2016 Appleton Fire Department Annual Fteport Appleton Protecting Appleton?s Quality of Life Since 1894 Table of Contents Message from Fire Chief Len Vander Wyst ............................................................ 2 Appleton Fire Department History ........................................................................ 3 Appleton Fire Department Mission, Vision, and Core Values..................................... 4 Table of Organization ......................................................................................... 5 Department Staff............................................................................................... 6 Appleton Fire Districts ........................................................................................ 7 Fire Department Stations ................................................................................. 8-9 Performance Indicators and Highlights ............................................................... 10 Response Requests ..................................................................................... 11-14 Administration Division ................................................................................ 15-18 Fire Suppression Division ............................................................................. 19-22 Special Operations Division .......................................................................... 23-27 Resource Development Division .................................................................... 28-34 Fire Prevention and Public Education Division ................................................. 35-42 Appleton Fire Department Museum .................................................................... 43 International Association of Fire Fighters - Local 257 ............................................ 44 Retirements, Promotions, New Hires, and Department Anniversaries...................... 45 Fire Department Awards .............................................................................. 46-47 Appleton Common Council ................................................................................ 48 Police and Fire Commission ............................................................................... 49 State Ranking of Per Capita Fire Protection Cost .................................................. 50 Financials ....................................................................................................... 51 State Ranking of Fire Personnel per 1,000 Residents ............................................ 52 Staffing .......................................................................................................... 53 In Memoriam ............................................................................................. 54-55 Credits ........................................................................................................... 56 A Message from Fire Chief Len Vander Wyst The members of the Appleton Fire Department continue to provide a quality and cost-effective service to our community. I am very privileged to lead this organization which strives every day to make a difference in the lives of the citizens we serve. This annual report will provide our citizens with the information needed to understand the many services available through your fire department and at what cost. I hope you will find comfort in knowing that your support is appreciated and the funding you provide is used in a cost-effective manner to keep our community safe. I would like to thank the members of the Appleton Fire Department and the citizens of Appleton for entrusting me to lead this great organization and to serve this wonderful community. The department will always be ready to respond to your needs each and every day of the year. We are always there and we always care! 2016 Appleton Fire Department Annual Report Page 2 Appleton Fire Department History The origins of the Appleton Fire Department can be traced back to an ordinance passed in 1854, which was intended to regulate and prevent fires. At that time, Appleton was divided into two fire districts and Fire Wardens were appointed to summon volunteers to extinguish fires. The Appleton Fire Department was formally chartered in 1894 with a staff of ten. Under the reorganization of volunteer firefighters to full-time personnel, the department was led by John Ryan. Throughout its history, the Appleton Fire Department has had eleven Fire Chiefs. During its long and proud history, the Appleton Fire Department’s duty to the citizens of Appleton can be best summarized by its core values: Partnership, Respect, Integrity, Diversity, and Excellence. This year marked the 122nd year of service by the Appleton Fire Department to the residents, workers, and the many annual visitors to Appleton and the Fox Cities. From its origins, the department has grown to 96 members operating out of six fire stations. Since our inception, tragically three Appleton Fire Department members have been killed in the line of duty, making the ultimate sacrifice while in service of helping others. Chief Elmer Anderson February 13, 1901 Asst. Chief Michael Calnin August 7, 1929 Firefighter Louis McGillan March 28, 1933 2016 Appleton Fire Department Annual Report Page 3 Appleton Fire Department Mission In partnership with the community, the Appleton Fire Department protects and preserves lives and property from the adverse effects of fires and dangerous conditions through prevention, education, rescue, and response. Appleton Fire Department Vision Through strong partnerships, the Appleton Fire Department enhances the safety and quality of life in our regional community. We pursue excellence and embrace diversity in thought, strategy, and staff in order to meet the changing needs of those we serve. Appleton Fire Department Core Values Our core values include enhancing P.R.I.D.E. in our organization and work. Partnership: We are a partner in a changing, regional community. Respect: We respect ourselves, each other, the department, the community, the fire service, our traditions, and our vision. Integrity: We are true to our values at all times. Diversity: We embrace diversity in thought, strategy, and staff. Excellence: We strive for excellence in everything we do. 2016 Appleton Fire Department Annual Report Page 4 Appleton Fire Department Fire Chief Table of Organization Len Vander Wyst 2016 Administrative Staff Sharon Brochtrup Sally Dickinson Nancy Wilcox Deputy Fire Chief Eugene Reece, Jr. Resource Development Battalion Chief of Fire Suppression Fire Prevention and Public Education Battalion Chief Special Operations Darrel Baker Ethan Kroll Ron Hockett Battalion Chief Joseph Strauss Shannon Young Fire Protection Engineer Battalion Chief of Training Captain (8.0) Steve Patterson Vacant Fire Inspector Lieutenant (13.0) Technical Services Dave Kempen Driver/Engineer (21.0) CEA Assigned Mechanic Paul Rynish Firefighter (36.0) Firefighter/Inspector (6.0) 2016 Appleton Fire Department Annual Report Page 5 Appleton Fire Department Staff Management Staff Fire Chief: Deputy Fire Chief: Battalion Chiefs of Operations: Battalion Chief of Training: Battalion Chief of Special Operations: Battalion Chief of Prevention and Public Education: Fire Protection Engineer: Fire Inspector: Support Personnel: Len Vander Wyst Eugene Reece, Jr. Darrel Baker Ron Hockett Vacant Ethan Kroll Joseph Strauss Steve Patterson Dave Kempen Sharon Brochtrup Sally Dickinson Shannon Young Paul Rynish Nancy Wilcox A Shift Battalion Chief B Shift Battalion Chief C Shift Battalion Chief Shannon Young Captain Ron Hockett Captain Darrel Baker Captain Paul Thomson Jay Thomas Rick James Lieutenant Mike Mueller Joe Scott Mike Woodzicka Jeff Felauer Jordan Steel Lieutenant Larry O'Rourke Chad Rucynski Bill Calaway Corby Henkel Driver/Engineer Jeff Nelessen Jeremy Hotynski Greg Cullen Jerry Borski Jason Lee Driver/Engineer Driver/Engineer Paul Williams Jay Kjorlien Michelle Neeck-Lappen Gary Awe Tim Meyer Dave Reigles Andy Patz Firefighter/Inspector Steve Kulas Jim Biersteker Darrin Butry Brian Cook Kraig Kasten Scott Pelkin Jake Kirchner Firefighter/Inspector Jeff Maloney Todd Daanen Bryan Knauer Scott Karpinski Todd Bean Ben Lee Ryan Weyers Firefighter/Inspector Jeremiah Detert Justin Brown Firefighter Chad Johnson Adam Hansen Firefighter Brian Horst Mitch Lundgaard Firefighter Steve Unruh Adam Galica Ryan Lee Andy Dobbe Mike Wiese Andy Webb Nate Milhans Tyler Mickelson Riley Kubisiak Keegan Murphy Jordan Ross Tim Lutz Matt Gerrits Mark Deslauriers Brad Brautigam Todd Hendricks Kelly Lynch Troy Kinley Joe Kozikowski Michael Wirtz Steve Jahr Bart Rakun Chad Donnay Mike Becker Mike Hietpas Tim Blob Tyler Zunker Andy Lane Matt Dercks Adam Paiser Chris Britzke Casey Kostechka Tim Damrow Dave Hammer Eric Winger Lieutenant John Kaziak Brian Hartfiel Michelle Bialas Doug Vrechek 2016 Appleton Fire Department Annual Report Page 6 Appleton Fire Districts 2016 Appleton Fire Department Annual Report Page 7 Appleton Fire Department Stations Fire Station #1 Department Headquarters Hazardous Materials Specialty Station Special Operations Specialty Station Minimum Daily Staffing: 8 Units 9300 – 9321 – 9335 – 9341 – 9371 – 9381 – 9388 – 9389 – Incident Command Rescue Engine Company (Extrication Tools) Firefighter/Inspector 100’ Aerial Ladder Platform Company Light Rescue Hazardous Materials Lab and Chemical Analysis Response Team Watercraft – Raft Watercraft – Boat Station #1 – 700 N. Drew Street Fire Station #2 Minimum Daily Staffing: 3 Units 9322 – Engine Company (Extrication Tools) 9328 – Reserve Engine Station #2 – 1801 S. Matthias Street Fire Station #3 Swift Water Specialty Station Minimum Daily Staffing: 3 Units 9323 – Engine Company 9373 – Command Post Station #3 – 1801 W. Grove Street 2016 Appleton Fire Department Annual Report Page 8 Fire Station #4 Minimum Daily Staffing: 3 Units 9324 – Engine Company 9327 – Reserve Engine Station #4 – 724 E. Greenfield Street Fire Station #5 Minimum Daily Staffing: 3 Units 9325 – Engine Company 9376 – Hazardous Materials Equipment Station #5 – 1701 W. Brewster Street Fire Station #6 Department Training Station and Tower Special Operations Specialty Station Minimum Daily Staffing: 4 Units 9333 – Firefighter/Inspector 9346 – 75’ Aerial Ladder Quint Company 9386 – Hazardous Materials 9387 – All-Terrain Vehicle (Countywide Asset) 9336 - Maintenance Pickup 9339 - Hazardous Materials Pickup Extinguisher Training Trailer Foam Trailer (Countywide Asset) Boom Trailer (Countywide Asset) Station #6 – 4930 N. Lightning Drive 2016 Appleton Fire Department Annual Report Page 9 Key Performance Indicators RESPONSE TIME (Citywide Average, Minutes:Seconds) 04:42 04:45 04:13 04:39 All Incidents by Fire – Emergency All Incidents by Fire – Non-Emergency and Emergency Response Combined Structure Fires All Incidents by EMS CALL VOLUME 4,718 3,086 579 348 284 290 127 3 1 Total Calls Total EMS and Rescue Incidents False Alarms Hazardous Condition Incidents Good Intent Service Fires Severe Weather and Natural Disaster Special Incident PUBLIC SAFETY 4,679 225 16,888 221 24 Fire Prevention Inspections Fire Safety Education Events Fire Education Participants Persons Trained in Fire Extinguisher Usage Fire Investigations Agency Highlights  During 2016, the Appleton Fire Department, in conjunction with Gold Cross Ambulance, assisted in the successful resuscitations of eleven individuals who were pulseless and nonbreathing upon arrival. These individuals were eventually released from the hospital.  