North Olmsted Fire Fighters

Information may not be reliable

North Olmsted Fire Fighters 23rd Annual Cruise-In 2010 is scheduled for July 7, 2010 from 6pm till 9pm at the Great Northern Corporate Center located at 25000 Country Club Blvd. Come join us for a fun filled evening featuring classic cars, custom cars, great food and great music. All proceeds benefit the Muscular Dystrophy Association. Rain Date July 14, 2010.

Where we are located and who we are:
Located within the City of North Olmsted is Great Northern Mall, a major retail shopping center, numerous other retail complexes and businesses and Moen world headquarters. In addition to our retail and business community, we are home to numerous high rise apartment buildings and multiple dwellings, single family homes and cluster homes. We provide fire protection and emergency medical services through a team of professionally trained paramedics and firefighters serving 24 hours a day.
We are proud members of the International Association of Fire Fighters, Northern Ohio Fire Fighters and AFL-CIO. Our goal is to work in and throughout the community to provide our residents, friends and guests with the best fire protection and life safety possible. We strive for ways to improve our vocation as paramedics and fire fighters. We work diligently to protect the rights, benefits and interest of our members. We work tirelessly in the community volunteering our time to help others day or night. We donate and volunteer our time supporting other interests such as Muscular Dystrophy and Aluminum Cans for Burn Children.

You can now follow the North Olmsted Fire Fighters on Facebook. "Become a Fan" and receive regular updates about Firefighter and Paramedic Staffing, emergency calls affected by reduced staffing, mutual aid required to and from other area fire departments and other interesting facts and points of interest.
Other information can be obtained including events such as the North Olmsted Fire Fighters Cruise-In and North Olmsted City Council Meetings. Check out the latest photos of what we do to keep you safe as a resident and guest of our city.
Paramedics / Fire Fighters Welcome Mayor Kennedy
The Paramedics and Fire Fighters of the North Olmsted Fire Department would like to congratulate Mayor Kevin Kennedy for his win in the mayoral election in the City of North Olmsted. With Mayor Kennedy being sworn into office on January 1, 2010 we look forward to a new spirit of cooperation and working with and for Mayor Kennedy in serving to meet the needs of our residents and guests.
We believe Mayor Kennedy has the goal in mind to provide our residents with the best emergency and fire protection services possible. We know Mayor Kennedy will lead this City back to a position of being a premier community that provides its residents and guests with excellent services and that together we can make this a reality.
Congratulations Mayor Kennedy on being sworn in as Mayor!
5 Paramedics and Fire Fighters Laid Off, Additional Staffing Reductions Made
On January 1, 2009, Former Mayor Thomas O'Grady decided to layoff 5 firefighter paramedics. Additionally, former Mayor O'Grady reduced the minimum number of fire fighters and paramedics on duty each day by 20%. These staffing reductions will result in increased response times and not enough fire fighters and paramedics available to respond to your emergency.
The North Olmsted Fire Department, up until December 31, 2008, staffed each of the 2 fire stations in North Olmsted with a minimum of 5 firefighter paramedics who staffed an Engine or Ladder and an EMS ambulance at each fire station for a total of 4 pieces of equipment in the city. All the vehicles have Advanced Life Support (ALS) medical equipment, medicines and cardiac monitors/defibrillators. If an ambulance is dispatched from a fire station then the engine or ladder is available for another emergency call. Both fire stations could respond to up to 2 emergencies with response times averaging less than 4 minutes.
Since January 1, 2009, and now today, following the layoffs and reduction in staffing new fire station #2 on the west end of town will only be staffed with 3 firefighter paramedics. These firefighter paramedics can staff only one emergency response vehicle, either the fire engine or rescue squad. When a call on the west end occurs they will jump from one emergency vehicle to the other depending on the nature of the call. A total of 3 vehicles will be staffed in the city. If a second call comes on the west end of town the nearest ambulance or engine and medically trained personnel could be up to 11 minutes away. This is important because American Medical Association statistics state cell death (heart or brain) begins to occur after only 4 minutes when oxygen is deprived. Multiple emergency calls occur regularly at the same time in North Olmsted. This reduction in Paramedic and Fire Fighter staffing will result in Fire Station 2 being closed at times with no one available to respond to your emergency!
The layoff of 5 firefighter paramedics has caused a 20% reduction in the number of firefighter paramedics on duty. Furthermore, a 25% reduction in the number of emergency vehicles staffed and available has occurred as a result of Mayor O'Gradys layoffs and reductions of on duty firefighter paramedics. The residents of North Olmsted and in particular on the west side of North Olmsted are seeing a 50% reduction in the firefighter and paramedic services. With emergency calls occurring at 10 a day (3643 in 2008) someone will be impacted. Sometimes trying to do more with less only means you get less.
On July 2, 2009, one fire fighter paramedic was temporarily recalled to work when another fire fighter paramedic retired. Even with this recall of one fire fighter paramedic staffing reductions continue and the North Olmsted Fire Department is still down 5 fire fighter paramedics because the City is not hiring anyone to replace the retired fire fighter paramedic.
On March 11, 2010 one Fire Captain retired and Mayor Kennedy recommended and City Council approved abolishing this position. Additionally, City Council also abolished the Assistant Fire Chief position as recommended by Mayor Kennedy. Staffing on the North Olmsted Fire Department has been reduced from a total of 51 personnel to 41 personnel over approximately the past 8 years through layoffs and attrition.
The attacks on your safety and the North Olmsted Fire Department continue. Let your voice be heard! Contact your elected representatives and let them know that you want your professional fire fighters and paramedics protecting you and your community.

