Archive for Uncategorized
Board Meeting Change
The Board Meeting scheduled for September 14th has been moved to September 21st. The meeting will begin at 7pm at the Fire Station located at 139 Columbus Rd. Fredericktown.
Swearing-in Ceremony for Brad Porter
SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT!!
We are excited to announce that Brad Porter will be joining the fire department as an Honorary Firefighter. There will be a swearing-in ceremony on Saturday, July 09, at 11:00 am. The location will be at the fire station. The public is invited to attend this memorable event to support one of the most well known and beloved people in Fredericktown and a great ambassador for our community.
Please join us in welcoming Brad to the Department on his special day! We look forward to seeing everyone there. Congratulations Brad!
Barn Fire on Lower Fred-Amity Rd.
On 3/14 units were dispatched at approx. 3:21pm to Lower Fred-Amity Rd. on reports of a structure fire. Units were en route at 3:23 and arrived at 3:29 to a fully involved barn fire with an adjacent structure on fire as well. FCFD units included CH-411, E419, R415, G412, G414 and T417. Mutual Aid was proved by Eastern Knox County Joint Fire District, Monroe Township Fire Dept, Mt. Vernon Fire Dept, Worthington Township Fire Dept, Jefferson Township Fire Dept, and Fredericktown EMS. All units were back in quarters at 6:50pm.
Smoke detectors to the rescue again!
Smoke detectors to the rescue again……..
In the early hours of Sunday morning, we were dispatched to a reported structure fire in a home in Fredericktown. Smoke in the house was found upon arrival.
A smoke detector had alerted and awakened the sleeping residents and they were able to exit the building and call 911.
The fire was contained to the kitchen with smoke damage occurring throughout the house. There were no injuries.
This is the second fire within several weeks in which a smoke detector awakened sleeping residents and clearly prevented a potential tragedy.
Be sure to install multiple smoke detectors throughout your home, test them regularly, and replace the battery at least twice per year.
A bittersweet week
It has been a bittersweet week for the Fredericktown Community Fire District as we send off Firefighter Brayden Mast for the next step in the journey called life. Firefighters gathered for a dinner on Thursday night to wish him the best in his upcoming adventure in life as he joins the Army this week and leaves on the 27th for basic.
Brayden will be headed to Fort Benning for training as he chases his lifelong goal of becoming an Army Ranger.
We wish you the best Brayden and we truly mean that there is always a place here for you. We are proud of what you are doing in your choice to serve our country.
FCFD asking to RENEW existing levy.
The Fredericktown Community Fire District will ask voters this November 3, to approve and support the renewal to an existing 1-mil levy fire protection levy for a period of five years. The levy would commence in 2021, and first due in calendar year 2022.
We would like to emphasize that this is a renewal, not new taxes or changes taking place with funding for the FCFD. This levy directly funds the operations of the FCFD on a yearly basis and is responsible for providing the fire protection services to the residents of Berlin Township, Middlebury Township, Morris Township (A), Pike Township, Wayne Township, and the Village of Fredericktown. The last change to funding for the fire district was roughly two decades ago, with the levy verbiage dating back even further.
“The levy that our residents are seeing in November directly impacts our ability to operate and provide their fire protection,” said FCFD Public Information Officer Jason Bostic. “Our levy funding determines our ability to decide what equipment we can purchase and the level of services that we are able to offer to the community.”
While the levy is no different in valuation or the verbiage for a considerably long time, the improved services that the district provides have drastically changed. Over the course of the last 10-15 years we have made significant changes to safety equipment which we utilize, upgrades fire apparatus, increased the level of training, increased community outreach, and so much more. Other notable changes include the construction of a second firehouse In Pike Township, the operation of a fire cadet program that works as a feeder program to bring in new firefighters, and the addition of daytime staffing Monday through Friday.
“It takes a lot of forecasting and looking to the future in order to balance out the projects that we have here at the FCFD. We aren’t just looking at next quarter, we are looking years down the road,” said Bostic. “Apparatus replacements, fire gear replacements, and other pieces of equipment all have a life cycle that we strive to maintain and get the best use out of.”
In addition to the levy funding, yearly the department seeks grant opportunities at the Local, State, and Federal levels that allows them to fund equipment purchases and pay for the cost of training. Over the course of the last 15 years, the FCFD has been awarded at least one, sometimes as many as three grants a year to handle the costs of projects that further the mission of the district. Major upgrades to hydraulic rescue tools, lifting bags, stabilization struts, radio equipment, laptops, training props, SCBA equipment, protective gear, and hand tools are just some of the physical items that grants have made possible.
In 2019 a significant local grant allowed us to upgrade and expand the capabilities of our dive rescue team at the FCFD. As one of two dive teams in the county and having a significant amount of water in our own fire district, these new capabilities provide a faster and safer means for our divers to operate. Grants don’t just help us, but the improvements made through our grant work also help our neighboring departments wherever we are called to serve through mutual-aid.