Members of the Appleton Fire Department participated in 12,401 hours of combined training in a wide variety of training categories.  The Appleton Fire Department responded to 4,718 calls during the year. That number is the greatest number of calls in any given year in the history of the Appleton Fire Department. 2016 Appleton Fire Department Annual Report Page 10 Response Requests In 2016, the Appleton Fire Department responded to 4,718 calls for assistance. The 4,718 calls represent the greatest number of calls in any given year in the history of the Appleton Fire Department. Emergency medical calls (including rescues) were the largest portion of our call volume, accounting for 3,086, nearly 65% of the total calls. The Appleton Fire Department had 127 confirmed fires in 2016, including 56 structure fires and 22 vehicle fires. The Appleton Fire Department run volume increased nearly 6.9% in 2016 from 2015. The increase in run volume is consistent with the trend seen over the last decade, with an overall increase of nearly 50% in calls from 2007 to 2016. Total Response Requests 2007-2016 4,718 4,273 4,414 3,929 3,705 3,447 3,155 3,524 3,516 3,146 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 Fire Station #1, was the busiest station in 2016 with 1,341 first-in runs. Fire Station #6 saw an increase of nearly 34% in calls from 2015. Four of our six stations saw an increase in calls from 2015. Station #3 had an increase of 123 total calls over their responses in 2015, the largest increase of any of the stations. This increase can partially be attributed to their responses into the City of Menasha as part of our automatic aid agreements. 2016 Appleton Fire Department Annual Report Page 11 First-In Response Requests by Station 2014-2016 1,600 1,400 1,200 1,000 800 600 400 200 0 Station #1 Station #2 Station #3 Station #4 Station #5 Station #6 2014 1,231 672 773 744 614 239 2015 1,268 742 695 776 658 275 2016 1,341 728 818 816 647 368 Responses by Month 2016 447 431 401 391 354 342 389 414 434 337 412 366 2016 Appleton Fire Department Annual Report Page 12 Responses by Day of the Week 2016 721 695 671 671 665 647 648 Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Responses by Time of Day 2016 483 464 521 473 Friday Saturday 568 508 433 276 292 208 12:00 am 2:00 am 1:59 am 3:59 am 300 192 4:00 am 5:59 am 6:00 am 7:59 am 8:00 am 10:00 am 12:00 pm 2:00 pm 4:00 pm 6:00 pm 8:00 pm 10:00 pm 9:59 am 11:59 am 1:59 pm 3:59 pm 5:59 pm 7:59 pm 9:59 pm 11:59 pm 2016 Appleton Fire Department Annual Report Page 13 The most common call for assistance in 2016 was for Emergency Medical Service (EMS). The department saw an increase of nearly 3.7% from 2015. EMS calls have increased nearly 29.8% since 2012. Total Emergency Medical Service & Rescue Incidents 2012-2016 3,500 3,000 2,379 3,086 2,977 2,802 2,567 2,500 2,000 1,500 1,000 500 0 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 Fire Station #1 was the busiest station in 2016 with 876 EMS/Rescue runs. Fire Station #3 saw a one-year increase of nearly 20% in calls. Fire Station #6 has seen its call volume increase by 102 calls over a two-year period, an overall increase of nearly 75%. Incidents Emergency Medical Service & Rescue Incidents by Fire District 2014-2016 1000 900 800 700 600 500 400 300 200 100 0 Station #1 Station #2 Station #3 Station #4 Station #5 Station #6 2014 828 477 497 505 403 137 2015 839 505 463 546 429 195 2016 876 470 557 535 409 239 2016 Appleton Fire Department Annual Report Page 14 Administration Division The Administration Division of the Appleton Fire Department is charged with setting communitywide fire protection goals and establishes the necessary direction, policies, and procedures for the benefit of the Appleton community and the employees of the fire department. The Administration Division is under the direct supervision of Fire Chief Len Vander Wyst.  Objectives From the programs and initiatives the department undertakes as part of its strategic planning processes, the Administration Division of the Appleton Fire Department outlined many objectives for the benefit of the department and for our community. Through the tireless efforts of our personnel, we continue to meet our objectives and identified additional objectives to pursue that will make us an even stronger organization in 2017.  Identify currently provided service levels and evaluate their effectiveness and customer value The Appleton Fire Department follows the philosophy of continuous quality improvement. The department uses the statistical data generated by call volumes and our other requests for service to improve our customer value in the service levels we provide; while at the same time being cost-conscious and effective in providing the highest quality of service in our efforts. In 2016, we continued to review all of our programs and services to make improvements to ensure the best in quality. We have a highly motivated and engaged organization to assist in this mission. For example, enhanced skills for our emergency medical responders have increased our ability to provide better patient care. Also, our response times have remained consistent, despite our ever expanding boundaries.  Address service needs created by continued growth north of US HWY 41 and south of CTH KK In 2016, we continued to assess our department response as a whole. We are focusing on vehicle purchases to align with our response strategies, in both the short-term and the long-range strategic plan. A review of our department protocols and operations will provide the details to directly address service needs. 2016 Appleton Fire Department Annual Report Page 15 To meet objectives surrounding the growth of our city, the department included in the capital fiveyear plan a request for additional staffing and a vehicle for the north side of the city by 2019. In addition, automatic aid agreements in place since 2011 have helped to address service needs in the southern part of the city.  Plan and prepare operational and capital budgets As part of the five-year plan for the city, the department evaluated the equipment and the services we provide. It has been determined that crucial pieces of equipment are nearing the end of their service life and will be falling out of the scope of recognized standards. The department has submitted capital budget requests for replacing these pieces of equipment. Annual operation budgets are created by forecasting service needs in the city and are prepared accordingly.  Maintain staffing levels as detailed in the table of organization and approved by the Common Council The Appleton Fire Department is staffed 24/7/365 by 84 firefighters that are on a 24-hour shift assignment. Of the 84 firefighters, there are 28 on each of three shifts to staff our six strategically located fire stations throughout the city. The remainder of our staffing total of 96 includes chief officers and support staff. A request for increased staffing in 2017 (4 firefighters) was not approved but did generate discussion at the policymaker level. Our staffing continues to be one of the lowest per capita staffing levels in the State of Wisconsin.  Continue the development of joint service opportunities and regional relationships with neighboring fire departments The department has been operating under mutual aid response by implementing the State of Wisconsin Mutual Aid Box Alarm System (MABAS). MABAS is a systematic method for coordinating response from multiple agencies. Not only does this allow the department to better utilize and manage mutual aid response, it also provides a wealth of additional resources as the mutual aid extends beyond our previous, individual department mutual aid agreements. To date, it has proven to be an effective means of coordinating resources. Efforts in this area also include automatic aid agreements with neighboring communities and regional efforts to enhance communication and resource allocation. 2016 Appleton Fire Department Annual Report Page 16  Enhance internal and external communications and working relationships The International Association of Fire Fighters Local 257 Executive Board and Management Staff meet quarterly and on an as needed basis in an effort to continue our very successful, cooperative, and productive relationship. Open and honest communication has addressed many issues in an ongoing and positive dialog. Fire Chief Vander Wyst continued ‘Chief Chats’ with all of the stations and fire crews on a routine basis. Technology upgrades throughout the city have assisted in the enhancement of both internal and external communications. Our Public Information Officers have once again assisted our department in getting both safety and education messages, along with information on incidents, out to the public in a timely fashion using social media and partnering with television, radio, and newspaper outlets.  Continue to implement the records management system for improved reporting capabilities The Appleton Fire Department utilizes a county-wide records management system provided and maintained by Outagamie County. Outagamie County has been in contact with the fire records management vendor and unfortunately, the vendor has indicated that there will be no further product development to the Visual Fire records management system. Therefore, any new regulations will not be updated in the software. Outagamie County will purchase a maintenance agreement in 2016 for the Visual Fire software which will keep the system under technical support through 2017. There will no longer be technical support from the company should something cause the server to no longer function. The Appleton Fire Department has started internal procedures to procure a replacement to the Visual Fire system, including data conversion. In addition, the department has representation on the purchasing committee reviewing the computer-aided dispatch system currently utilized by Outagamie County.  