SYRACUSE — Turkey Creek Fire Chief Mickey Scott reported at the Monday, April 9, fire territory executive board meeting his department hosted a successful day-long training for first responders.

Turkey Creek Fire Chief Mickey Scott presents his monthly report to the fire territory executive board as township attorney Andrew Grossnickle looks through some paperwork. (Photo by Ray Balogh)

The eight-hour class, conducted by the University of Findlay, “educated emergency responders on freight rail car incidents involving hazardous material,” said Scott.

The free course drew “37 participants representing five area fire departments, local government units, local organizations and the press,” he said.

“There was a large amount of information obtained by everyone regarding responding to a rail car incident involving crude, ethanol and other flammable liquids.

“We would like to thank the Syracuse Parks Department for the use of the Syracuse Community Center for this program.”

Scott also reported:

• In March the department responded to nine fire calls and 84 EMS calls with no property loss caused by fire and provided mutual aid for neighboring departments three times. For the first quarter of 2018, the department had a total of 343 fire and EMS emergency runs, an average of about four runs per day.

• Department personnel underwent 531 hours of training in March in subjects including truck and equipment operations, physical fitness, emergency preplans, self-defense, drug overdose, ventilation care in management of traumatic brain injury and youth sports injuries.

• The monthly siren test revealed all territory warning sirens to be in good working order.

• The department provided two American Heart Association Heartsaver CPR/AED classes. Any member of the public interested in taking the free classes can call (574) 457-4100 or (574) 457-5507.

Scott also requested money from the territory’s equipment replacement budget to purchase five SCBAs and 12 SCBA bottles. The lower of the two bids obtained came in at $34,435.70 plus shipping, which Scott estimated to be about $150 to $200.

“We did budget $35,000 for this purchase in the 2018 budget,” Scott informed the board.

The allocation was unanimously approved.

The board will next meet at 6:45 p.m. Monday, May 14, at Syracuse Town Hall.