Agenda - 11-19-2007-1c - Laserfiche WebLink

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ORANGE COUNTY FIRE RESCUE STUDY NORTH ORANGE COUNTY RESCUE SQUAD 1 2 3 Projected capital needs 4 5 The Squad will need to replace other apparatus in the next five years. 6 7 8 Issues 9 10 The Squad's station somewhat adequately serves its needs but is in need of 11 maintenance and renovation. The station's dormitory facilities need renovation and 12 updating and the offices and dayroom are much worn and need renovation. 13 14 The Squad has a fairly young leadership team that lacks strong management and 15 financial skills. They have difficulty seeing the big picture and tend to focus on those 16 things that they understand. From a financial perspective the Squad is technically, 17 and practically, insolvent with little likelihood of recovering. The leadership has 18 tallced about a number of schemes to change their status but those are also unlikely. 19 20 The Squad would like to have paid staff to cover during those hours when volunteers 21 are minimally available. However, financial constraints make this unlikely. 22 Currently, members are paid $9 per hour for providing daytime coverage. The Squad 23 also has an administrative person in a part-time position. 24 25 The Squad provides its services countywide. This has become a problem in terms of 26 response time for extrication incidents, particularly in the northern area of the 27 County. Many of the fire departments now have basic extrication capability and the 28 Squad is not being requested for all calls or is being canceled in route tot the incident. 29 Additionally, most of the fire departments now have the capability to perform basic 30 extrication and Hillsborough has a "Heavy Rescue" with full extrication capability. 31 This is a morale issue for the Rescue Squad as they feel that they are being pushed out 32 of their niche.. 33 34 The Squad's relations with the South Orange County Rescue Squad and with the fire 35 departments in the County are, at best, strained. 36 76