North Olmsted Fire Department Run Totals
Since 1988 emergency run totals for the fire deparment have increased nearly 68%. During that same period of time paramedic/firefighter minimum staffing levels have increased only 20% through 2008. In 2009 Mayor O'Grady decreased paramedic/firefighter minimum staffing levels 20%!
Mayor O'Grady and his administration have stated that North Olmsted has enough paramedics and fire fighters on duty and that the layoff of paramedics and fire fighters will not have any affect on the safety of the residents. Paramedic and fire fighter staffing is currently at 13 per shift, below what former Mayor O'Grady once recommended when he was a councilman. -> ->
Since 2001 when Councilman O'Grady recommended increasing paramedic and fire fighter staffing. Emergency run demands have increased an additional 12%
So far in 2010, emergency calls are up 10% over the same period for 2009.

Former Mayor O'Grady advocated for increases in paramedic and fire fighter staffing due to increased demands for fire and emergency medical services

While we hoped to raise as much money as we can for MDA, we also understand that in these difficult times that many people just dont have extra money for charity. We wanted all to be able to enjoy the evening, enjoy some good food and still raise a few dollars for Muscular Dystrophy, which is why we lowered our prices for food and also maintained our registration fee the same as last year.

We look forward to Cruise-In 2010 and will strive to make it even better. The North Olmsted Fire Fighters 23rd annual Cruise-In 2010 is scheduled for July 7, 2010. Check the Cruise-In 2010 page for this years Cruise-In flyer Also, please check the Cruise-In 2009 page for pictures from last years Cruise-In.
Anyone interested in having their car featured on the front of next years commemorative t-shirt and dash plaques please contact us as soon as possible at info@northolmstedfirefighters.com.

