Services Provided

The following services are provided by the Defiance Fire Department:

• Emergency Medical Services
• Rescue
• Fire suppression
• Fire prevention and public education
• Hazardous materials response

EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES
Three out of every four responses by the Defiance Fire and Rescue Division are for emergency medical services. In 2008, the Fire and Rescue Division responded to 1,581 EMS calls, as well as 153 motor vehicle accidents. The Division provides emergency medical services to the City of Defiance, Defiance Township, Noble Township and Tiffin Township.

Eleven of the Division’s 23 full-time personnel are dual-certified as firefighters and paramedics, with an additional two personnel currently in paramedic school. The remaining 10 full-time personnel are certified at the EMT-Basic or EMT-Intermediate level. Many of the Division’s auxiliary personnel also hold emergency medical certification ranging from first responder to paramedic.

The Division operates three rescue squads with state-of-the-art equipment and drugs that includes:

• Cardiac monitor/defibrillators with 12-lead EKG capability
• Capnography
• Autovent
• EZ intraosseous and sternal intraosseous
• Medication-assisted intubation
• Continuous positive airway pressure
• Hydroxocobalamin for carbon monoxide poisoning and smoke inhalation

The Division transports patients to Defiance Regional Medical Center or Mercy Hospital. The City charges $630 plus $10.50 per loaded mile for level 1 advanced life support and transport, and $735 plus $10.50 per loaded mile for level 2 advanced life support. These charges help reduce the amount of tax dollars needed to fund the Division.

RESCUE
The Fire and Rescue Division’s most common rescue response is for motor vehicle accidents. The Division is also called upon to handle a wide variety of less-frequent types of rescue situations including industrial accidents, farm accidents, water and ice emergencies, trench collapse, elevator entrapment and high-angle incidents.

Just as Defiance Fire and Rescue Division personnel are dual-certified as firefighters and emergency medical technicians, the Division’s apparatus is dual-equipped for both fire suppression and rescue.

Engine 222 is equipped with a full set of hydraulic rescue tools, cribbing, air bags, air chisels, saws and assorted hand tools. Engine 221 and Tower 230 have smaller sets of hydraulic tools.

Tower 230 is equipped with a full set of rope and hardware for high-angle rescue. Ladder 231 carries a smaller set of rope and hardware.

The Division operates two rescue boats, which are stored on a trailer at the Central Fire Station.

FIRE SUPPRESSION
The close proximity of homes in Defiance’s older neighborhoods, the downtown business district, factories, and the large commercial buildings and “big box stores” on the city’s north end all present fire suppression challenges for the Fire and Rescue Division.

The Division responded to 351 calls for fires, fire alarms and hazardous situations in 2008 including 20 structure fires. Another 11 adjacent structures sustained damage, seven of which were impacted by a single explosion and fire in January.

The Division maintains staffing of five to seven full-time personnel around the clock at the Central Fire Station to ensure rapid response to fires. Auxiliary personnel are utilized to provide additional staffing in the station; and all off-duty full-time and auxiliary personnel are automatically paged to respond to structure fires.

The Division has automatic aid agreements with Noble Township and Highland Township to ensure multi-station response to structure fires in all three jurisdictions.

The Division operates three engines, one 90-foot aerial tower, one 75-foot aerial ladder, one brush fire truck, one utility truck and two command vehicles.

FIRE PREVENTION AND PUBLIC EDUCATION
The Fire and Rescue Division routinely conducts fire safety inspections of businesses and other public occupancies.

Fire station tours and public education visits by Division personnel can be scheduled by calling 419-782-2771.

HAZARDOUS MATERIALS RESPONSE
The Fire and Rescue Division works closely with the Defiance County Emergency Management Agency, the Local Emergency Planning Committee and the Defiance County Hazardous Materials Team to prepare for and respond to hazardous materials incidents.

Hazardous materials are used extensively in area manufacturing processes, and are transported through the city on roads and rail lines.