OSHKOSH

FIRE DEPARTMENT’S

2017

ANNUAL REPORT

The mission of the City of Oshkosh Fire Department is to PREVENT, RESPOND TO, and MINIMIZE

harmful situations involving the people we serve.

LIST OF STRATEGIC GOALS AND MEASURES

GOAL 1: PEOPLE: Recruit and retain an effective and professional workforce that is satisfied with their work environment.

GOAL 2: EDUCATION: To improve awareness of fire and life safety through public education code enforcement.

GOAL 3: RESPONSE: Deliver safe, professional services that meet the needs of the people we serve.

GOAL 4: FACILITIES: Provide and maintain efficient facilities geographically located to deliver services consistently and meet the housing needs of our staff and resources

GOAL 5: EQUIPMENT: Provide and maintain safe and reliable equipment that is functional and meets the appropriate standards.

GOAL 6: COMMUNICATION: Provide the mediums to ensure that our communications are clear, concise and understood.

GOAL 7: TRAINING: To develop and maintain a comprehensive training program to ensure quality services to the people we serve.

A MESSAGE FROM

FIRE CHIEF TIM FRANZ

This is my final address in our Annual Report to

the City of Oshkosh as your Fire Chief. I will be

retiring on June 8th of 2018. It has truly been an

honor and pleasure serving this City for what

will be 33 years upon my retirement day and just

shy of 18 years as the Fire Chief. I would

personally like to thank the public for all of their

support over the years and the members of the

Department, who daily, without fail, provide the

services you expect at a quality level.

We changed our Annual Report to this

performance report format seven years ago to

better communicate with the people we serve

and tell you not just how much we are doing, but

how well we are serving you. We have done this

through a series of performance measures tied to

how well we meet our strategies and ultimately

our mission. Our mission which we take

seriously, is to PREVENT, RESPOND TO and

MINIMIZE HARMFUL SITUAIONS involving

the people we serve. Our goal is that this report

answers the questions you may have as to how

well we have done meeting this mission with the

resources that you provide us.

I will conclude with one final thought or goal

that is difficult to measure but from your

feedback. That goal is, meeting our motto,

“Be Nice”. I am proud to report the most

common feedback I receive from people that

have needed our services is that our people

“were nice”. While it is important that we are

technically competent, as our measures show, it

is equally important that we provide our services

in a caring compassionate way.

SERVICES PROVIDED BY THE OFD:

► Fire & Injury Prevention

► Fire Prevention Inspections

► Public Education

► Fire Fighting

► Paramedic Ambulance Service

► Vehicle Rescue/Extrication

► Hazardous Materials Regional Team

► Ice/Water Rescue

► Aircraft Rescue/Firefighting

► Structural Collapse

► Trench Rescue

► Confined Space Rescue

► Dive Rescue

STATIONS & RESOURCES

Station 14

2050 Knapp St.

Quint 14

Med 214

ARFF 114

ARFF 214

ARFF 314

Station 15

101 Court St.

Command 15

Engine 15

Heavy Rescue

Med 15

Med 215

Boat 15

Husky Boat 15

Mechanic’s Shop

Administrative Offices

Station 16

711 S. Washburn

Engine 16

Med 16

Med 216

HazMat 116

Station 17

1813 Algoma Blvd.

Quint 17

Med 17

Med 217

Station 18

811 E. Murdock Ave.

Engine 18

Med 218

Station 19

1000 W. Snell

Engine 19

Engine 219

Med 219

Wildland Firefighting

Rig

Structural Collapse

Trailer

Mass-Casualty Trailer

Rehab Vehicle

www.oshkoshfd.com

OSHKOSH FIRE DEPARTMENT

ORGANIZATIONAL CHART

City of Oshkosh Fire Department Resources per Population & Area

(Population-66,579 Area-26.61Sq. Miles)

*per thousand

Average of Comparable Cities*

(Population-58,337, Area-22.17 Sq. Miles)

*Comparable Cities: Appleton, Eau Claire, Fond du Lac, Janesville, Neenah-Menasha, North Shore, Waukesha, West Allis

Population Range: 60,000 to 75,000.