Budget and Personnel Like all municipalities across the state and country, the economic downturn has driven the point home of ‘doing more with less’ within the Appleton Fire Department. We have reviewed programs to reduce waste in our processes and services. This review has resulted in cost savings and has reduced the impact on our department budget. As a result, in the last five years, the budget has increased minimally. In the same time frame, the number of incidents we have responded to has increased while the department has seen a reduction in overall staff. Our existing staff has stepped up to meet these challenges. We are still able to meet our obligations to our community with fewer resources. We are vigilant and cognizant of our current environment and plan accordingly. 2016 Appleton Fire Department Annual Report Page 17  Engagement This past year has mirrored previous years in terms of employee engagement. We have a very dedicated staff who follow the mantra of: ‘Do the Right Thing.’ Our employees are engaged in numerous different committees, classifications, leadership roles, organizational advancement opportunities, and programs – both internally and externally. In some manner, all 96 members of the Appleton Fire Department are involved. Fire Department staff work extremely hard to bring the best quality service to those we have contact with both in the community and throughout the region. The following is a list of the 52 specialized disciplines in which department members participate, above and beyond their specific job descriptions: Positions Committees and Activities Acting Battalion Chief Acting Company Officer Relief Driver/Engineer Annual Report Apparatus Committee Awards Committee Chaplain Critical Incident Stress Management Emergency Medical Services Committee Evaluation Committee Fire Camps Fire Investigations Fit Testing Grants Honor Guard Hose Testing Coordinator House Fund Intern Program LEAN Facilitator MDC Liaison Rescue Equipment Team Safety Committee SCBA Committee Supply Ordering SWAT Paramedic Technology Committee Thermal Imaging Committee Union Executive Board Union Liaison Wellness Committee Wellness Coordinators Technical Specialties Advanced Metering Team Boat Operator Confined Space Team Hazardous Materials Team Rescue Technician Radiological Survey Team Swift Water Team Trainers CPR Instructor EMS Instructor Fire Instructor Fire Officer Mentor FVTC Curriculum Development Hazardous Materials Shift Coordinator Relief Driver Mentor Structural Collapse Shift Coordinator Swift Water Instructor Public Education Firewise Education Program Friends of the AFD Foundation Board Public Education Executive Committee Public Education Team Public Information Officer 2016 Appleton Fire Department Annual Report Page 18 Fire Suppression Division The Fire Suppression Division of the Appleton Fire Department is the largest division of the department and is under the direct supervision of Deputy Chief Eugene Reece, Jr. This division is charged with enhancing the quality of life to our community by providing a safe and healthy environment through our response.  Appleton Fire Department Staffing and Coverage The Appleton Fire Department operates out of six strategically located fire stations throughout the city. Each of these stations has a designated fire district. With a maximum daily staffing of 29 personnel, the department is organized into five Engine companies, one Ladder company, one Quint company, and one Command vehicle. Trained personnel also cross-staff a Heavy/Technical Rescue, two Water Rescue Craft, a Rapid Response Light Rescue/Hazardous Materials Unit, and a Regional Hazardous Materials Unit. The Appleton Fire Department also utilizes management staff to serve additional command roles in fire suppression efforts. The eighty-seven Fire Suppression personnel are divided into three shifts and each shift works a 56-hour work week, with all suppression personnel working 24-hour shifts on a rotating schedule. Each shift is led by a shift commander (formally identified as a Battalion Chief) and each company consists of a fire officer (either a Captain or a Lieutenant), an apparatus Driver/Engineer, and one or two Firefighters, depending on the company.  Call Response The Appleton Fire Department has standardized responses in place for the different classifications of calls. The department has further defined buildings in the city where, based upon building construction, size, height, use, and occupancy that have the potential for increased hazards for the occupants and firefighters. These structures are called ‘target hazards.’ For a structure fire in the city, the standard ‘still’ alarm response consists of three engine companies, one truck company, and an incident commander. A response to a target hazard occupancy adds another engine company. Two engine companies are dispatched for a vehicle fire and one engine is dispatched for a dumpster fire. Calls for extrication dispatches Engine Companies 9321 and 9322, as those units each contain specialized extrication equipment. Calls for general service and medical emergencies, result in one vehicle being dispatched. For specialized rescue calls, equipment and 2016 Appleton Fire Department Annual Report Page 19 personnel are dispatched in accordance to the nature of the call. Calls for service in Appleton are dispatched through the Outagamie County Communications Center and for response into Neenah and Menasha by the Winnebago County Communications Center. Type of Situation Found Type of Situation Found 2016 2015 2014 127 132 119 56 22 5 44 35 19 13 65 47 17 8 47 3,086 2,977 2,802 2,893 110 83 2,787 119 71 2,659 85 58 Total Hazardous Conditions (No Fire) 348 305 312 Total Service Calls 290 242 213 Total Good Intent Calls 284 274 281 Total False Alarms 579 476 518 43 177 307 52 26 109 315 26 19 142 304 53 Total Severe Weather and Natural Disaster 3 4 1 Total Special Incident Type 1 4 27 4,718 4,414 4,273 Total Fires Structure Fires Vehicle Fires Brush/Grass Fires Other Fires Total EMS and Rescue Calls EMS Call (Excluding Vehicle Accidents) Vehicle Accidents with Injuries Other Medical Incidents Malicious False Alarms System Malfunction Unintentional False Alarms Other False Alarms Total Calls  Response Times The Appleton Fire Department uses National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) Standard 1710, Standard for the Organization and Deployment of Fire Suppression Operations, Emergency Medical Operations, and Special Operations to the Public by Career Fire Departments as our guide for first due units responding to emergency calls. The recognized standard is a one-engine response in four minutes, from time of unit notification to arrival - 90% of the time (NFPA 1710 5.2.4.1.1). Quicker response times have been shown to make firefighting efforts safer and minimize fire damage and loss. A quicker response time is also critical on medical calls where the patient is a pulseless, non-breather (PNB) or has the potential to become a PNB. The first few minutes literally may mean life or death. The Appleton Fire Department always strives to arrive on scene as quickly 2016 Appleton Fire Department Annual Report Page 20 and safely as possible. Statistically, the Appleton Fire Department met the four minute response goal nearly 63% of the time, Four-Minute Response with an average response time for the first-in unit of Goal 4:45 (Minutes:Seconds). Over the past several years, the Appleton Fire Department has taken steps to improve response times. The use of global positioning, where the closest fire unit is dispatched; 37% rather than dispatch by fire district; along with 63% >4 Minutes automatic aid agreements have helped. The Appleton Fire Department has evaluated its staffing <4 Minutes and vehicle placement, with the hope of improving response times as well. With the growth of the City of Appleton on the extreme north side, as well as developments on the far south side; it may be necessary to evaluate the need for additional staffing, as well as the relocation or construction of new fire stations throughout the city to further improve response times.  Automatic Aid In 2016, the department once again responded under automatic aid agreements to incidents in Town of Grand Chute Fire Department and Neenah-Menasha Fire Rescue fire districts. Under these agreements, the Appleton Fire Department responds automatically into the Town of Grand Chute for structure fires and into NeenahMenasha fire districts for structure fires and medical responses that are immediately dangerous to life and safety. Our automatic aid agreements work to send the closest unit by automatic vehicle location (AVL), a form of global positioning, instead of traditional jurisdictional boundaries. Under our automatic aid agreements, the Appleton Fire Department responded into the Town of Grand Chute 33 times for structure fires and into Neenah-Menasha fire districts for 18 fire calls and 114 emergency medical calls. In total, the Appleton Fire Department responded to/into our automatic aid partners jurisdictions 165 times. Our automatic aid partners responded into the 2016 Appleton Fire Department Annual Report Page 21 City of Appleton 46 times for fire calls and 63 times for emergency medical calls. The Appleton Fire Department routinely trains with our automatic aid partner departments to clarify vocabulary used in fire suppression and to gain familiarity with their equipment and department procedures. Automatic Aid Requests 2014-2016 120 Number of Calls 100 80 60 40 20 0 Automatic Aid Given - EMS 75 Automatic Aid Given - Fire 25 Automatic Aid Received - EMS 46 Automatic Aid Received - Fire 33 2015 67 60 78 39 2016 114 51 63 46 2014  Mutual Aid Box Alarm System (MABAS) MABAS is a mutual aid measure that pre-plans the resources needed when an incident exhausts local resources. In addition to our automatic aid agreements, the department had eight MABAS related requests in 2016. 