include public fire safety education such as Safety Town, Citizens Emergency Response Training (CERT), Juvenile Fire Setter counseling, fire code enforcement and plan review for new or renovated structures, and inspections of all commercial properties within the district as well as any residential fire inspections that are requested by the public. Special projects he has helped with include Fire Station #4 (Sylvania Avenue) construction and site identificaiton for the new Fire Station #3 (Whiteford/Monroe).
Tom participated with the greater Toledo Fire Fighter's Pipes and Drum Corps, marching with and playing drums for the group. As an active community volunteer, Tom has been involved in a non-profit fund raising for the MDA, was a Board member of the Sylvania Area Family Services, and was a Little League coach. Tom is a private pilot and enjoys riding his motorcycle and other outdoor activities.
Tom is married with three children. Two of his children have graduated from college. Tom's wife, Sue is a teaching nurse and a long term health care professional. Tom plans to do some traveling with his wife and family and enjoy retirement.
Tom has helped thousands of people in need throughout his 32 year career. We wish him happiness and health in his retirement, and we hlpe he knows that he will always be part of our fire service family.
On Tuesday, June 30th, Twp. Trustees Carol Contrada and DeeDee Liedel as well as City of Sylvania Council members Michael Brown and Katie Cappellini took part in a “Feel the Heat” program sponsored by the STFD. The participants participated in a fire investigation presentation with D/C Eisel and took part in live training evolutions. The participants were assisted by STFD personnel in donning their turnout gear, applying their SCBA and advancing hoselines into the structure. Participants took part in extinguishing training fires on the second floor of the structure.
For more information regarding this training follow the following link for coverage from the Toledo Blade:
Toledo Blade "Feel the Heat"