From the Desk of the Fire Chief

“Where Does The Time Go?” 

As the first calendar quarter draws to a close, I find myself reflecting on the last year and what has transpired over that time period. April 2014 marks the end of the first year of my tenure as fire chief of this great organization. Since last April the department has really come together and worked toward our goal of becoming a truly integrated combination Fire and EMS Service. I am so proud of the efforts we have made and look forward to continuing this progress toward becoming a model agency that other departments will pattern their efforts on.

The months of January through March have been busy for the department and that includes the Chief’s Office. During this time period we have worked diligently to produce a comprehensive Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) for the next five years. The CIP comprises many needed capital projects that include new fire stations and apparatus replacement based on need, following an evaluation of mileage, condition, and maintenance expense for each to determine remaining life expectancy. The volunteer executive board was included in the planning of the CIP and a financial plan has been developed which supports many of the CIP projects and some that do not fit into the CIP but are needed to fulfill our mission.

Immediately following the CIP, marked the beginning of the preparation phase for the annual operating budget for the department. This year was much like many of the previous years with instructions that included restrictions on requests based on our current and projected economic conditions. The department was able to submit its budget requests and did so on time with additional requests for critical needs that did not align themselves with the budget instructions. There were several major requests made that include:

construction of a new Fire Station # 2 (from the CIP), S.A.F.E.R. funding requests, and the creation of a new Division of Fire Prevention and Code

Enforcement; which is projected to be revenue positive for the City and designed to enhance the safety of our citizens and emergency services personnel. 

The executive staff of the SFD continues to focus on achieving our vision of becoming a fully integrated combination Fire and EMS Department that maintains a high level of pride, professionalism, proficiency, and personal accountability and a full commitment to becoming a model agency for others to follow. Everything we do or
approve is focused on this mission and goal. We will continue to strive to make decisions that align the department with this vision and hope that the membership continues to support the changes necessary for the SFD to get to this desired destination. I remain confident in the effort the members of the department put into their pro-fession. The hours of training and preparation continue to show through on the scenes of the emergencies we handle on a daily basis. The members of the SFD continue to face the challenges of emergency service delivery with great energy and enthusiasm.

In closing, the men and women of the Salisbury Fire Department are proud to provide a tradition of excellent public safety service to the residents of the Salisbury Fire District. At the end of my first year as Fire Chief, all I can say is, “Where has the time gone?” I am so grateful for this opportunity and thank you for your continued support. Please know that your service is valued and much appreciated and that I will continue to try to support all of our members in executing their duties.

Respectfully Yours in Service,
Richard A. Hoppes, BS
Chief of the Department