2016 Appleton Fire Department Annual Report Page 22 Special Operations Division The Special Operations Division of the Appleton Fire Department is tasked with training for and responding to situations that require specialized skills and expertise beyond the normal scope of basic firefighting. The Special Operations Division oversees the Hazardous Materials Response Team for Calumet and Outagamie Counties, the Appleton Division of the Wisconsin (Northeast) Regional Type II Hazardous Materials Response Team, a Radiological Field Survey Team for the Wisconsin Department of Health and Human Services, a Technical Rescue/Structural Collapse Team (including Trench Rescue, Rope Rescue, Confined Space Rescue and Structural Collapse Rescue), and a Water/Ice Rescue Team. Along with response duties, these teams promote educational and preventative measures with programs to protect life, property, and the environment. Within the department, specific fire stations are designated to house advanced specialty rescue vehicles and equipment. The Special Operations Division is under the direct supervision of Battalion Chief Ethan Kroll. Hazardous Materials The Appleton Fire Department’s Hazardous Materials Team partners with the Green Bay Fire Department and the Oshkosh Fire Department to form the Northeast Type II Hazardous Materials Response Team. The team is based upon the National Incident Management Systems (NIMS) capabilities classifications. A Type III team is capable of dealing with known industrial chemicals that do not require protective suits for vapor/skin contact (Level A); a Type II team is capable of Type III responses plus dealing with chemicals requiring Level A Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), and the ability to determine unknown substances. A Type I team is capable of Type II and III response plus responding to WMD/CBRN incidents. The Appleton Fire Department also serves Calumet and Outagamie Counties as the county response team, handling smaller incidents at the local level.  Personnel All department personnel are trained to the Hazardous Materials Operations level. The department has 28 members who are trained to the NFPA 472 level for Hazardous Materials Technician. Across the three shifts, the team is coordinated by appointed personnel who assist in the development and delivery of training and annual team competency testing. 2016 Appleton Fire Department Annual Report Page 23  Sub-Teams The Hazardous Materials Team has personnel who have advanced training beyond the technician level. Several members have additional advanced specialty training in rail, highway, and detection of unknown substances. Team members are further divided into sub-teams that include advanced metering and radiological response. Advanced metering personnel undergo training to specialize in techniques and equipment to identify unknown hazards. Members of the department who specialize in radiological response have entered into an agreement with the State of Wisconsin, Department of Health and Human Services to assist state health technicians at radiological emergencies.  Responses Hazardous Materials (Haz-Mat) responses, Statewide and/or County, are not as common as other types of emergency responses. In 2016, the team had eight incident responses, with numerous other phone and/or on-site consultations. Haz-Mat incidents of note included:  In August, Haz-Mat personnel responded to Chilton to assist with the metering and monitoring of the run-off and the smoke plume from a structure fire involving a paint and chemical supplier.  In August, Haz-Mat personnel responded to Kaukauna to assist the Kaukauna Fire Department at a paper manufacturing plant that had a leak from a chemical processing machine.  In September, Haz-Mat personnel assisted with investigating a possible anhydrous ammonia leak from the refrigeration system at a food processing facility.  In November, Haz-Mat personnel responded to the Fox River in Appleton (between Olde Oneida Street and Lutz Park) for a fuel oil or diesel fuel leak.  In December, Haz-Mat personnel from the Appleton Fire Department and the Oshkosh Fire Department responded to a correctional facility in Waupun for a suspicious substance located in a package delivered to the facility. Fire Stations #1 and #6 are designated as Hazardous Materials stations and contain specialized vehicles and equipment. 2016 Appleton Fire Department Annual Report Page 24  Pre-Planning, Outreach, and Training The Hazardous Materials Team provided three formal outreach presentations and participated in three exercises in 2016. One of the exercises was a multi-agency, full scale exercise that utilized the training grounds at Fox Valley Technical College - Public Safety Training Center. The exercise involved a simulated train derailment. To further assist in incident planning, our Hazardous Materials Team is provided information by the counties we serve about all facilities that have a reportable amount (as determined by the EPA) of hazardous materials located on site.  Training In 2016, department members received 1,441 hours of specialty training in all aspects of hazardous materials response. Haz-Mat personnel taught metering, proper donning, doffing, and decontamination to all operations personnel.  Local Emergency Planning Committee Representation The department has representatives on the Calumet and Outagamie Counties, Local Emergency Planning Commission (LEPC). These members represent the fire service for each of these counties in enforcing the provisions of the Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act (SARA), Title III 'Community Right to Know.' This Act provides information on chemical transportation and facility impacts on all county residents. Technical Rescue and Wisconsin Task Force 1 (WI-TF1) The Appleton Fire Department is the designated rescue response agency for City of Appleton employees who make entry into permit-required confined spaces owned by the City of Appleton. The Appleton Fire Department has 23 line-personnel trained to the Technician level for Confined Space Rescue. The Appleton Fire Department provided 'stand-by' rescue services for nine City of Appleton permit-required confined space entries in 2016. Wisconsin Emergency Management has given a two-year contract extension to municipalities that have personnel serving on Wisconsin Task Force 1 (WI-TF1). All members are trained to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) standard. Currently, the Appleton Fire Department has 16 members on WI-TF1. The Appleton Fire Department has 19 members trained as Rescue Technicians and several additional members trained as Confined Space Rescue Technicians. 2016 Appleton Fire Department Annual Report Page 25  Personnel and Training In 2016, the Appleton Fire Department had 24 personnel trained in the sub-specialties of Technical Rescue Technician. Sub-specialties included in this training are collapse rescue, confined space rescue, trench rescue, and high/low angle rope rescue. In 2016, the Appleton Fire Department did not have to respond to a non-water, technical rescue call.  Equipment Technical Rescue is both labor and equipment intensive. The Appleton Fire Department has two dedicated rescue vehicles, including a light rescue at Station #1 and a heavy rescue with a standardized cache of equipment for technical rescue at Station #5. Fire Station #5 is designated as the heavy rescue station. Water/Ice Rescue With the Fox River flowing through the City of Appleton and a multitude of retention ponds, the Appleton Fire Department trains personnel in water and ice rescue techniques.  Personnel and Training In 2016, 25 department members maintained training at a higher level of water rescue and served as swift water rescue team members and designated rescue boat operators. Twenty department members are designated as swift water technicians. On an annual basis, every member of the operations division receives hands-on, in-thewater refresher training for water and ice rescue. 2016 Appleton Fire Department Annual Report Page 26  Responses As with any technical rescue, swift water/ice responses are considered a high-risk situation. In 2016, the department responded to several incidents on the Fox River. One of the incidents included an individual who jumped off of the College Avenue bridge and was later located and identified when they walked into the Appleton Police Department. Additionally, the department provided an escort to kayakers participating in two events on the Fox River.  Equipment The Appleton Fire Department has a cache of equipment for swift water/ice rescue that includes two boats located at Fire Station #1. All front-line fire apparatus have personal flotation devices, water rescue suits, helmets, and ropes for water rescue. Fire Station #3 is designated as the water/ice rescue station. 2016 Appleton Fire Department Annual Report Page 27 Resource Development Division The Resource Development Division of the Appleton Fire Department is tasked with assuring the effectiveness of response to the community by providing a variety of training programs. The division is charged to enhance the safety of the organization and the performance of the Appleton Fire Department members. The division also oversees the Emergency Medical Services (EMS) program. The Resource Development Division is under the direct supervision of Deputy Chief Eugene Reece, Jr. Training In 2016, the division oversaw the annual basic firefighter skills assessments in which every operations division member participated. The division also oversaw monthly Safety Committee facilitation and monthly firefighter, driver/engineer, and company officer training. In 2016, department members completed 12,401 hours of training in a wide variety of training categories. In addition to the basic fire suppression training conducted in 2016, the division focused on developing procedures to prepare our firefighters for response to 'Mass Casualty' events. This included working with law enforcement agencies and emergency medical services to develop guidelines, deliver hands-on training, and to equip our personnel so that they are able to respond to and have a posititve impact in life-saving measures during these types of incidents.  