**per thousand

Resource Type Qty of Resource Per Capita Per Sq. Mile

Stations 6 11,097 4.435

Min. Personnel on duty 27 0.41* 1.01

Total Personnel* 108 1.63* 4.05

Total Budget $12,205,300 $183 $458,673

Revenues $2,511,546 $38 $94,983

Net Budget $9,693,754 $146 $364,290

Resource Type Qty of Resource PerCapita

** Per Sq. Mile

Stations 4.63 0.08 0.17

Avg Total Personnel 92.25 1.51 3.29

Avg Total Budget $11,387,393 $186.15 $406,693

FIRE PREVENTION

There are hazards that can be prevented and those that happen without warning. The City of Oshkosh Fire Prevention

Division works to reduce the loss of life and property through code enforcement and public education—in effect,

stopping fires or hazardous conditions before they occur. The entire Department participates in prevention and

community education initiatives to teach citizens how to prevent fires and injuries to themselves and their families, so

they are safer at home, school, and in their workplace.

The Prevention Division oversees fire inspections in all commercial properties and multi-unit (more than 1 or 2 family)

dwellings within the City of Oshkosh. Battalion Chief of Prevention Brian Bending along with Lieutenant Inspector Tim

Heiman perform inspections as well as assigning them to all fire station personnel throughout the city. These personnel,

together as a fire company, perform fire inspections in commercial, industrial, and large residential properties in their

areas. This gives them a chance to familiarize themselves with the buildings in their immediate fire districts, develop

pre-plans, and instruct the occupants on fire safety.

Definition: This Performance Measure is for monitoring our Fire Prevention inspections for buildings other

than one and two family dwellings

Target Goal: Inspect 100% of all inspectable properties annually

The Fire Prevention Division also provides fire and life safety education to the general public. The goal of this education

is to reduce the number of preventable fires and injuries. Public Education Specialist John Holland presents fire and life

safety classes to Oshkosh area schools, community groups, and industry. He also provides other services such as the

department’s Juvenile Fire Safety Program (for children with a fascination with fire), child safety seat checks, and assists

with other community programs and events such as Safety City.

Definition: This Performance Measure is for monitoring our Education Program in Fire & Life Safety for

children from ages 5 to 9.

Target Goal: Contact 90% or greater of children in this age group with at least two hours of Fire and Life Safety

education.

*2010 Census data

All fires within the City of Oshkosh are investigated to determine cause and origin. This information is used locally in

order to focus our prevention efforts.

Any fires deemed to be suspicious or possibly intentionally set (incendiary) are investigated jointly with the City of

Oshkosh Police Department and at times with the State Fire Marshal’s Office.

Inspectable Properties 3,813

Inspections Completed 3,802

% of Properties Inspected 99.7%

Violations Found 913

% of Violations Cleared 89

Quarter 1st 2nd

3rd 4th

Total Children in

Age Group*

Performance

# of

Children

Contacted

573 3535 375 2498 6981 3679 99%

PLEASE FOLLOW US ON:

0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14

Electrical--12

Cooking--10

Incendiary/Suspicious--8

Smoking--6

Dryer--2

Mechanical Malfunction--2

Careless Disposal of Ashes--1

Chimney--1

Fireworks--1

Items on Stove--1

Metal Grinding--1

Overheated Lithium-Ion Batteries--1

Toaster--1

Torch/Brush--1

Undetermined--1

2017 CAUSES OF FIRE

2017 EMERGENCY RESPONSES

TYPE OF INCIDENT 1ST

QTR

2ND

QTR

3RD

QTR

4TH

QTR

TOTALS

Structure Fire 8 15 14 12 49

Fire Other 12 22 22 27 83

Explosion/Pressure Rupture 5 0 0 0 5

EMS Call 1758 1787 1895 1843 7283

Vehicle Accident 47 48 61 55 211

Vehicle vs. Pedestrian 4 4 10 8 26

Water/Ice Rescue 6 8 6 1 21

Rescue Other 8 13 11 6 38

Aircraft Standby 0 1 5 1 7

Hazardous Materials 16 18 18 13 65

Carbon Monoxide 4 3 9 10 26

Electrical 10 18 11 7 46

Service Call 24 21 29 24 98

Smoke/Odor Problem 6 10 10 8 34

Public Service 41 14 23 20 98

Unauthorized Burning 2 9 15 8 34

Good Intent Call 37 57 37 45 176

False Alarm 124 165 147 154 590

2017 TOTAL 2112 2213 2323 2242 8890

EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES

The Emergency Medical Services division, headed by Battalion Chief Chuck Hable, manages the department's

paramedic ambulance services and education program. The EMS division coordinates continuing education for

paramedics as well as for the general public. The City of Oshkosh Fire Department ambulance responds to all emergency

and non-emergency medical calls within the city limits. It also responds to emergency calls in most of the surrounding

townships.

