4072-R2_ML&P_TownOfBuxton

Buxton Fire-Rescue

185 Portland Road

Chief Nathan Schools,

EFO

Buxton, ME 04093

Deputy Chief Jeremy Redlon

Office (207) 929-3099

Deputy Chief Jason Grant

Fax (207) 929-3076

Deputy Chief Jamie Grant

Department Website:

Buxton Board of Selectmen

April 6, 2015

185 Portland Road

Buxton, Maine 04093

Board of Selectmen:

I am pleased to submit the 2015 – 2016 Annual Report on behalf of the officers and members of

Buxton Fire-Rescue.

Over the past fiscal year, the department has been diligently working to reduce the Towns

Insurance Services Office (ISO) Public Protection Classification (PPC) Rating. The capstone of

this work was completed during the fall of 2015 when the department completed a water shuttle

drill, simulating the work that is done at an actual structure fire. During that drill the tanker

shuttle was able to provide nearly 1,000 gallons of water per minute. Hard work finally paid off

and members were able to prove their proficiency in a drill that we have been working on for a

year or more, Well Done!

Water supply is not the only attributing factor to reducing the communities ISO PPC Rating,

over the last twelve to eighteen-months the department has worked on the following initiatives

that will all play a role in a lower rating:

• Pre Fire Plans: In 2013 the department began visiting businesses to create a pre-fire plan, so

in the event of a fire (or fire call) responders would have vital information prior to arrival,

and at the fingertips of the incident commander. This information is helpful to understand

the hazards associated with a commercial building response and reduces overall risk to

responders.

• Fire Safety Inspections/Plans Review: In late 2014 after completing pre-fire plans the department

began conducting fire safety inspections, and to date we are inspecting more then 100 commercial

properties per year, and are assisting owners in correcting code compliance issues.

• Fire Protection Ordinance Adoption: During the winter of 2015 the department worked with

the Planning Board to enact a fire protection ordinance. The ordinance, which actually

is a performance standard within the Towns Zoning Ordinance outlines requirements for

buildings that are new and are under renovations. Strengthening requirements for sprinklers,

fire inspections, and other fire safety requirements helps to reduce risk within buildings, and

in the eyes of ISO, helps to reduce the overall fire risk in a community.

•

Full Time Staffing: In 2013 the department was awarded a federal grant to hire four full-time

firefighter/EMTs through the Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER)

Grant Program. The outcome of the grant program has been the departments ability to respond