Staff Reports

Photo of George Berry

As of the report date, we are on call 1290 for the year. We are currently averaging 4.13 calls per day which will likely put us over 1500 calls for the year. We are seeing a slight uptick in call load over the last 3 months.

Correspondence

Photo of letter from Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office thanking the District for the help during the Quarry Fire

Photo of Certificate of Appreciation for participation in the Quarry Fire

Facilities

• I had a meeting with Independence and Elbert County Road and Bridge about roundabouts for the Independence Subdivision. They have realigned Delbert Road to move a little to the east and are planning on roundabouts interior and also on the Delbert Road and 158 connection. The move of Delbert to the east will help a little with response times to our Gamble Oaks and Coyote Hills Subdivision. 
• I met with the Town of Elizabeth to streamline the process for issuance of building permits and certificates of occupancy in the Community Core platform. We have not been using the platform to its full capabilities, but we have a path moving forward. 
• The County is on the Community Core platform as well, but I do not think they have gone live with it as of yet. 
• I met with the school district about a new school using the Frontier High School next year. The charter school has contracted with Independence for the school site but it will not be ready until the 2026 school year. They are wanting to use the existing single-story building for their school in the meantime. I will be working with the Building Code Branch from the Division of Prevention and Control to see what upgrades will be required for the building.

Photo of plans of Independence subdivision

Fire Prevention (Ryan Seng)

Photo of crews and kids during engine demo

Photo of Risk Reduction Specialist Erin Loeks teaching a class

Pre-Application Meetings

Photo of Pre-Application Meetings

• We were able to complete the hiring lists for BC and LTs for 2025 and 2026. This will be a great list to pull from when the need arises. 
• We requested anyone who wanted to, who is not full-time, to participate in a hiring list for firefighters. We received 18 of our own part-time and reserve firefighters and 2 that are in the process of hiring for reserve. They all had to complete the FireTeams test through the National Testing Network. These scores will be added to an oral board score that will be completed in November. Our last couple of lists have been exhausted before the year ends. We are looking forward to using this list for next year when needed. 
• For 2025, our benefit provider acquired a new platform for enrollment, so this year’s open enrollment participation will be a requirement for all full-time employees. Our HMO plan is also going away, which about half of our employees participate in, so they will need to select another plan. Our provider was able to offer us another plan that is a copay-based plan. With the addition of this plan, it would be a little more difficult to use the health reimbursement account that we do for deductibles, so, for 2025, we are dissolving the benefit. Instead, we will be increasing the district’s portion of medical premiums from 80% to 83% to help with this change. Open enrollment goes through November 18th. We did hold an Employee Summit in October to go over all the benefits for 2025. It was well attended by our full-time staff.
• We are fine tuning the 2025 Budget. It will be presented to the board for approval at the December board meeting.

• The purchasing committee is meeting on Nov 21st to continue discussions on Type 1 and Type 3 engines. We are currently gathering thoughts from staff members to bring to the meeting. 
• Most of our yearly maintenance and pump testing is complete. It has been a challenge getting apparatus in to fleet due to numerous repairs needed on other agency apparatus, and now with weather! Fortunately, we have a number of minor repairs needed but nothing that would require apparatus to be out of service. 
• Aaron at fleet has put together a class that will go over fire pump types and fundamentals, air brakes, apparatus in and out of service criteria, diagnostics, and foam systems. He has opened up a few spots for our personnel that we will be taking advantage of. 
• The concrete project in front of Station 271 is complete and is a nice addition. We have added an expanded landing area in front of the door and a handicap accessible ramp. We will reconfigure the parking spaces and move the handicap parking location when the weather permits. 
• Black Hills Energy will be joining us during our November command staff meeting to provide training on gas leak responses. I have a number of questions for them that will help shape our new SOP for these call types. 
• We have had a few minor mapping issues identified during call responses in CAD. Douglas County mapping is aware of them and is working on corrections. Updates should be pushed out the week of Nov. 11.

• The Academy has officially wrapped up with graduation happening last month. This group continues to work on apparatus signoffs, task books, and more certifications. Congrats and great job! 
• Career staff continue to work on certifications as well. We have multiple people working on FFII, DO-P, and Instructor.
• I missed the last CFTOA meeting, but Lt. Tyler was able to attend and fill me in. The written Haz-Mat test has been a hot topic, and there are Fire Chiefs that are now getting involved and showing their frustration. One of the "solutions" that the HM committee recommended is to increase the minimum classroom teaching hours from 32 to 60. During the meeting, a representative from Otero Junior College pointed out that they provide 80 hours of training and have a 41% pass rate. So....yeah. I don't foresee any changes happening in the first half of 2025, but I'll keep everyone posted. It also sounds like the written FFI test will move from a 70% to 80% requirement for a passing grade. 
• Everyone has completed their EPAT for 2024, and almost everyone showed improvement from their times last year. Great work, everyone! 
• I'll be scheduling the 2025 CORE evaluations in the next couple of weeks. I'm hoping to get CSU down here in February/March. 
• Lt. Neisen and I have finished purchasing a bunch of needed items for Station 272. That station tends to get a lot of "hand me downs," and they needed new things. We will be testing out some blinds to see if those are helpful for the crews to get better sleep.

Photos of EFPD recruits and staff at the 2024 Academy Graduation & Pinning Ceremony

• Several of our members attended an IV approval course at Kiowa Fire. They are working on getting their field sticks while on shift when the opportunity arises. Thanks to Kiowa Fire for putting this class on and ETO Gamboa for his assistance with instruction. 
• Congratulations to Spencer Smith for completing his EMT program and becoming certified as an EMT-B. This is a huge accomplishment and benefit to the department; as we are well aware, the majority of our call volume is medical in nature. Congratulations, Spencer! 
• Applications were submitted to the State for our “Emergency Vehicle Equipment Authorization.” These are now required to remain compliant with our State Ambulance licenses and Medicare requirement. Its simply another sticker we have to put the windshield of our ambulances…but this one is free! We are still waiting for these to show up…. 
• I received several emails from Advent leadership lately complementing us on our care to some critical patients. We’re doing good things, and it makes me proud that setting the bar high is just a normal thing for us! Keep it up! 
• ETO Gamboa completed the “BLS treatment” skills check off and is working with Lt. Reeder to implement it into the medic sign off portion of the probationary task book. Thanks Tommy for getting that together.

Shout out to C-Shift 271/272 crew today (Cole, Tobin, Tyler, Gamboa) who responded to a medical assist today . Weather conditions made the response challenging, but they were well prepared. This patient received a rapid assessment that identified cardiac alert criteria resulting in emergent transport to Parker hospital. He went straight to the CATH lab to receive two stents and is doing well. Great work today Rob and crew and for making a difference!