Recruit Firefighter Academy Annually, the Appleton Fire Department internally delivers a recruit fire academy for probationary firefighters. This academy is held at the training facility at Fire Station #6. Instructors in the academy include fire operations personnel assigned to fire stations throughout the city. Academy curriculum includes an orientation, lessons in fire behavior, the use of extinguishers, study of tools and equipment, discussions on communications and department policy, instruction on the use of ropes and knots, extensive training on personal protective equipment (PPE) and self-contained breathing 2016 Appleton Fire Department Annual Report Page 28 apparatus (SCBA). The academy utilizes classroom and practical training in ladders, fire hose, water supply (hooking a fire hydrant), fire streams, forcible entry techniques, ventilation, search and rescue, salvage and overhaul, self-survival, and fire tactics. Members of the Fire Prevention and Public Education Division teach classes on fire detection and alarm systems, preplans, the basics of fire prevention, and about the many fire prevention and safety programs the department offers. The Special Operations Division teaches courses and practical evolutions in the areas of rope rescue and mechanical advantages, confined space rescue, hazardous materials response, and special equipment and techniques used in special operations.  Personal Development Many fire department members had the opportunity to attend training outside of the department in 2016 that focused on a variety of topics that were aimed at increasing their knowledge and skills. These training opportunities were provided by: the National Fire Academy (NFA), the Fire Department Instructor’s Conference (FDIC), the EMS World Expo, the Division of Criminal Investigations (DCI), the International Association of Arson Investigators (IAAI), the FEMA Center for Domestic Preparedness, Wisconsin Emergency Management (WEM), Public Agency Training Council (PATC), as well as, attending classes on company officer supervision, customer service, fire investigation, and command safety. 2016 Appleton Fire Department Annual Report Page 29 Emergency Medical Services (EMS) The Appleton Fire Department, in collaboration with Gold Cross Ambulance, provides Emergency Medical Responder (EMR/First Responder) services to residents in the City of Appleton. Dr. Mark Westfall is the medical director.  Personnel & Training All members of the Appleton Fire Department are trained and licensed as either Emergency Medical Responders/First Responders (EMR’s with Advanced Skills) or Emergency Medical Technicians (EMT’s) by the State of Wisconsin. This year, our department focused on training that addressed injuries occurring from traumatic incidents. All of our crews had the experience to train in full-scale, real-life scenarios partnering with Gold Cross Ambulance and the Appleton Police Department. Working with these other agencies in training such as this, allows our department to be better prepared when emergencies occur. In 2016, the department obtained authorization to deliver the following additional EMR advanced medications: Narcan (a medication for opioid overdoses) and the use of Epinephrine (a medication for anaphylaxis from allergic reactions). All Appleton Fire Department Operations Division personnel are recertified annually in American Heart Association (AHA) CPR, as well as in the use of an automatic external defibrillator (AED). Three department members are assigned to the Appleton Police Department as SWAT Paramedics.  Responses The Appleton Fire Department responded to 3,086 calls for EMS service in 2016. The department responded to 139 cardiac arrests, with 34 individuals being transported to the hospital. Of those, 11 individuals were successfully resuscitated with the patient ultimately being discharged from the hospital. 2016 Appleton Fire Department Annual Report Page 30 2016 New Equipment  BullEx Digital Fire Suppression Training Simulator This new digital fire training technology allows our firefighters to train in countless locations and situations to diversify training and ensure our firefighters are prepared to handle any real fire situation. It allows the department to create a seat of fire where live fire is not an option and creates realistic fire conditions where the presence of fire is an important element, but fire suppression is not the primary objective. The system has waterproof panels that uses five thermal sensors along with self-generating digital flames and sound effects to provide an interactive training experience. The system’s available smoke generation produces a smoke-filled environment relative to the size of the fire. The system enables instructors to run repeatable and variable evolutions with push-button start and stop. The system can be set up in about five minutes, giving us more time to train.  Max Fire Box Fire Behavior/Flashover Simulator The Max Fire Box provides an economical solution for live fire behavior training that does not require a lot of space. It is a fire behavior training tool that provides a live demonstration of fire behavior that could save lives. Firefighters must be able to make life and death decisions in rapidly changing environments. To be effective, firefighters need to be able to not only recognize the signs of changing conditions but also recognize what factors cause the environment to change. Although classroom training is a good way to teach firefighters the basics of fire behavior, actually seeing the behavior is a more impactful way to learn. The Max Fire Box safely recreates these environments in a way that is easy to see and understand. By using the Max Fire Box, instructors can show how changes directly affect fire. By repeating the process with the same results, it is easy to see how their actions can quickly affect fire in a way that can make the environment more survivable or more deadly. 2016 Appleton Fire Department Annual Report Page 31  Rehabilitation Equipment The Appleton Fire Department successfully obtained a federal grant that secured funds to purchase a number of items related to rehabilitation at our incidents. Through these efforts, our department strengthened a relationship with the Outagamie County Community Emergency Response Team (OCCERT), whose duties include providing refuge from the environment, active rehydration, and nourishment during incidents. This partnership has led us to look for ways to improve fire ground rehabilitation in not only the City of Appleton but also countywide. Within this partnership, we were able to use the federal grant to purchase new equipment that will be shared with departments throughout Outagamie County. This grant allowed us to purchase a tent with a heater, misting fans, a non-contact thermometer, and a carboxyhemoglobin meter that allows us to monitor our firefighter’s carbon monoxide levels in their blood stream. United States Representative Reid Ribble attended an event where the items were formally placed into service. Additionally, a former Appleton Fire Department rehabilitation tractor/trailer was formally transferred to OCCERT for use throughout the county. 2016 Appleton Fire Department Annual Report Page 32 Future of the Fire Service - Fire Science Education The Appleton Fire Department is an engaged partner in the fire science educational efforts of the Wisconsin Technical College System and the University of Wisconsin System. The department is an active participant in furthering educational opportunities for students by offering placement in internships, preceptorships, and our department ride-along and job shadow programs.  Interns Fox Valley Technical College (FVTC) offers a Fire Protection Technician Associate Degree. As part of the degree curriculum, the program includes an internship for qualified students to work in a fire department for either a semester or school year, functioning as a firefighter. This program combines practical work experience and training together with classroom instruction to provide a comprehensive understanding of firefighting principles. In 2016, the Appleton Fire Department hosted six interns from FVTC.  University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh Fire Science Camps The University of Wisconsin–Oshkosh Continuing Education and Extension Department oversees a fire science career exploration program. This program provides residential camp experiences to young men and women, ages 13-20, with opportunities to explore careers in fire and emergency response services. The Appleton Fire Department provides personnel and resources during the course of the camps. During 2016, the Appleton Fire Department co-hosted three, week-long fire camps. The camps included basic and advanced fire camps for high school-aged students and a fire camp for middle schoolaged students. Health, Wellness, and Safety The Appleton Fire Department is committed to the health and wellness of its employees.  Health Firefighter health is driven by NFPA Publication 1582, Standard on Comprehensive Occupational Medical Program for Fire Departments. In 2016, the department conducted pre-employment physical and psychological examinations for new hires and persons in promotional processes. All 2016 Appleton Fire Department Annual Report Page 33 personnel directly involved in firefighting activities participated in the annual physical fitness testing.  Wellness Committee In 2016, the Wellness Committee continued with the programs for fire ground wellness that have been built upon the function-based concept and approach to fitness. This program utilizes both weighted slam balls and medicine balls to simulate physically strenuous fire ground activities. The committee was also able to replace some of our aging fitness equipment with new equipment purchases.  Safety Committee In a joint collaboration with the International Association of Fire Fighters - Local 257, the Appleton Fire Department conducts monthly Safety Committee meetings. Topics address safety concerns, injury prevention, equipment evaluation, and other projects to improve the safety of the fire department. This committee also completes bi-annual inspections of all firefighter personal protective equipment worn by department staff. In 2016, the committee continued to work on improving our process for fire ground rehabilitation, with a commitment to decrease stress and exhaustion related injuries on the fire ground. Through these efforts, our fire department has strengthened a relationship with the Outagamie County Community Emergency Response Team (OCCERT) in an effort to establish a more formal rehabilitation system at our incidents. Their efforts include providing refuge from the environment, active rehydration, and nourishment. This partnership has led us to look for ways to improve fire ground rehabilitation countywide and look at opportunities for joint purchases and grants. Within this partnership, we were able to successfully apply for a federal grant that secured the department funds to purchase new equipment that will be shared with departments throughout the county. This grant allowed us to purchase a tent with heater, misting fans, a non-contact thermometer, and a carboxyhemoglobin meter that allows us to monitor our firefighter’s carbon monoxide levels in the blood stream. 