Chief of the Department
Last January saw the beginning of a second century of providing emergency service to the North Canton Community. It has indeed been a year of transition and challenge. As a community we have experienced the ‘end-of-an-era’ with the closing of our City’s namesake the Hoover Company, creating among us a very real emotional and financial void. There is a sincere effort being made by our City Administration and other individuals to encourage the development of the 86 acre former Hoover facility situated in the core of our city into a viable enterprise. One that complements our city’s charm, provides employment for our citizens and replaces to some extent the tax revenue sorely needed to maintain the level of service which has been responsible for our designation as one of the top 100 places to live.
At the same time the City continues to experience an expansion of single and multi-family housing units. With the current stress placed on the real estate market, the condominium and townhouse concept could become an attractive way to create convenient affordable housing not only for seniors but also for those interested in a first home. We have witnessed growth in this area in the past several years.
As an emergency provider we have an obligation and a sworn duty to deliver the very best in fire, rescue and emergency medical service available. We have been able to develop this tradition by the utilization of unique circumstances particular to our City that has allowed our activities throughout the years to be accomplished by what has been a volunteer personnel base. For a number of reasons this is no longer possible. The demise of our primary employer has ended a daytime manpower response that was central to this concept. Our community is indebted to the commitment of our part-time Fire and EMS responders and will continue to value their contribution. However, a changing social/economic demographic has vastly reduced the availability of ‘part-time’ or ‘volunteer’ personnel, a reality exacerbated by an ever increasing demand that responders in whatever discipline be better trained to be able to employ the best methods possible with the best equipment available. This is as it shoul be.
The year 2007 was for the most part relatively placid weather wise. We experienced a minimum of storm related events associated with violent weather originating in the Atlantic and eastward moving systems from traditional storm centers appeared to spare us. The total fire loss for the City of North Canton for 2007 was $146,800.00 and the Fire/EMS responded to a total of 2069 calls. There were 1635 calls for emergency medical care and 434 fire-related calls of which 271 were fire emergency calls. The fire emergency calls had an average response time of 5.81 minutes per call. There were 163 calls of a non-emergency nature. Non-emergency calls include carbon monoxide alarms without symptoms, some accident assistance calls and investigations for which an emergency response is not required. Once again there were no serious injuries or fatalities associated with a fire incident. North Canton residents continue to demonstrate good citizenship by making ‘Fire Safety’ imperative in the home and workplace.
The 1635 calls for emergency medical service included 931 calls for Advanced Life Support and 572 calls for Basic Life Support and all were transported to area hospitals. There were 132 medical evaluations that did not result in patient transport. Residents of Stark County are the beneficiaries of a ‘Safety Service’ culture that has had a positive impact on the quality of life in our area. We have many neighboring departments that assist us when we are called upon to respond beyond our ability to so and we return the favor when called upon. . In 2007, our Fire/EMS responded 22 times to a neighboring departments call for mutual aid and we called others for mutual aid 15 times. Mutual aid from neighboring departments is used when additional manpower is needed for a confirmed structure fire or for EMS assistance when all three of our ambulances are responding to other calls.
- The estimated loss per incident type is as follows:
- Incident Type Estimated Loss
- Structure fires $143,300.00
- Passenger vehicle fires $3,500.00
- Estimated loss total $146,800.00
Fire Officials across the nation consider ‘Fire Safety Education’ the path to a fire safe society. This effort must begin at the beginning of the learning process at grade 1. Our Fire Prevention Bureau in concert with the North Canton City School’s curriculum staff presents the ‘Risk Watch’ program to all grade 1 students in the North Canton elementary program. We hope to expand this very timely learning opportunity to other elementary grade students.
We are grateful for the support of the City Administration and the public and will continue to deliver the very best in Fire Prevention, Fire Suppression, and Emergency Medical Service with the assets available to us. The reality faced by our Safety Services and City Administration at this critical time is the need to redirect our focus from our proud past to what needs to be an exciting future. Our personnel needs today and tomorrow will need to be met by trained individuals that can provide the very best in Fire and Emergency Medical response. It is time for us to invest in our future.
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North Canton Fire Department · Fire Prevention Bureau
300 North Main Street
North Canton, Ohio 44720
PH: 330-499-3404
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