Total Calls for 2007: 247

Visiting guests, firefighters, and members of the Schriever Vol. Fire Dept.,

First, I must say thank you to all of our firefighters who have and are responding to calls. The fire department and community would also like to thank their family and friends who understand about our firefighters' willingness to serve the community.

In 2007, members of the department answered 247 alarms, a decrease of 10 from the 257 alarms in 2006.

Our calls are as follows:

Fires                                                                              68

    Structure fires (houses and mobile homes)    18

    Vehicle fires (all types of vehicles)                      9

    Trash and grass (wild land and cane fields)   35

    Cooking fires (contained to containers)           6

**Of the 18 structure fires, 4 were mutual aid to neighboring departments.**

Rescue                                                                      94

    Medical Assist to Acadian Ambulance            17

    Auto Accidents with injuries                              19

    Auto Accidents with no injuries (standbys)  39

    Extrications (vehicle)                                          18

    Extrications (residential)                                    1

Hazardous Conditions                                     20

    Power lines, arching equipment, shorts      13

    Chemical/Fuel spills                                           6

    Natural Gas Leak                                                1

Service Calls                                                       4

    Assistance to Law Enforcement                    2

    Service to Public                                                2

Good Intent Calls                                             31

(Cancelled in route, smoke scares)

False Alarms                                                     26

    Alarm Malfunctions                                         19   

    False Calls                                                          7

Severe Weather                                                2

Citizen Complaint                                             2

There were no fire fatalities or fire related injuries, but most importantly we had no firefighter injuries. The dollar value of the property involved in fire was estimated to be $442,500 with an estimated loss to be $111,500. A 75% save factor.

The average response time from the time dispatched until the first unit arrived on scene was 6 minutes and 32 seconds for all 247 calls. Some of these calls required an 18 to 20 minute response because of the distance traveled for mutual aid calls to neighboring fire departments.

1868 firefighters responded to the 247 calls, totaling 1860 hours spent on scene. That does not include clean up time and placing equipment back in service.

The Schriever District had the highest amount of calls, totally 93 of the 247.

A special thanks to Bayou Blue, Bayou Cane, Lafourche Dist. #1, St. John and Thibodaux fire departments for the assistance given to us this past year.

To my fellow firefighters, who have put in many hours responding to calls, maintaining equipment, and training, THANK YOU for your dedication to the department!

In March of 2007, we received the results of our Rating, and were able to maintain our Class 5. We were able to improve the fire department's points. However, we are still suffering a large loss of points, due to lack of water along West Main St., Hwy 311(from West Main to Main Project), and Main Project Road.

In 2008, a number of firefighters will receive their certificates for completing the NFPA 1001 fire training program. We will also complete our Incident Command certification.

Many projects for 2008 are already in the works. The placing in service of a Chief's vehicle/Command Post unit and the design and bidding of a combination Mini Pumper/Rescue Crane Truck.

Again, thank you to all the firefighters, neighboring fire departments, and community for your support in 2007. We are looking forward to another successful year!

Kenneth P. Pitre, Fire Chief