2016 Appleton Fire Department Annual Report Page 34 Fire Prevention and Public Education Division The Fire Prevention and Public Education Division of the Appleton Fire Department supervises all State of Wisconsin mandated fire and life safety requirements; and plans, develops, and implements fire and life safety education programming in our community. The Fire Prevention and Public Education Division is under the direct supervision of Battalion Chief Joseph Strauss. Fire Prevention The Fire Prevention and Public Education 2016 TOP CAUSES OF FIRES IN APPLETON Division performs all plan reviews of new construction. In most Wisconsin fire  Unattended Equipment departments, those plans are sent to the  Exposure Fires State of Wisconsin’s Department of  Misuse of Materials Safety and Professional Services for  Electrical review and approval. By agreement with  Heat Source Too Close to Combustibles the State of Wisconsin, Appleton is  Undetermined Causes designated as an agent municipality and can review their own plans for approval. Since 2001, the Division has handled all localized fire-related licensing, provided code enforcement, and has worked closely with other city departments in new project development, continuing education, and life safety plan review.  Fire Code Enforcement In 2016, the Fire Prevention and Public Education Division, along with suppression crews, completed 4,679 routine fire inspections, 998 residential burn permits; and 106 other permits such as tent, building, fireworks, and tank. Fire Prevention staff processed 138 plan reviews of fire sprinkler and fire alarm systems, and completed 24 underground fuel tank inspections as an agent for the State of Wisconsin. Fire Prevention staff also performed 34 new business occupancy inspections and firework safety checks in 2016. The Appleton Fire Department did not issue any citations for non-compliance in 2016.  Firefighter/Inspectors In 2016, the role of Firefighter/Inspector involvement with Fire Prevention and Pubic Education Division activities continued for a sixth consecutive year. During the day, up to two Firefighter/Inspectors conduct inspections and complete Division duties throughout the City; at night, these individuals return to their assigned apparatus and fire crews. In 2016, the six Firefighter/Inspectors completed 1,051 premise inspections/re-inspections. Through continuing education, four of the Firefighter/Inspectors obtained certification as Fire Investigation Technicians (FIT) through the International Association of Arson Investigators (IAAI). 2016 Appleton Fire Department Annual Report Page 35  New Building Construction Of the many plans reviewed by the Fire Prevention and Public Education Division, most notable are the many new apartment buildings that are protected by automatic fire sprinklers. For example, Trails Edge off of Lightning Drive added seven additional buildings in 2016 for a total of 84 rental units. All of these new units were equipped with fire alarm notification and fire sprinklers.  School Fire Drills All 59 schools in the City of Appleton were 100% in compliance by having at least one fire drill witnessed by members of the Appleton Fire Department. These same schools were 100% in compliance with the State of Wisconsin requirement for the required ten, monthly fire drills. In 2017, the Appleton Fire Department will work closely with all Appleton schools to once again ensure 100% compliance with the required monthly fire drills.  Education Collaboration The Fire Prevention and Public Education Division worked with Fox Valley Technical College (FVTC) to meet curriculum needs of students by exposing them to the practical prevention activities involved with being a firefighter. The Division provides a day-long job shadow opportunity that allows young adults to get hands-on experience with inspections, plan review, and code enforcement. In 2016, the Division had six FVTC students participate and advance in their curriculum needs.  Fire Investigations Twenty-four fire investigations were conducted in 2016. There was one arson-related arrest in 2016. Fire investigators also assisted the Wisconsin Department of Justice - Division of Criminal Investigations in the investigation of one fatal fire in 2016.  Youth Involvement The Fire Prevention and Public Education Division offers a Firewise program that educates children, pre-teens, and teens of the dangers of playing with fire. The program involves meetings with the youths (ages 3-13) and a parent.  Teamwork In 2016, the Fire Prevention and Public Education Division teamed up with Department of Public Works (DPW) to flush and maintain 300 fire hydrants located on private properties in the City of Appleton, as well as to coordinate and confirm flushing of hydrants supplied by the neighboring municipalities of the Town of Grand Chute, the Town of Buchanan, and the Town of Menasha whose infrastructure serve City of Appleton businesses and residences. This collaboration served 2016 Appleton Fire Department Annual Report Page 36 to confirm that the water system is maintained properly for emergency fire ground operations. This past year was the fifth consecutive year of this inter-municipality partnership. The Division is involved with other City Departments/Committees, including Special Events (City Clerk), Technical Review Group (Community Development), Safety Committee (Human Resources), Interdepartmental Network (all City), new building inspections coordination, and the Department of Public Works (Inspections).  Assembly Facility Liaison Program In 2016, the Fire Prevention and Public Education Division continued their active involvement with buildings throughout the City used for high levels of assembly of people and special events. Specifically, the Division provided proactive oversight of life safety concerns and fire prevention in those facilities where large numbers of people gather indoors. Further, the Division provided education to the building managers of potential life safety concerns. Public Education The Public Education component of this Division develops and implements fire and life safety education programming in our community.  Educational Programming In 2016, the department provided educational activities to 16,888 participants in 225 unique events. On-duty personnel provided 53 tours, with 99 engine turnout show and tell/special event programs in 2016.  Public Information and Social Media Six Appleton Fire Department members serve as Public Information Officers (PIOs). These PIOs provide vital information, through interviews and press releases, to our media partners on events and incidents that affect the community, along with offering safety messages to media outlets. Our PIOs were interviewed and quoted in local newspapers, on television, and on the radio on numerous occasions. In 2016, the Appleton Fire Department increased its use of Facebook and Twitter, and added Instagram to reach more citizens with information regarding hazardous weather conditions, fire calls for service, large-scale incidents and most importantly, providing safety tips and reminders. 2016 Appleton Fire Department Annual Report Page 37 At the close of 2016, the Appleton Fire Department had 5,434 followers on Facebook, 2,076 on Twitter, and 54 on Instagram. Our biggest posts on Facebook included the following: 1. Retirement of Lieutenant Scott Rehrauer 01/03/2016 22,968 reaches 2. Dog rescue by Driver/Engineer Jake Kirchner 05/22/2016 20,788 reaches 3. Glenhurst Propane Explosion (Post #2) 02/08/2016 20,572 reaches 4. Lieutenant Lee Kasten resigns to take new job 02/02/2016 17,821 reaches 5. 9/11 Memorial/Remembrance 09/11/2016 17,128 reaches 6. Grill Fire 06/14/2016 13,611 reaches 7. Promotion of Matt Gerrits to Battalion Chief 02/04/2016 12,496 reaches 8. Duck Rescue Video 04/20/2016 11,713 reaches 9. Dig Out Your Hydrant 12/11/2016 11,349 reaches 10. Remembrance of the passing of Appleton's First 02/13/2016 10,952 reaches Fire Chief, Elmer Anderson Find us on Facebook at: Appleton Fire Department Find us on Twitter at: @appletonfire Find us on Instagram at: appletonfiredepartment 2016 Appleton Fire Department Annual Report Page 38  Keep the Wreath Green Each year during the winter holiday season, fire stations around the city hang wreaths with green-colored light bulbs. The green bulbs are replaced with red bulbs with every structure fire. The program is designed to remind the public about fire safety during the holiday season. In 2016, we had five red bulbs, up one bulb from the four of 2015.  Citizen’s Academy In September of 2016, the Appleton Fire Department, working in conjunction with the Appleton Police Department, once again offered the annual Citizen’s Academy. Sixteen citizens completed the entire 12-week program. During the Fire Department’s portion of the academy, participants were able to experience hands-on workstations simulating the various facets of what it is like to be a firefighter for the Appleton Fire Department. The opening night began with an opportunity to observe a mock fire call. Firefighters explained and demonstrated what the various fire ground roles and responsibilities are for each crew member. The participants then took a ride in a fire apparatus with the lights and siren activated. The academy members then pulled a hose line and had the opportunity to flow water. Finally, the participants had the opportunity to take a ride in the aerial ladder truck’s bucket to experience what it is like to work 100' in the air. During the second evening of the academy, the participants had an opportunity to use the ‘Jaws of Life’ to remove the doors of a vehicle that had experienced a simulated motor vehicle accident. The remainder of the evening was spent rescuing a volunteer victim who was stuck on a rooftop. The participants assisted in setting up a rope system with the aerial ladder truck and helped to package the patient to allow for the safe removal and rescue from the rooftop. 