Jerome Township Division of Fire Chief Doug Stewart recently presented the department’s 2023 annual report to the Board of Trustees, including this breakdown of the EMS responses by type of incident. The largest share of responses, 20%, were for motor vehicle crashes.
(Graphic submitted)
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As he reflected on the growth of the department over the past year, Jerome Township Division of Fire Chief Douglas Stewart said he is already preparing for more.
While the fire department had eight total responses less in 2023 than it did in 2022, Stewart said he anticipates that to increase given the pace of development in the township.
“We know those numbers are not going to stay low for very long,” he said.
Stewart recently shared the fire department’s annual report with the Board of Trustees, highlighting work done over the past year and how they are preparing for the future.
Along with the opening of a new fire station, Stewart said the department hired seven new full-time and five part-time firefighters in 2023.
“I can’t say enough about the people we have working for us at the fire department,” Stewart said.
He said the department is currently receiving three to four applications each week, adding that “our retention is phenomenal.”
Stewart said professional and personal development are ingrained in the culture at JTFD, noting that personnel participated in over 6,000 hours of training in 2023.
Those trainings covered advanced EMS skills, hazardous materials, fire instructor training, fire officer development and general firefighting knowledge, among other topics.
The chief also highlighted an opportunity to participate in a live fire training, thanks to the donation of a home on Brock Road.
While using the house, crews trained on engine and pump operations, water supply, search and rescue, ventilation, hose advancement, salvage and overhaul and fire extinguishment. Stewart said it also allowed the department to work with partners like the Pleasant Valley Fire District and the Marysville Division of Fire.
Aside from increased staffing and more training opportunities, Stewart emphasized the additional equipment and facilities acquired in 2023.
The department’s second fire station, Station 211, opened in July 2023.
The Ewing Road station was funded through an agreement made between Jerome Township and Nationwide Realty in 2010 during negotiations regarding Jerome Village.
Stewart said the second station has effectively reduced response time – which was a particular concern in that area of the township – and will reduce the Insurance Services Office (ISO) rating.
He also noted that “community members love it,” and firefighters give at least one tour of Station 211 each week.
The division also made several equipment purchases in 2023 that will come to fruition over the next couple years.
Stewart said a new medic unit was purchased for $305,000 – still with 2021 pricing – and will be delivered to the township between April and June. After being outfitted with a power cot and load system, the total cost amounts to $375,000.
Through a partnership with Millcreek Township, JTFD purchased a new water tanker that will delivered in fall of 2025. Millcreek contributed $500,000 of the total $575,000 cost.
JTFD’s largest piece of new equipment will be a 100-foot aerial platform expected to be delivered in fall of 2025.
The $1.95 million purchase was funded through the agreement between the township and Nationwide Realty using funds remaining after the construction of Station 211. The township also designated federal COVID funding from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) toward the purchase.
Stewart said the fire department is continuing to place an emphasis on community involvement.
He said JTFD partners with Dublin City Schools to act as the sole provider of CPR training for school employees and students.
The fire department also hosts a car seat installation program to ensure children are seated safely while traveling.
JTFD also partners with Shriner’s Hospital to host aluminum can collections and with FedEx and the Jonathan Alder wrestling team to host a toy drive.
Fire safety inspections are also a large portion of the department’s effort to keep the community safe, although Stewart said the division will likely need to expand in order to keep up with new development.
He said 414 fire safety inspections were completed in 2023, which found 692 violations.
Still, he said there were over 200 businesses JTFD could not inspect due to limited staffing.
Township Administrator Brandon Standley said the department will likely need another full-time community safety position, on top of the lieutenant already with JTFD, to complete fire inspections.
He said he has discussed with Stewart plans to reassign an existing firefighter to the new position, then hiring to fill the firefighter position.
Looking toward the future, the chief said some of the department’s 2024 goals include creating a task force to develop a comprehensive plan to reduce the township’s ISO rating; distributing a survey to all residents to gather feedback on JTFD and securing a U.S. Department of Agriculture loan to rebuild Station 210.