The Oshkosh Fire Department provides medical care with paramedics. Paramedics provide the highest level of pre-

hospital care available in Emergency Medical Services. Ambulances strategically located at the city’s six fire stations

respond with fire trucks to provide timely care to the citizens of Oshkosh. Ambulances are staffed with two firefighter/

paramedics. Three “primary” ambulances are always staffed and ready to respond. If all three of the “primary”

ambulances are busy, the paramedics on the fire engines can respond with additional “cross staffed” ambulances to

provide seamless care, even during very busy periods. A duty chief monitors call volumes throughout the city to ensure

Oshkosh always has the ability to further respond to medical or fire emergencies that may arise.

We are often asked why a fire engine shows up on ambulance calls. All of our fire apparatus are staffed with

paramedics. The advantage to this is that it allows for the rapid deployment of paramedics to any of the emergency calls,

regardless of the vehicle the paramedics respond on. This allows for multiple paramedics on the most serious calls. It

also provides additional personnel for moving patients out of difficult places, through tight corners in homes and

businesses, etc.

The Oshkosh Fire Department will transport patients to the hospital of their choice within the Fox Valley area. These

hospitals are Mercy Medical Center and Aurora Hospital in Oshkosh, Saint Agnes in Fond du Lac, Theda Clark in

Neenah, Saint Elizabeth and Appleton Medical Center in Appleton, and also to Berlin and Ripon Hospitals. The Oshkosh

Fire Department will also transport to other facilities upon request of Mercy Medical Center or Aurora Hospital.

Top 10 EMS Calls by Type 2017

Top 4 Treatment Outcomes of EMS Calls 2017

Incident Type # of Calls % of Calls

Fall Victim 1,760 19.6

Sick Person 1,383 15.4

Breathing Problem 754 8.4

Traffic Accident 716 8

Unconscious/Fainting 531 5.9

Chest Pain 486 5.4

Transfer/Interfacility/

Palliative Care

426 4.7

Seizure 384 4.3

Traumatic Injury 355 4

Abdominal Pain 195 2.2

Treatment Outcome # 0f Calls % of Calls

ALS* Treatment & Transport 3,225 35.9

BLS** Treatment & Transport 2,823 31.4

Treated and Released 1,988 22.1

Patient Refused Care 583 6.7

*ALS—Advanced Life Support: in need of

heart monitor or medication or IV established

**BLS—Basic Life Support: wound care,

splinting, transporting

EMS CALLS BY LOCATION 2017

*Country USA

**Rock USA & EAA

TRAINING DIVISION

The Oshkosh Fire Department is committed to providing the best service possible to the residents and visitors of

Oshkosh and the surrounding area. To accomplish our goals our personnel participate in a variety of training sessions

and evolutions during the year to maintain certifications and proficiency.

The training division is divided into three different areas. Emergency medical training is led by Battalion Chief Chuck

Hable. He is responsible for providing the training required to our personnel to maintain paramedic and emergency

medical responder certifications. During 2017 personnel recertified in CPR, reviewed Advanced Cardiac Life Support

(ACLS), OB procedures, trauma care, along with other procedures and protocols.

Special Operation training is lead by Battalion Chief Mark Boettcher. During 2017 personnel reviewed skills and

procedures needed to respond to incidents such as confined space rescue, ice /water rescue, and hazardous materials.

Fire service training is lead by Battalion Chief Tim Heiman. This year personnel reviewed a variety of topics and skills

including: Pre-planning tour of the Menominee Nation Arena, ladder evolutions, water movement, search and rescue, Aircraft

Rescue and Firefighting (ARFF), and more. Training is also conducted on a company level in individual fire stations under the direction of the company officer.