2016 Appleton Fire Department Annual Report Page 39 The third and final evening of the fire department's portion of the academy was dedicated to search and rescue, the donning and doffing of protective clothing, and specialty rescues. Firefighters explained the department’s role in the State of Wisconsin’s response to hazardous material spills, confined space rescues, and structural collapse incidents. The participants were given an opportunity to see what it is like to work in the low visibility of a simulated house fire. They also had the opportunity to experience the difficulty of rescuing a full-sized adult. The remainder of the evening allowed the participants an opportunity to don all of a firefighter’s protective clothing and equipment. This included the wearing of a selfcontained breathing apparatus and breathing off the air tank. Over 20 different firefighters helped in providing this fun, informative, and rewarding experience to our interested citizens. Their time, expertise, and caring were on display throughout the academy and are what makes this program run so successfully. Fire Prevention Week Poster Contest Each year, the Appleton Fire Department works in conjunction with Appleton area schools in a program for students to submit an original poster relating to fire safety. The theme for Fire Prevention Week 2016 was, ‘Don't Wait, Check the Date - Replace Smoke Alarms Every 10 Years.’ Each school which participated in the contest had a winner selected by the members of the department and from those winners, an overall winner was chosen. Each individual school winner received a ride home from school in a fire engine or truck.  2016 Fire Prevention Poster Contest Winning Entry The Appleton Fire Department had 70 entries from seven Appleton elementary schools. The winner was Teagan Selle, a sixth grader from Riverview Lutheran. Teagan’s winning entry was featured on a signboard located on W. Northland Avenue in Appleton. As an added bonus, Teagan rode in the annual Appleton Holiday Parade on our aerial ladder truck as our special guest. 2016 Appleton Fire Department Annual Report Page 40 Teagan's Winning Poster (234 W. Northland Avenue) Other individual school winners included: Grace Holmes - Johnston ES Ella Romberg - Xavier MS Rylan Marinoff - McKinley ES Lydia Bavinck - Houdini ES Natalie Mueller - Berry ES Lucas Lindquist - Huntley ES 2016 Appleton Fire Department Annual Report Page 41 Honor Guard The Appleton Fire Department Honor Guard is a group of department members whose purpose is to render tribute and honor to fallen active duty firefighters and retirees. The Honor Guard was active in 2016, displaying department pageantry for parades and other public events. Department members, led by the Honor Guard, also marched in the annual Memorial Day parade. The Honor Guard continued to be available for retiree funerals, standing watch over our fallen firefighters. 2016 Appleton Fire Department Annual Report Page 42 Appleton Fire Department Museum The Appleton Fire Department Museum is a non-profit, tax exempt, educational museum whose purpose is to preserve and exhibit the artifacts and history of the Appleton Fire Department, as well as to promote fire safety and prevention. The Museum serves as a memorial to those who have dedicated their lives to the fire service. Even though the Museum is located at Station #1, pieces of the Museum's collection are proudly displayed at the other fire stations throughout the city. The Museum works to document our incidents, events involving our members, and our training; and has a growing database of content. The Museum has a working relationship with the Outagamie County Historical Society and the Appleton Public Library to share collections. In 2016, the Museum actively continued its outreach to the community to increase the size of the collection within the Museum and to return memorabilia to the fire department collection. The Museum continued to archive training photos and other types of department life, including classroom education, public education activities, and activities involving members outside of the workplace. The Museum also continued to promote the ‘Revive Old Engine 5’ campaign, which successfully brought a retired 1925 Appleton Fire Department Pumper back to the department in August of 2012. The non-profit ‘Friends of the Appleton Fire Department Foundation’ officially took on the mission to buy back and restore the engine. Once restored, it will begin its second tour of duty as the centerpiece of many exciting and beneficial projects. It is our hope that Engine 5 will become a grand symbol of community service and it will be synonymous with charitable giving within the community. By far, the most exciting and beneficial projects slated for Engine 5 will be to collect donations of money, food, and clothing throughout the year for various local charities, with high visibility and a sense of community. In July of 2014, Engine 5 was shipped to a professional restorer in Bristol, WI, where refurbishment of the motor is currently underway. The refurbishment has been delayed due to the need to acquire original replacement parts and/or the remanufacturing of parts. As of December 31, 2016, the ‘Friends of the Appleton Fire Department Foundation’ had successfully, raised over one-half of the funds needed to complete the restoration. Tax deductible contributions may be donated to this project at http://www.afdfriends.com. 2016 Appleton Fire Department Annual Report Page 43 International Association of Fire Fighters - Local 257 Appleton Firefighters - Local 257 is made up of 84 members, consisting of personnel in the ranks of Captain, Lieutenant, Driver/Engineer, Firefighter/Inspector and Firefighter. There is a strong working relationship between the members of Local 257 and the Appleton Fire Department’s management staff. This working relationship is one of mutual respect and understanding. While the primary focus is representing its members, Local 257 has also made a considerable effort in the community on several charitable initiatives through its Benevolence Fund. Throughout the year, Local 257 sold red and pink fire department shirts to raise money for our military troops and for breast cancer research, awareness, and survivors. Proceeds from the sale of the red AFD ‘Support the Troops’ shirts were donated to help military veterans in the area. Proceeds from the sale of the pink AFD ‘Breast Cancer Support’ shirts were donated to local breast cancer organizations and surviors. In September, members of the department participated in the annual Muscular Dystrophy Association ‘Fill-the-Boot’ campaign. From two locations, the generosity shown by those who donated raised a total of nearly $19,850 over three days of fundraising for this worthy cause. The money raised was donated to the Muscular Dystrophy Association of Wisconsin to aid in the research for a cure. Proceeds from Local 257's annual ‘Octoberfest’ chili booth went to supporting a variety of organizations. Local 257 routinely makes donations to City of Appleton residents who are the victims of fire loss. These monetary donations allow our citizens the means to immediately replace necessities in their time of need. Local 257 also supports Little League baseball teams and other community organizations with monetary donations. 2016 Appleton Fire Department Annual Report Page 44 Personnel Changes Retirements Lieutenant Scott Rehrauer Driver/Engineer Pat Lewis Resignations Lieutenant Lee Kasten Promotions Driver/Engineer Michelle Bialas to Lieutenant Driver/Engineer Bill Calaway to Lieutenant Firefighter Dave Reigles to Driver/Engineer Firefighter Ryan Weyers to Driver/Engineer Firefighter Andy Patz to Driver/Engineer Firefighter Matt Gerrits to Battalion Chief Voluntary Demotions Battalion Chief Matt Gerrits to Firefighter Department Anniversaries 25 Years of Service 20 Years of Service Battalion Chief Ethan Kroll Captain Rick James Lieutenant Michelle Bialas 15 Years of Service 10 Years of Service Driver/Engineer Tim Meyer Driver/Engineer Jake Kirchner Driver/Engineer Dave Reigles Driver/Engineer Ryan Weyers Firefighter/Inspector Jeremiah Detert Firefighter/Inspector Brian Horst Firefighter Tim Lutz Firefighter Steve Unruh Fire Protection Engineer Steve Patterson Firefighter Andy Dobbe Firefighter Kelly Lynch Firefighter Mike Wiese 5 Years of Service Fire Inspector David Kempen Firefighter Riley Kubisiak 2016 Appleton Fire Department Annual Report Page 45 2016 Fire Department Awards The department has a formalized Awards Committee that reviews award nominations and makes a determination if an award should be granted. The department has 13 possible awards it may bestow upon employees, citizens, and the media. 2016 Citizen Awards Good Samaritan Award The Good Samaritan Award is presented to a citizen for the performance of an act of human kindness which saved the life or prevented further injury to another person. Awarded to Jeremy Perez On the evening of December 4,, 2016, the fire department was dispatched to a structure fire on E. Lincoln Street. As the fire department was responding, they were informed that an elderly woman may be trapped in her apartment. Upon arrival, the fire department units were met by Mr. Perez who had forced the apartment door open and put the fire out. Mr. Perez ensured the woman wasn’t harmed by smoke or fire and he had assisted her outside. This incident could have gone much differently had Mr. Perez not reacted quickly to stabilize the scene before the Fire Department arrived. It is for these selfless actions that the Appleton Fire Department would like to recognize Mr. Perez with the Good Samaritan Award. 2016 Fire Department Personnel Awards EMS Lifesaving Award This award is presented to department personnel for pulseless, non-breathing patients who are resuscitated through direct intervention of our personnel and the patient is discharged from the hospital. During this past year, 16 department members received the EMS Lifesaving Award covering incidents in which individuals were saved. Crew of Unit 9325 - Captain Mike Woodzicka, Driver/Engineer Jake Kirchner, and Firefighter Tyler Zunker. Awarded for an EMS life save in November of 2015 (Presented in January of 2016). Crew of Unit 9323 - Captain Jeff Felauer, Relief Driver/Engineer Tim Blob, and Firefighter Matt Dercks. Awarded for an EMS life save in June of 2016. Crew of Unit 9324 - Acting Officer Adam Galica, Driver/Engineer Jay Kjorlien, and Firefighter Troy Kinley. Awarded for an EMS life save in August of 2016. 2016 Appleton Fire Department Annual Report Page 46 Crew of Unit 9346 - Captain Jay Thomas, Driver/Engineer Paul Williams, Firefighter/Inspector Jeremiah Detert, and Firefighter Nate Milhans. Awarded for an EMS life save in August of 2016. Crew of Unit 9324 - Lieutenant Jeff Nelessen, Driver/Engineer Steve Kulas, and Firefighter Todd Hendricks. Awarded for an EMS life save in September of 2016. Crew of Unit 9322 - Captain Paul Thomson, Driver/Engineer Michelle Neeck-Lappen, and Firefighter Ryan Lee. Awarded for an EMS life save in September of 2016. 