Fire District 1 ‘struggled’ to keep up with record-breaking 2018

Apr 26, 2019

According to an annual report released last week by Dartmouth Fire District No. 1, the department “struggled to keep up” with inspections during a record-breaking year for emergency calls.

With over 1,000 total call-outs and inspections, the report stated that the department averaged just over three runs per day, increasing the burden on the station’s two state-certified fire prevention officials — Fire Chief Ellis and part-time Fire Prevention Officer Erick Turcotte.

In the report, Chief Ellis — whose contract will not be renewed in June — noted that the two officials “struggled to keep up with the ever growing list of mandated inspections” as well as managing day-to-day operations.

He advocated for the creation of a full-time fire prevention officer position, stating that otherwise it would be “impossible to keep up with these inspections obligations.”

Chief Ellis also stated in the report that he felt “sincere regret” that this would be his last report as fire chief. “I believe I leave the department in better shape than when I found it on many levels,” he wrote.

In January the department regained the use of its gas tank after the Prudential Committee — which oversees the district’s finances — dropped a proposed ban on on-site refueling for the district’s emergency vehicles and equipment.

The ban would have forced district personnel to refuel at the Department of Public Works yard about three miles from the fire station.

Last year the department purchased a new fire truck as well as new air packs for the firefighters to breathe while working in dangerous conditions.

According to the annual report, with the installation of a new air compressor the department will no longer have to drive to another district to fill their air bottles, thus saving manpower and time.

Firefighters from the South Dartmouth district were called out on 528 fire and medical emergency calls last year — not including seven calls for mutual aid from neighboring cities and towns.

This represents an increase of 85 calls, or around 18 percent on-year.

Fire District No. 1 also completed 576 permits, reviews and inspections in 2018.

The district has the lowest fire tax rate of any other district in Dartmouth, with a residential rate almost half that of the next-lowest district.

Prudential Committee elections for all three fire districts will be held on April 29.

In District No. 1, ex-Waterways Commission member Kevin Murphy is running unopposed for an empty seat left by former Acting Fire Chief Jeff Costa.