Over the past four years, the SFD has been tracking operational concerns. In tracking “turn-out time” and “on-scene time”, there was an increased concern based on the statistical data. Statistics show that the volunteer response in our current model has failed to meet acceptable standards on nights and weekends. “Acceptable” is defined as a 10% or less failure rate. Over the past four years, the Station 1 volunteers have averaged a 50% “acceptable” response time. Not only is this a disservice to the public, but it is a major safety concern for our personnel as well. The SFD’s Fire Chief was obligated to make some major operational changes based on the declining volunteer response.
Attempted Operational Changes:
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36 comments:
Putting the citizens and the community first. Ensuring a well-trained, quick response to all citizens. Two thumbs up!
So, are the Volunteers still locked out of Station 1? Do you think this policy helps with overnight and weekend staffing? Do you think this builds the morale of the Volunteers in Stations 2 & 16?
The response on nights and weekends has actually improved since Company # 1 left. Station 2 and Station 16 volunteers are actively engaged in riding and staffing equipment. For instance this evening there will be three pieces of fire equipment staffed, due to a nice mixture of career and volunteer personnel.
President Colegrove's letter sounds plausible to me, much more so than the many anonymous threatening, vicious comments posted on previous articles criticizing the fire company. He has facts to back up the problems. IMO, FACTS over ride whiny, mouth runner airing (non factual) dirty linen in public. The fools commenting without knowledge can destroy the morale of any fire company.
why is there always so much drama with our freaking fd? can't these boys play in the sandbox together?
Logic has it that 7:10 am is lying.
The only thing the city an Union are worried about is keeping the Wicomico County check book flowing. The county now realizes this an the city is scared. Over all people it's not about safety it's about $$$$$$. The county needs to handle the county an the city needs to run the city.
8:18, city residents are county residents AND county taxpayers as well. The problems at the fire department have been fueled by mayors and politics for many years. One of Barrie Tilghman's goals was to get rid of volunteer fire fighters and that goal lived in with Ireton and beyond. They have appointed and confirmed in (and under) qualified leadership in Hoppes and others. Colegrove is probably an exception to that statement, although his statements don't seem to take history and politics into account. The way that volunteers have been treated over the years is probably reflected today in some of the problems. The accountability lies squarely in the office of the mayor, as does the mess at SPD.
8:18
you are correct.
The whole thing sounds fishy to me.
All of a sudden these so called numbers show up after the volunteers say they are leaving. The SFD can't exist without the County money.
I say let the volunteers build a county fire department.
Best of luck with it.
The volunteers that choose not to follow rules have left and do not have access. The volunteers that stayed are still running calls and serving the community.
846 your going to want your tax dollars going to a new service / station that are already failing within an existing department? I can only imagine what will happen when they are on their own attempting to fundraise and serve the community. These gentlemen have had it nice. Now, if they are given an area they will learn what it is to be a volunteer. My concern is I and the community in the area they may get will now receive a lessor service than we are getting now. 24 hours 4 ALS ambulances. 24 hours a staffed engine and 3 stations of volunteers from the city alone.
8:38 I think you put that together accurately
The mayors office needs" their feet to the fire "
They are pushing for all paid fire fighters and EMS, that's why the union and paid people are pushing this agenda. Not fooling anyone. The only thing is they don't have the funding so they're are trying to get the county to pay for it and the are taking the volunteers county funding too. SFD has a long history of not getting along with their volunteers. Station 2 tried to seperate at least twice, but didn't have their stuff together and backed down. Fake Day a member is playing along with the worthless Hoppes to keep the votes that's why SFD backed him to get voted in as mayor.
This is a lie . The volunteers lol funny how they didn't hit the street for mill pond fire right or should I post more calls .
The union isn't recingonzed in the city so why are they posting supporting the city . Half the paid guys aren't even part of the Union. Also the volunteers were not failing . The fire chief has his own numbers that he wants to follow . The paid guys go responding from there beds . Funny isn't that padding the numbers . Volunteers are responding when the break is released . Wicomico needs to cut all ties with this city
All Salisbury wants is the funds
It's all about money . Oh and wait maybe the volunteers can post run times vs. What the paid guys put in the system that's right they lie on there numbers. Somebody higher up needs to call and request copies of actual response times per call and pull the firehouse data and see for there selfs
All the numbers are padded .