2016 Appleton Fire Department Annual Report Page 47 Appleton Common Council 2016 Tim Hanna, Mayor District District District District District District District District District District District District District District District 1 – William Siebers 2 – Vered Meltzer 3 – Curt Konetzke 4 – Joe Martin 5 – Edward Baranowski 6 – Greg Dannecker 7 – Kathleen Plank 8 – Matthew Reed 9 – Margret Mann 10 – Christine Williams 11 – Patti Coenen 12 – Cathy Spears 13 – Kyle Lobner 14 – Christopher Croatt 15 – Jeffrey Jirschele Ald. Plank – Council President Police and Fire Commission Ald. Croatt – Council Vice-President 2016 Appleton Fire Department Annual Report Page 48 Appleton Police and Fire Commission 2016 Police and Fire Commission Dale Schumaker - Chairman Harvey Samson - Secretary Pamela Rae De Leest Ron Dunlap Barbara Luedtke The Appleton Police and Fire Commission is a group of citizens; who, by authorization of state statutes, have roles and responsibility in fire and police organizations found in the State of Wisconsin. In Appleton, the commission has five members who are appointed by the Mayor and approved by the Appleton Common Council. A commissioner’s term of office is five years. Those appointed to the commission are representative of the community as a whole and have a voice for the citizenry. The members of the Police and Fire Commission are charged with appointing the chiefs of the fire and police departments. The Commission also approves or disapproves promotions and has supervision of the hiring process. In Appleton, our Police and Fire Commission also certifies an eligibility list of candidates as potential new hires and has approval of those who are eventually hired. The Police and Fire Commission also hold hearings on disciplinary matters brought to its attention, either directly or through appeal and imposes discipline, if appropriate. The Appleton Fire Department would like to acknowledge the time and effort put forth by the members of the Police and Fire Commission in the selection of candidates that advance our mission and goals to the future. 2016 Appleton Fire Department Annual Report Page 49 Appleton Fire Department Per Capita Fire Protection Cost Fire Protection is an expected service for the safety of residents and their property. Per Capita fire cost is an economic indicator used to demonstrate the cost per person for fire protection. Of the 35 full-time, all-career fire departments in the State of Wisconsin, the Appleton Fire Department ranks 32 out of 35 in per capita fire protection cost. The Appleton Fire Department’s per capita average of $152.50 is significantly lower than the state average of $189.02. The City of Appleton is the 6th largest city in state. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 Fire Department Rhinelander FD Wauwatosa FD Merrill FD Beloit FD North Shore FD Wisconsin Rapids FD Racine FD South Shore FD Brookfield FD Marshfield West Allis FD Madison FD Fond du Lac FD Chippewa Falls FD Oak Creek FD Milwaukee FD Greenfield FD La Crosse FD Green Bay Metro FD Neenah-Menasha FD Franklin FD Stevens Point FD Oshkosh FD Janesville FD Manitowoc FD Waukesha FD Caledonia FD Wausau FD Marinette FD Eau Claire FD Sheboygan FD Appleton FD Superior FD Cudahy FD Kenosha FD Totals Population 7,665 47,160 9,552 36,657 64,999 18,630 78,165 33,330 37,806 19,201 60,164 247,207 43,381 13,965 35,206 594,667 36,404 52,377 118,790 43,623 35,741 26,895 66,717 63,470 33,783 71,699 24,917 38,909 10,878 67,381 48,653 74,286 27,237 18,192 99,489 2,307,196 Fire Budget ($) $3,027,005 $12,875,599 $2,448,852 $8,910,493 $15,538,354 $4,241,514 $17,457,436 $7,315,910 $8,166,981 $4,096,240 $12,647,736 $48,706,390 $8,493,493 $2,732,619 $6,800,000 $111,311,820 $6,803,254 $9,780,363 $22,016,202 $8,029,780 $6,577,231 $4,909,019 $11,834,100 $11,084,915 $5,897,969 $12,417,900 $4,261,134 $6,613,096 $1,818,424 $11,174,200 $7,990,633 $11,328,432 $4,073,406 $2,393,361 $12,326,390 $436,100,251 Personnel 21.50 103.00 24.00 64.00 106.70 33.00 141.00 58.50 59.60 38.00 106.00 390.00 67.00 27.00 53.50 1,015.87 53.00 94.00 197.00 68.00 46.50 41.00 108.00 94.00 56.00 103.00 41.00 60.00 17.00 93.75 75.50 96.00 40.00 25.00 157.00 3774.42 Per Capita Cost ($) $394.91 $273.02 $256.37 $243.08 $239.06 $227.67 $223.34 $219.50 $216.02 $213.33 $210.22 $197.03 $195.79 $195.68 $193.15 $187.18 $186.88 $186.73 $185.34 $184.07 $184.02 $182.53 $177.38 $174.65 $174.58 $173.19 $171.01 $169.96 $167.17 $165.84 $164.24 $152.50 $149.55 $131.56 $123.90 $189.02 Projected population estimates from Wisconsin Department of Administration. Population of fire protection only. Budgets based upon municipal figures. Personnel may include both sworn and non-sworn individuals. 2016 Appleton Fire Department Annual Report Page 50 Appleton Fire Department Financials Adopted Budget FY 2012 - 2016 $11,328,432 $11,500,000 $11,025,309 $11,000,000 $10,500,000 $10,695,878 $10,779,514 FY 2013 FY 2014 $10,468,231 $10,000,000 FY 2012 FY 2016 Program Area Cost ($) Fire Suppression $9,054,245 Administration $677,209 Fire Prevention $631,490 Technical Services $366,572 Resource Development $266,238 Public Education $180,896 Special Operations $151,782 Total $11,328,432 FY 2015 FY 2016 % of Budget 79.9% 5.9% 5.7% 3.2% 2.4% 1.6% 1.3% 100% 2016 Expense Budget by Program Area Fire Suppression Fire Prevention Administration Technical Services Resource Development Special Operations Public Education 2016 Appleton Fire Department Annual Report Page 51 Appleton Fire Department Fire Personnel Per 1,000 People According to the National Fire Protection Association, between the years of 1986 to 2013, the number of firefighters per one thousand people served in the United States was 1.71. In the State of Wisconsin during 2016, the average number of career firefighters per one thousand people served was 1.64. The number for the Appleton Fire Department is 1.29 per one thousand people served. Of the 35 full-time, all-career fire departments in the State of Wisconsin, the Appleton Fire Department ranks 35 out of 35 in personnel per 1,000 people served. Reductions in staff over the last ten years have decreased the total number of available fire staff for the city. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 11 12 13 14 16 17 18 19 21 22 23 24 26 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 Fire Department Rhinelander FD Merrill FD Wauwatosa FD Marshfield Chippewa Falls FD Racine FD La Crosse FD Wisconsin Rapids FD South Shore FD West Allis FD Beloit FD Milwaukee FD Manitowoc FD Green Bay Metro FD Caledonia FD North Shore FD Oshkosh FD Neenah-Menasha FD Brookfield FD Madison FD Kenosha FD Marinette FD Sheboygan FD Fond du Lac FD Wausau FD Oak Creek FD Stevens Point FD Janesville FD Superior FD Greenfield FD Waukesha FD Eau Claire FD Cudahy FD Franklin FD Appleton FD Totals Population 7,665 9,552 47,160 19,201 13,965 78,165 52,377 18,630 33,330 60,164 36,657 594,667 33,783 118,790 24,917 64,999 66,717 43,623 37,806 247,207 99,489 10,878 48,653 43,381 38,909 35,206 26,895 63,470 27,237 36,404 71,699 67,381 18,192 35,741 74,286 2,307,196 Fire Budget ($) $3,027,005 $2,448,852 $12,875,599 $4,096,240 $2,732,619 $17,457,436 $9,780,363 $4,241,514 $7,315,910 $12,647,736 $8,910,493 $111,311,820 $5,897,969 $22,016,202 $4,261,134 $15,538,354 $11,834,100 $8,029,780 $8,166,981 $48,706,390 $12,326,390 $1,818,424 $7,990,633 $8,493,493 $6,613,096 $6,800,000 $4,909,019 $11,084,915 $4,073,406 $6,803,254 $12,417,900 $11,174,200 $2,393,361 $6,577,231 $11,328,432 $436,100,251 Personnel 21.50 24.00 103.00 38.00 27.00 141.00 94.00 33.00 58.50 106.00 64.00 1,015.87 56.00 197.00 41.00 106.70 108.00 68.00 59.60 390.00 157.00 17.00 75.50 67.00 60.00 53.50 41.00 94.00 40.00 53.00 103.00 93.75 25.00 46.50 96.00 3774.42 Personnel per 1,000 2.80 2.51 2.18 1.98 1.93 1.80 1.79 1.77 1.76 1.76 1.75 1.71 1.68 1.66 1.65 1.64 1.62 1.59 1.58 1.58 1.57 1.56 1.55 1.54 1.54 1.52 1.52 1.48 1.47 1.46 1.44 1.39 1.37 1.30 1.29 1.64 Projected population estimates from Wisconsin Department of Administration. Population of fire protection only. Budgets based upon municipal figures. Personnel may include both sworn and non-sworn individuals. 2016 Appleton Fire Department Annual Report Page 52 Appleton Fire Department Staffing 2016 Staffing Levels 96 FTE Fire Suppression = 87 FTE Administration = 4 FTE Fire Prevention = 3 FTE Resource Development = 1 FTE Special Operations = 1 FTE 2016 Appleton Fire Department Annual Report Page 53 In Memoriam We would like to respectfully recognize the passing of two retired member of our Appleton Fire Department family: Captain Roland (Jim) Kuehnl (Ret.) passed away on May 20, 2016 and Firefighter Jack Kottke (Ret.) passed away on December 30, 2016. Captain Kuehnl faithfully served the citizens of Appleton in a variety of ranks from 1966 to 1990. During his long and distinguished career with the Appleton Fire Department, Captain Kuehnl served as a Firefighter, a Driver/Engineer, Lieutenant, and a Captain. Captain Roland (Jim) Kuehnl Appointed to Firefighter: October 21, 1966 Appointed to Driver/Engineer: December 3, 1978 Appointed to Lieutenant: August 17, 1986 Appointed to Captain: June 4, 1989 Retired: January 4, 1990 Returned to Quarters: May 20, 2016 2016 Appleton Fire Department Annual Report Page 54 Firefighter Kottke faithfully served the citizens of Appleton as a firefighter and shift mechanic from 1966 to 1993. Firefighter Jack Kottke Appointed to Firefighter: October 21, 1966 Appointed to Shift Mechanic: October 17, 1971 Retired: June 3, 1993 Returned to Quarters: December 30, 2016 2016 Appleton Fire Department Annual Report Page 55 The Appleton Fire Department 2016 Annual Report Written and Coordinated by: Battalion Chief Joseph Strauss Document Oversight by: Chief Len Vander Wyst Statistics and Technical Assistance By: Assistant to the Chief Sharon Brochtrup Contributors: Chief Len Vander Wyst Deputy Chief Eugene Reece, Jr. Assistant to the Chief Sharon Brochtrup Battalion Chief Ethan Kroll Fire Protection Engineer Steve Patterson Captain Mike Woodzicka Firefighter Brad Brautigam Firefighter Keegan Murphy Firefighter Adam Paiser All photographs and logos are courtesy of the Appleton Fire Museum Photo Archive. Appleton Fire Department 700 N. Drew Street Appleton, WI 54911 T: 920-832-5810 Fax: 920-832-5830 www.appleton.org Find us on Facebook: Find us on Twitter: Find us in Instagram: Appleton Fire Department @appletonfire appletonfiredepartment 2016 Appleton Fire Department Annual Report Page 56