This year we provided 118 hours of training for each of our dedicated personnel.

1ST

QTR

2ND

QTR

3RD

QTR

4TH

QTR

% of

Overall

Municipality Med

Calls

%

Total

Med

Calls

%

Total

Med

Calls

%

Total

Med

Calls

%

Total

Total

City of Oshkosh 1622 86.41 1567 83.09 1687 83.56 1700 87 6576 85.01

Contract Area

Town of Algoma 49 2.61 57 3.02 49 2.43 55 2.81 210 2.71

Town of Black

Wolf

18 0.96 22 1.17 28 1.39 21 1.07 89 1.15

Town of Nekimi 17 0.91 39* 2.07 55** 2.72 19 0.97 130 1.68

City of Omro 72 3.84 83 4.40 69 3.42 47 2.41 271 3.50

Town of Poygan 5 0.27 13 0.69 6 0.30 9 0.46 33 0.43

Town of Rushford 11 0.59 12 0.64 15 0.74 11 0.56 49 0.63

Town of Omro 23 1.23 20 1.06 21 1.04 16 0.82 80 1.03

Town of

Winneconne

14 0.75 20 1.06 27 1.34 25 1.28 86 1.11

Town of Utica 21 1.12 13 0.69 18 0.89 14 0.72 66 0.85

Village of

Winneconne

23 1.23 40 2.12 41 2.03 36 1.84 140 1.81

Total Contract

Area

253 13.48 319 16.91 329 16.30 253 12.95 1154 14.92

Total-All Calls 1877 100 1886 100 2019 100 1954 100 7736 100

SPECIAL OPERATIONS DIVISION

The Oshkosh Fire Department’s Special Operations Division, headed by Battalion Chief John Ziemer, is tasked with

training for and responding to situations that fall outside traditional fire related incidents. Special operation incidents are

typically low frequency but high risk responses. Because of this, more training hours are necessary to prepare for them.

These responses include, hazardous materials, water and ice responses both above and below the surface, airport rescue

and fire fighting, and technical rescue. The Oshkosh Fire Department partners with the Appleton Fire Department to

make up the regional Hazardous Materials Team. This team responds to spills and other incidents in most of the

northeastern quadrant of the state. Technical Rescue encompasses high and low angle rope operations, trench and

excavation collapse, structural collapse, and confined space rescues. All personnel are trained, at a minimum, in support

roles for all of these operations. In addition, we have personnel who specialize within the areas of Hazardous Materials,

Water/Ice Rescue and Diving, and Technical Rescue.

The division also works with business industry in the community to assist them with their responsibilities related to these

concerns.

Special Operations Responses 2017

Special Operations Training Hours

Type of Incident # of Incidents

Hazardous Materials 95

Water/Ice/Dive 21

Technical Rescue 0

Aircraft Rescue & Fire Fighting 7

Total 123

Specialty # of Hours

Hazardous Materials 563

Water/Ice/Dive 797

Aircraft Rescue & Fire Fighting 288

Total 1648

MAINTENANCE DIVISION

Maintenance of our vehicles and fire stations is done in house led by Chief Mechanic Jeff Tischaefer, along with the

support of the entire staff. Ensuring our vehicles and stations are in a state of readiness and completely reliable is a

critical part of our operation to ensure service can be delivered twenty four hours, every day of the year. Vigilant daily

checks, extensive weekly checks of equipment, along with an aggressive preventative maintenance program are the key

elements to this program. In addition, the assurance of availability and longevity of our equipment and facilities is our

next priority. Fire apparatus are kept in service at least twenty years and ambulances ten years, which given the

demanding use they are put up against is remarkable longevity.

This performance measure tells us the number of vehicles in the fleet, hours and cost of preventative

maintenance, and repair by vehicle category.

Front

Line

Cost Labor

Cost

Reserve Cost Labor

Cost

Support Cost Labor

Cost

Total

Cost

Total

Labor

16 $61,911 $72,872 5 $11,608 $13,663 13 $3,869 $4,554 $77,388 $91,091

SPECIAL EVENTS

In addition to providing our services to the everyday inhabitants of our city and surrounding communities, we provide

primarily emergency medical, but some fire service to some of the larger and unique special events. With the advertising

slogan “Wisconsin’s Event City”, the demand for these services has grown dramatically over the past several years.