Funny how their (not mine because I refuse to join) union president still can't get his facts straight. Trying really hard to get the city to recognize you as an official union? Don't waste your breath. We have both been down this road before and failed. Check your statistics buddy. Why does Chief Hoppes continue to use 90 seconds for our measurement? Doesn't he read NFPA 1710???? 80 second turnout time loser. I am embarrassed to be with this department. Asked me why I won't join the union, because you sound stupid. Sticking your nose where it does not belong. You know just as well as I do that the staffing has not improved. Hell, those ticks at 2 scratched and scratched and whats that, re-alert again the other day. That coffee boy Tri was a great one to send up. I thought he was going to pour the council president a cup of brew. 60 volunteers in 60 days. HAHAHAHAHA. I have not seen 10 volunteers consistently at station 16 since Brandon Records used to volunteer. Then we said, lets send Mark Cotter up there. That was an embarrassment as well. If I recall, our Chief appointed him to lead the Vollie Response committee. Then he turned his back on everyone after it was approved and retired so that he did not have to do it himself. Maybe we should make him an honorary "Union Brother". Palidore had a detailed plan and threw it in the councils lap. We failed to captivate the council when it mattered the most. While I think he is an arrogant asshole that is in over his head, he has yet to attack any of our personnel. Why is it that he has been professional in this, yet we keep saying we are the professionals? Guys, we need to stay out of this and let the Chief and Mayor handle it. We only make ourselves look like idiots. What do you think we are going to get in return??? The pickup posse made the decision to leave. So be it. If you as the president of the union want to try and belittle them thinking it makes us look better; you are wrong. The public is not seeing it that way and quite frankly I am tired of being questioned about the actions of our personnel. If our department is going to continue attacking in this form, we at least need to present the true statistics and performance measures. We honestly need to improve as well. Stop pointing the finger at everyone else. Start looking in the mirror. Signed, you will find out soon enough!!!!!
It is pleasant to see factual information that from a citizens standpoint makes complete sense. There is nothing worse than reading the vicious personal attacks that show up every time there is a FD conflict. It blurs the facts and quite frankly makes me sick. Everything cost money to run and the fire department is no exception. Wicomico county has grown quite a bit during my life and from my experiences Salisbury has provided a good service. Thank you for providing these facts. I see no reason to reinvent the wheel. Leave well enough alone and let Salisbury city continue to service the area.
When the union is the only fire Service in town, and Hoppes and his union henchmen run all the volunteers off and you have a full unionized fire dept in Salisbury I guess you all will crying like baby's paying the exuberant tax increase to pay these clowns to work 2 days a week. Playing corn hole, basketball, riding all over town going to dinner. Wow hard job. One day working and sleep half of that, and 3 days off. How many taxpayers would like that schedule ? So when the volunteers are gone....y all have fun paying for it.
Press Release - Maryland State Firemen's Association
MSFA Remarks over Salisbury VFD Lock Out
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
The Maryland State Firemen’s Association (the MSFA) was formed in 1893, and its members include over 300 volunteer fire, rescue, and EMS companies throughout the state. "The mission of the Maryland State Firemen's Association is to serve, promote, advocate, and represent the interests of the Volunteer Fire, Rescue, and Emergency Medical Services of Maryland."
Adhering to our mission statement, we the MSFA, intend to help any volunteer fire company and protect what is rightfully theirs as provided to them through the trust of our fellow citizens. Allowing a paid or career fire department to simply take what is not rightfully theirs is unacceptable and irresponsible.
On February 22, 2017, approximately 10 volunteer fire fighters from Salisbury Fire Department Inc., Company No. 1 (Salisbury Station 1) voted to end their affiliation with the City of Salisbury as of July 1, 2017, and to move out of city owned facilities into a new facility outside of the Salisbury city limits. There are three volunteer fire companies within the City of Salisbury. Each of those fire companies is a separate corporation and each of the volunteer fire companies receives financial assistance from Wicomico County and the State of Maryland, including funds provided by the Maryland Military Department to volunteer fire companies. Upon receiving notice that the volunteers would be leaving in July, the City of Salisbury immediately evicted the volunteers from the Station.
The President of the MSFA, Michael A. Davis, has reached out to the Maryland Military Department, Wicomico County Executive Bob Culver, and the City of Salisbury. Maryland Military Department has been responsive and is researching the situation. Mr. Culver has expressed sincere interest to assist in this matter. Two calls to the City of Salisbury have not been returned despite expressing the urgency of this matter.
