2010 Town Report - Town of Ludlow

On August 29, 2010, Firefighter/Paramedic Stephen Johnson left employment with the Fire Department to pursue a
law enforcement career with the Ludlow Police Department. We hope Steve has a long, successful and safe career
as a police officer.
Our Annual Open House was held on October 10 th . An estimated 400 people attended this event on a beautiful
sunny afternoon. Visitors were able to view the department’s vehicles and equipment up close and meet many of
the Fire Department staff. Highlights for many were the Jaws of Life demonstration, rides in the bucket of the
Department’s platform truck, and Sparky the robotic fire dog.
In November, Captain Edwin ‘Jake’ Prokop attended a Train the Trainer Program on rescue and extrication
techniques with modern vehicles. Newer vehicles on the road today present many challenges to emergency
personnel at accident scenes - Hybrids, Fuel Cells, New Air Bag Systems and Ultra High Strength Steel have made
it necessary for fire departments to upgrade their knowledge and tactics. To satisfy these new challenges, Captain
Prokop will be delivering this program to the members of the department.
The Fire Department responded to 779 fire/rescue calls in 2010. Below is a breakdown of these calls:
Structure Fires………………………………………... 32
Other Fires (vehicle, brush rubbish etc.)…………….. 49
Rescue, Vehicle Accidents, Assist Ambulance……... 212
Alarm Activations……………………………..….… 198
Hazardous Materials Responses…………………….. .72
Mutual Aid Given…………………………………… .15
All Other Responses:
(Carbon Monoxide Incidents, lockouts, flooded
basements, investigations, burning complaints etc.)..201
The Fire Department remitted a total of $40,265.36 to the Town Treasurer for fees collected for services, fire reports
and permits issued.
FIRE PREVENTION REPORT
2010 was another steady year for the Fire Prevention Office. Throughout the year, Captain Joseph Crowley
conducted fire drills at schools, businesses and institutions, performed fire and life safety inspections, reviewed
building and site plans, performed 21-E site assessments, investigated complaints of fire hazards, conducted fire
origin and cause investigations and assisted local residents and businesses with fire code compliance issues.
The Student Awareness Fire Education Program (S.A.F.E.) program was delivered in all the Town schools to
children in kindergarten through grade five. Firefighters Ryan Pease and Jan Thornton coordinated the program and
delivered it with the assistance of many of the members of the Fire Department. Due to lower state funding, a
cooperative effort by the Fire Department, School Department, Parent Teacher Organizations and the Ludlow
Rotary Club insured that the program was successfully delivered. Since the inception of the program statewide in
1995, fire deaths of children under the age of 18 has fallen 92%. In 1994, 25 children ages 18 and under died in
fires in Massachusetts. In 2006 that number dropped to 1. Also, there were 35 civilian fire deaths in Massachusetts
in 2009, which is the lowest number since World War II. Furthermore, unofficial numbers for the Commonwealth
in 2010 again show a drop in fire deaths. These numbers are indicators that education and prevention efforts have
been working in Massachusetts.
In addition to the S.A.F.E. program, additional public fire education efforts continued throughout the year. Fire
extinguisher training and fire and life safety education programs were provided to various schools, business and
civic organizations.
Captain Prokop and firefighter Walter Peacey serve as the Juvenile Fire Setter Intervention officers.
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