These events include: the well known EAA Airventure, Country and Rock USA, along with many other events from

weekly stock car races at the Sunnyview Speedzone, UWO football games to road races. This coverage is provided in

most cases at the request of the event organizer and all additional personnel cost are billed and paid for by these event

organizers.

In 2017 we provided 2,134 staff hours over 65 days to 23 different events.

0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18 20

Jan

Feb

March

April

May

June

July

Aug

Sept

Oct

Nov

Dec

Special Event Days Covered by Month

2017 KEY OUTCOME MEASURES

Structure Fire Outcomes

This performance measure looks at the occurrence of fires in inspectable vs. non-inspectable properties

to measure the outcome of the fire prevention building inspection program.

This performance measure tells us the value and percentage of building value saved, for buildings

involved in a structure fire. Target Goal: Less than $39.90 per person (Based on NFPA survey for 2014 of average

loss per capita Midwest)

*Based on population of 66,083

This performance measure shows the number of structure fires per capita in the city.

Target Goal: 4.4 fires or less per 1,000 population (Based on NFPA survey for 2012 fires per 1,000 population

Midwest Region)

*Based on population of 66,083

This performance measure tells us the level of confinement of fire damage limits for structure

fires. Target Goal: 90% of structure fires confined to the building of or igin or better .

This performance measure tells us the average number of personnel on scene at a structure fire.

Target Goal: 15 (Based on NFPA 1710: Standard for Emergency Response)

2017—16 Personnel

This performance measure compares the safety record of our personnel operating at

fires, compared to the national average--an injury rate lower than the national average should indicate better

trained personnel.

Target: Less than 2.5 injuries per 100 structure fires.

Target: Less than 6.9 injuries per 100 firefighters (NFPA Fireground Injury Study 2012)

Total # of Fires Fires in Inspectable

Bldgs.

% Fires in Non-Inspectable Bldgs. %

49 18 36.7 31 63.3

Assessed Value Loss % Lost Property Saved % Saved Loss Per Capita *

$37,629,000 $650,000 2 $36,979,000 98 $9.84

# of Fires Fires Per 1,000*

49 1.00

# of Incidents # of Injuries Injuries per 100

Firefighters

Injuries Per 100 Fires

49 4 3.7 1.96

Object of

Origin

% Room of

Origin or Bet-

ter

% Floor of

Origin or Bet-

ter

% Structure of

Origin or Bet-

ter

% Total

Fires

9 18% 17 53% 4 61% 9 80% 49

2017 KEY OUTCOME MEASURES

Emergency Medical Services Outcome

This performance measure lists the percentage of patients that were treated for cardiac arrest (no breathing

or pulse) that arrived at the hospital with a pulse in the past year.

Target Goal: Greater than 23.8%* arrival at admission to Emergency Department 2017—38.4%

*Source of Benchmark: 2009 University of Michigan Report

General Outcomes

This performance measure tells us the number of life-threatening calls (based on initial report) that we

responded to in less than 6 minutes. Note: Not all calls for service are considered emergent

Target Goal: Less than 6 minutes (City) and less than 15 minutes (County) 90% of the time.

Oshkosh Fire Department’s Insurance Service Office Rating (ISO)—2

Personnel Outcomes

Recruit and retain an effective and professional workforce that is satisfied with their work environment.

Target Goal: Greater than 80% retention after 2 years, averaged over 10 years.

Percentage of overall employee retention (employees retiring or separating divided by total workforce) over a 10 year

period.

Target Goal: Greater than 97% retention*

*Based on “100 Best Companies to Work For”—CNN Money.

# Hired # Separated/Retired % Retained

27 3 89

Year Workforce Separated Retired % Retained

2008 108 3 4 94

2009 108 1 2 97

2010 108 0 2 98

2011 108 0 3 97

2012 108 1 3 96

2013 108 2 0 98

2014 108 1 2 97

2015 108 1 2 97

2016 108 0 2 98

2017 108 0 4 96

Avg 108 1 2 97

Type of Call % Under 6 Mins-City/%Under 15 Mins-County

Fire 84

EMS (w/i City) 84

EMS (w/i County) 72

Avg 80