President Davis states “The Maryland State Firemen's Association does not condone the actions of the City of Salisbury locking out the volunteers and seizing the property of Salisbury Station 1. We kindly ask the City of Salisbury to allow the volunteers to have what is rightfully theirs, specifically equipment which was paid for by Salisbury Station 1 with county and state funding. We feel it is very unfortunate that the volunteer department wants to separate from the combination system but it is their right to do as they see fit to provide much needed emergency services to their citizens.”
60.5 % of fire and emergency services are provided by volunteers in the State of Maryland (data provided by usfa.fema.gov). Volunteer firefighters save counties an average of more than $60 Million annually. In this day and time, with declining volunteerism, an increase in training requirements, and average homes with 2 working parents, actions like these are detrimental to serving and protecting our neighbors. Volunteer Firefighter's, EMT's, and Rescue workers dedicate their lives to protecting their fellow man, woman, and child no matter the situation, economic status, or political interest.
The MSFA fully intends to use all available local, state, and nationwide resources available to help the Salisbury Station 1 with this matter, just as we would with any of our volunteer fire companies.
For additional information please contact: Michael Davis, MSFA President, mdavis@msfa.org
Anonymous said...
President Colegrove's letter sounds plausible to me, much more so than the many anonymous threatening, vicious comments posted on previous articles criticizing the fire company. He has facts to back up the problems. IMO, FACTS over ride whiny, mouth runner airing (non factual) dirty linen in public. The fools commenting without knowledge can destroy the morale of any fire company.
March 9, 2017 at 7:10 AM
Thanks Rick Hoppes.
Anonymous said...
why is there always so much drama with our freaking fd? can't these boys play in the sandbox together?
March 9, 2017 at 7:13 AM
No and it has gotten worse under Rick Hoppes' watch. Rick Hoppes should have never been appointed the fire chief and he must go.
Anonymous said...
The only thing the city an Union are worried about is keeping the Wicomico County check book flowing. The county now realizes this an the city is scared. Over all people it's not about safety it's about $$$$$$. The county needs to handle the county an the city needs to run the city.
March 9, 2017 at 8:18 AM
This statement sounds plausible to me.
Anonymous said...
President Colegrove's letter sounds plausible to me, much more so than the many anonymous threatening, vicious comments posted on previous articles criticizing the fire company. He has facts to back up the problems. IMO, FACTS over ride whiny, mouth runner airing (non factual) dirty linen in public. The fools commenting without knowledge can destroy the morale of any fire company.
March 9, 2017 at 7:10 AM
Actually the only threats and vicious comments have been coming from the paid firemen. Only an idiot wouldn't have been able to figure that one out.
Anonymous said...
The volunteers that choose not to follow rules have left and do not have access. The volunteers that stayed are still running calls and serving the community.
March 9, 2017 at 9:23 AM
You just wait until the Maryland State Firemen's Association and the Feds get involved. Moron!
Anonymous said...
846 your going to want your tax dollars going to a new service / station that are already failing within an existing department? I can only imagine what will happen when they are on their own attempting to fundraise and serve the community. These gentlemen have had it nice. Now, if they are given an area they will learn what it is to be a volunteer. My concern is I and the community in the area they may get will now receive a lessor service than we are getting now. 24 hours 4 ALS ambulances. 24 hours a staffed engine and 3 stations of volunteers from the city alone.
March 9, 2017 at 9:30 AM
It's not going to a new service. The Volunteers at SFD Station #1, Inc. are just relocating. The funding will still go the the volunteers and Station 1. The big difference is that the Fat Slob in the Chief's Office and the Bonehead Mayor Homo won't get their hands on it. That means no County Funding for the old Station #1. The idiots on the Salisbury City Council just approved 4 new paramedics to the paid fire staff and with 1/3 of their fire and EMS calls going down they are going to realize they are going to have to lay off about 25 paid firemen or give the City taxpayers a significant pay raise.
Poor leadership on their part and we expected better of Muir Boda and Jack Heath. They just committed Political Suicide!
Anonymous said...
They are pushing for all paid fire fighters and EMS, that's why the union and paid people are pushing this agenda. Not fooling anyone. The only thing is they don't have the funding so they're are trying to get the county to pay for it and the are taking the volunteers county funding too. SFD has a long history of not getting along with their volunteers. Station 2 tried to seperate at least twice, but didn't have their stuff together and backed down. Fake Day a member is playing along with the worthless Hoppes to keep the votes that's why SFD backed him to get voted in as mayor.
