Improvements to Perrysburg fire department proposed

Perrysburg officials Monday presented a city council committee with five options for improvements to the city’s fire department, which include adding new stations and a paramedic unit.

For $1.8 million a year, the city could add a second station that would meet National Fire Protection Association standards with five firefighters per shift. Adding three additional stations would cost $5.8 million a year, and about $9.5 million a year for five additional stations. 

To replicate its current station and staffing model of a maximum of seven firefighters per shifts would cost the city $2.3 million a year. A medic-only unit would cost $911,000 a year to operate. All costs are in addition to the $3.1 million the city currently budgets each year for fire services with a single station. 

City officials dismissed the option of relocating the current fire station after findings showed that the station’s current location was closer to more Perrysburg addresses than any other available space.

“We’ve considered a number of options, including part-time staff and volunteers,” City Administrator Bridgette Kabat said. “Until we know what we’re working with, you can’t crystallize those options.” 

The presentation was part of the city’s ongoing study of its fire division. Residents have been requesting a new station for years, citing the city’s growing population and safety concerns. The data showed an increase in calls coming from the south and west sides of the city, and from “high density facilities.” Average travel times for both fire and EMS is just under five minutes.

Peter Scarborough, president of the Perrysburg firefighters union, said the city should focus on bringing the current station up to NFPA standards, which calls for an engine crew of four fire personnel. A policy change has forced the department to sometimes send out crews of two, Mr. Scarborough said.

“When two people arrive on an engine to a house on fire, they can’t do anything. They have to wait for other people,” Mr. Scarborough said. “I’d hate to see the city put the cart before the horse and build a station we can’t staff. I would rather see the current station meet NFPA standards before we look down the road.”

Mayor Michael Olmstead said the city is meeting demands and is safe with just one station. Mr. Olmstead said the new information will help the council decide what direction it wants to take.

“That’s the data. We don’t have a recommendation as of yet. We need to talk to council to see where they are and if they’re willing to allocate the funds” Mr. Olmstead said. “Any of these options exceeds our current budget. These are today’s prices. They’re only going to go up.”

The city council voted earlier this year to set aside $700,000 for fire service improvements. Councilman Jim Matuszak, chairman of the safety committee, said the council is in no rush to make a decision.

“There’s no pressure to move quickly,” Mr. Matuszak said. “We’ve got time before the next budget to talk about it.”

Contact RoNeisha Mullen at: rmullen@theblade.com, 419-343-3299.