Vote of NO Confidence
Recently the North Olmsted Fire Fighters met to discuss the lack of leadership that has been provided to the Fire Department by Chief Thomas Klecan. Through the discussions we came to an overwhelming consensus that we have no faith in Fire Chief Klecan to lead us in good times, let alone bad times, Union President Boatman said.
President Boatman said, We voted that we have no confidence in Fire Chief Klecan. This was probably the most difficult task that we have individually and collectively have had to make since we have been on the fire department. For years the fire fighters have wrongly overlooked the short comings and lack of leadership from Chief Klecan, but now with the layoffs and 20% reduction in on duty fire fighter and paramedic staffing we can not continue to ignore this lack of leadership.
Chief Klecan met with the officers of the Fire Department after stating that the Fire Department will be able to effectively operate with less fire fighters and paramedics on duty. He asked the officers how the Fire Department would handle the loss of personnel and be able to respond to emergencies because he was unsure since he hadn't been on shift in over 8 years. If Chief Klecan was unsure how or if the Fire Department would be able to handle the layoff of fire fighters and paramedics, then why would he state the Fire Department could do it when he didn't have the answer?
The North Olmsted Fire Fighters feel that this lack of leadership and planning will end up costing lives. Chief Klecan has failed to provide the fire fighters and paramedics with clear direction on how to handle emergencies with less fire fighters and paramedics.
It is because of his many short comings culminating with the lack of direction following the layoffs and reduction in available staffing that the North Olmsted Fire Fighters have voted "No Confidence" in Chief Klecan and ask him to resign for the safety of the community.

Aluminum Cans for Burned Children
In 1986 the Northern Ohio Fire Fighters, the Northeast Fire Chiefs Association, along with Metro Health Medical Center of Cleveland started the Aluminum Cans for Burned Children Foundation (ACBC) to help children who suffer severe burn injuries. The ACBC program pays for special medical equipment not normally covered by insurance to aid in the healing process. ACBC strives to meet the individual needs of the patients and provides rehabilitation, clothing, toys, games, computer and video equipment, and other miscellaneous items not covered by insurance.
Since 1988, burn survivors from age 5 to 16 have been able to enjoy a free, four-day retreat at Camp Phoenix. Camp Phoenix is held in the summer and winter at Camp Christopher in Bath, Ohio. The camp experience brings together some fifty burned children to enjoy a fun, therapeutic camping experience with others who have suffered similar injuries. The aim is to create a secure environment providing an atmosphere to promote interaction and help the children to better cope with their injuries. They also hear from other burn survivors who have successfully recovered.
The ACBC program offers a scholarship program open to any pediatric patient who has been an inpatient at the Burn Center. The program annually awards scholarships to qualified recipients at an accredited school or university.
The ACBC program provides two (2) Fire Safety Houses to elementary schools and community home days promoting fire safety in the home. Operated by firefighters, the houses are actually 28-foot trailers built to resemble two-story homes. The goal of ACBC is to educate young children about the dangers of fire, how to call 911 in the event of an emergency, what to do if there is a fire in their home, and other important fire safety tips. Over 3,000 Northeast Ohio school children tour the Fire Safety Houses monthly.
The ACBC program serves pediatric victims of fire, ages 5 to 16 years of age that have been treated at the John Gannon Burns and Trauma Center at MetroHealth. The program provides a summer and winter camp for 50 to 60 children annually. Additionally, the program provides fire safety education to over 3,000 Northeast Ohio school children monthly. The program covers schools in Cuyahoga, Lorain, Medina, Lake, Geauga, Portage and Wayne Counties.
Who can help participate in this program? Everyone! Parents and children, employees and employers, students and teachers, civic and community groups and individuals can participate in Aluminum Cans for Burned Children recycling program. Save your aluminum beverage cans and encourage your friends, fellow students and neighbors to pitch in their cans too! It's environmentally wise and helps the children! Just bring your aluminum beverage cans to either North Olmsted Fire Station located at 24291 Lorain Rd. or 29592 Lorain Rd. To the rear of each Fire Station is drop off point where you may leave your aluminum cans for this worthy program.
If you would like to make a donation of money to ACBC please send it to 3100 East 45th Street, Suite 214, Cleveland, Ohio 44127. Checks should be made payable to ACBC. Please call the office at 216 883-6633 if you are planning an event and would like to donate aluminum cans for our recycling program, we will provide boxes and bags with our logo.