March 9, 2017 at 2:48 PM
What do you expect from Homo Fake Day and Fat @$$ Rick Hopeless, they are both Democrats.
Anonymous Anonymous said...
Funny how their (not mine because I refuse to join) union president still can't get his facts straight. Trying really hard to get the city to recognize you as an official union? Don't waste your breath. We have both been down this road before and failed. Check your statistics buddy. Why does Chief Hoppes continue to use 90 seconds for our measurement? Doesn't he read NFPA 1710???? 80 second turnout time loser. I am embarrassed to be with this department. Asked me why I won't join the union, because you sound stupid. Sticking your nose where it does not belong. You know just as well as I do that the staffing has not improved. Hell, those ticks at 2 scratched and scratched and whats that, re-alert again the other day. That coffee boy Tri was a great one to send up. I thought he was going to pour the council president a cup of brew. 60 volunteers in 60 days. HAHAHAHAHA. I have not seen 10 volunteers consistently at station 16 since Brandon Records used to volunteer. Then we said, lets send Mark Cotter up there. That was an embarrassment as well. If I recall, our Chief appointed him to lead the Vollie Response committee. Then he turned his back on everyone after it was approved and retired so that he did not have to do it himself. Maybe we should make him an honorary "Union Brother". Palidore had a detailed plan and threw it in the councils lap. We failed to captivate the council when it mattered the most. While I think he is an arrogant asshole that is in over his head, he has yet to attack any of our personnel. Why is it that he has been professional in this, yet we keep saying we are the professionals? Guys, we need to stay out of this and let the Chief and Mayor handle it. We only make ourselves look like idiots. What do you think we are going to get in return??? The pickup posse made the decision to leave. So be it. If you as the president of the union want to try and belittle them thinking it makes us look better; you are wrong. The public is not seeing it that way and quite frankly I am tired of being questioned about the actions of our personnel. If our department is going to continue attacking in this form, we at least need to present the true statistics and performance measures. We honestly need to improve as well. Stop pointing the finger at everyone else. Start looking in the mirror. Signed, you will find out soon enough!!!!!
March 9, 2017 at 5:58 PM
I quit the Union a long time ago because I can't stand the idiots like Colgrove and Chris Truitt. They won't get any more of my money. LOSERS. They supported Obama not once, but TWICE!
Anonymous said...
It is pleasant to see factual information that from a citizens standpoint makes complete sense. There is nothing worse than reading the vicious personal attacks that show up every time there is a FD conflict. It blurs the facts and quite frankly makes me sick. Everything cost money to run and the fire department is no exception. Wicomico county has grown quite a bit during my life and from my experiences Salisbury has provided a good service. Thank you for providing these facts. I see no reason to reinvent the wheel. Leave well enough alone and let Salisbury city continue to service the area.
March 9, 2017 at 7:18 PM
Written by a paid fireman. Probably Hoppes or Aaron Colegrove.
Anonymous said...
When the union is the only fire Service in town, and Hoppes and his union henchmen run all the volunteers off and you have a full unionized fire dept in Salisbury I guess you all will crying like baby's paying the exuberant tax increase to pay these clowns to work 2 days a week. Playing corn hole, basketball, riding all over town going to dinner. Wow hard job. One day working and sleep half of that, and 3 days off. How many taxpayers would like that schedule ? So when the volunteers are gone....y all have fun paying for it.
March 9, 2017 at 10:49 PM
Well said Sir, Well said! Time to move out of the City. Jake Day can beg the SU College students all he wants to buy a house and start a business in Salisbury. NOT Happening you Douce Bag with Jacked Up Teeth.
More of this false narrative about these intrepid volunteers who are being wronged by the city.
The truth is that literally all they have to do is respond to calls for service. They don't clean or maintain equipment, they don't fund raise and every training or class they need is provided for them, all they have to do is show up. And they can't do that!
The numbers that are being talked about here are all available from the chiefs office. Go and see for yourself. A response rate of less than 50% is not the best service for the community they serve.
Right now the service being provided to that area is better than what would be provided if given to the Station 1 group.
They are a group that didn't want to follow the rules and were unable to put "we before me", classic case of I didn't get my way so I'll take my toys and go home!!
As far as the money, that small amount for that one station isn't worth the headache. We have been doing more with less for the last eight years, we will be okay without that money. The operating budget for the SFD has been cut by about 30% over that time. The service provided to the community has hardly suffered though. The members of the SFD that step up to the plate, both career and volunteer have seen to that.