Careful expenditures combined with solid planning from the Chief down has been a key over the course of time. Within the FCFD we have firefighters with a wide variety of background and expertise that come to the table when we look at purchases and improvements.
Ultimately, beyond all the accomplishments that the fire district has attained over the years, it is the community support that drives our mission. Our citizens, those we serve have graciously supported and trusted us at the voting booth and beyond. That community support is something the firefighters don’t take lightly. Although a paid-per-call department, they hold professionalism and customer service as a key part of their operation.
Firefighters for the district recognize that regardless of the situation, when people make contact with us, that we need to be the problem solvers and often fill gaps from other services. Things such as clearing roadways from storms, pumping basements from flooding, providing answers and someone to point them in the right direction for answers.
The FCFD combination fire department utilizing daytime staffing Monday-Friday along with a dedicated group of paid-per-call firefighters to accomplish our mission. We protect the residents of 118-square miles of northwest Knox County and those that pass through on a daily basis. We operate two stations with 28 current members with over 50% of our members being certified at the 240-hour professional firefighter level. Our department fleet consists of two engines, a rescue, tanker, two grass trucks, dive rescue boat, dive rescue trailer, fire ATV, and a chief’s vehicle.
# # #
FCFD Golf Classic – June 10
FCFD Golf Classic Champions:
2020: The Streby Gang
2021: Corey Fearn, Cody Stafford, Tyler Doup, Dom Diguillo (-11)
2022: Jamie Park, Jarrod Park, Jason Cress, Rob Roth (-13)
2022 Golf Classic Proximity Hole Winners:
Women’s Longest Drive #6: Terri Dobson
Women’s Longest Drive #16: N/A
Men’s Longest Drive #1: Dave Dobson
Men’s Longest Drive #17: Rob Roth
Closest to the Pin #10: Doug Turpen
Closest to the Pin #8: Jim Meyer
Longest Putt #7: Doug Turpen
Longest Putt #18: Karl Kennedy
Save the date for our 2023 outing!
Last year’s golf outing was once again a great success thanks to our generous sponsors and an overwhelmingly wonderful group of golf enthusiasts.
This year there will be two closest to the pin holes, two longest drive holes (men and women), two longest putt holes, “Skee-ball Chipping Challenge”, and a Par 3 Challenge.
Women’s tees and Senior’s tees apply.
“On The Rise Bar-B-Que” will be preparing a post outing meal.
Due to the fantastic turnout we experienced last year, we will be limiting the number of teams this year to 36. Be sure to sign up early to reserve your place on the roster. We will also be implementing a time limit to ensure a timely completion of the outing.
Date: June 10, 2023
Location: Irish Hills Golf Club
7020 Newark Road
Mount Vernon, OH 43050
Tee Time: 9:00 am, Registration is 8:00 am to 8:45 am
Format: 4 Person Scramble
Fee: $68 per person / $272 per team
Includes: 18 Holes of golf, Cart, Lunch at the turn, 1 Beverage, Proximity holes, Meal following the outing
(Beverages provided by the host course)
Awards: First Place – $300 Last Place – $40 Proximity Holes – $10
Also Available: Mulligans, Skirts, Skins, Hand Grenades 50/50 Raffle
Sponsorships: Hole Sponsorships available for $100. Contact chief411@fredericktownfire.net for details.
Special Note: Pre-registration and pre-pay is required. 36 team limit. Visit www.fredericktownfire.net and use the “Golf Classic” link to register and pay.
This event is presented by the Fredericktown Firefighters Association.
Proud of our Fire Cadets
The Fredericktown Community Fire District is extremely proud of its cadet program. With 16 young men and women in our ranks, we have seen great success in this addition to our district. Yes, it is a great way for high school aged youth to get a look inside the fire service and determine if it is their calling, but it is much more. We instill and encourage community involvement, team building, confidence building, skill building, critical thinking, communication, and many life skills as well. If they go on to a life in the fire service that is amazing, however our ultimate goal is playing a part in making them stronger men and women.
As of tonight, all of our cadets and recruits who went through the summer long academy have completed their testing process. They were met with a 45-question exam, PPE drills, SCBA drills, and other skill stations that are required of their position on the department. All 16 of them have successfully passed their testing and we are excited to schedule their graduation ceremony. We understand the busy schedule that these young men and women have between academics, sports, band, FFA, other extra-curricular activities, and family life. We are very thankful they choose to be involved with this program and they have made the commitment.
Here are some photos from the testing nights. Congratulations to each and every one of them.
Fire District clarifies MVN article
The August 10 edition of the Mount Vernon News incorrectly has the Fredericktown Community Fire District listed with a property levy on the upcoming November 5 ballot.
The FCFD has no levy with the board of elections that will be placed in front of our residents for vote. Our most recent renewal levy was in November of 2018, passing with overwhelming support of the residents within the fire district. We greatly appreciate the continued support and wanted to issue this clarification in response to the printed error.