Hopefully common sense will prevail and the citizens won't have to suffer because of the egos of a few...
As a citizen I do hope common sense prevails and the county will serve the county and the city stay in the city. Tired of all the crap constantly going on within the departments. Time to stop the nonsense. Culver needs to step up. No more money to the city, who can't seem to pay their bills to begin with.
The union people left in the city should be a little more mature in this issue as well as older generation that's paid still doing it . The bashing of this company doesn't help you actually all its doing is hurting you. Records, Eric C.,Tony W.,Aaron, Jake, exc . You all have set a bad image on the SFD which I find amusing. I'm not hear to side with either side but the paid side needs to grow up cause the volunteers are not in here bashing you . I hope the volunteers know what it takes and wish them luck . Station 1 did a decent job getting out on calls . Now the other 2 stations didn't and currently are not.People should be truthful but assuming that's to hard. I have 24 years in the fire service and been a part of both side . This back and fourth is crazy . Grow up
The station 1 men will start up their county facility on a shoestring budget, but all of a sudden the "lonely 10" have become 40 strong. Then, when established, volunteers from 2 and 16 will cross over, bringing 2/3 more County $ with them.
Day will squirm and pe and moan, but will have NO alternative than to come lean on the City's bills including the lack of rent for the GOB for several years, which should effectively evict them.
Now, it will bring the SPD under the microscope. Will they afford to continue operating under the new financial pressures? This will bring to the table a deal about County/ City policing changes, which is a good thing.
Take a look at a map of Salisbury, note the locations of the SFD stations. This is where you currently have excellent coverage and response times being maintained through a combination of career and volunteers who have stepped up to serve.
Now look at this proposed station location on Snow Hill Rd where the station 1 renegades want to move to and take over the portion of SFD fire district which is county, not incorporated into city limits.
Your coverage in these pockets will decrease and your response times will increase. The quality and training level of those responding personnel (those who refuse to train and follow any rules, guidelines or standards) will be lower.
Now explain to the citizen that lives on a county street directly behind the existing station 1, or anywhere else in that "county" area which currently has excellent coverage and staffing why you want to take that away from them. Explain how it makes sense for them to wait 5 and 10 minutes for the realerts while their emergency goes unresolved. Meanwhile a trained crew sits ready to respond. Put your politics aside and leave the SFD fire district alone!!
This is pure BS from a paid fire union.
Anyone that had any brains would run from a union. All unions are bad especially the IAFF. After all they endorsed Obama not once, but twice. That's enough for me to despise these idiots.
Anonymous said...
Take a look at a map of Salisbury, note the locations of the SFD stations. This is where you currently have excellent coverage and response times being maintained through a combination of career and volunteers who have stepped up to serve.
Now look at this proposed station location on Snow Hill Rd where the station 1 renegades want to move to and take over the portion of SFD fire district which is county, not incorporated into city limits.
Your coverage in these pockets will decrease and your response times will increase. The quality and training level of those responding personnel (those who refuse to train and follow any rules, guidelines or standards) will be lower.
Now explain to the citizen that lives on a county street directly behind the existing station 1, or anywhere else in that "county" area which currently has excellent coverage and staffing why you want to take that away from them. Explain how it makes sense for them to wait 5 and 10 minutes for the realerts while their emergency goes unresolved. Meanwhile a trained crew sits ready to respond. Put your politics aside and leave the SFD fire district alone!!
March 13, 2017 at 8:21 AM
Lies, Lies, and more Lies.
As a matter of fact you will see better coverage because the Original Station 1 firefighters will be in the station more. They won't be riding all over the city looking to buy breakfast and coffee. They won't be riding all over the city looking for multiple places to buy lunch. They won't be riding all over the city looking for a grocery store to buy food for the mandatory Shift Dinner at Station 16 all the way on Cypress Street where the entire shift will be for most of the night watching TV, sleeping in the recliners, playing Xbox, napping in one of the bunk rooms.
Remember that night when the entire shift of paid firemen was at Station 16 for dinner and that automobile garage/shop behind them and caught on fire. The one that burned to the ground. The one that they had to call multiple volunteer fire companies in the county to come put it out for them. How pathetic and unprofessional can that be.
The bottom line is that the paid firemen are not any better than the volunteer firemen. Same training, same classes, so no big difference.
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