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FIRE AND AMBULANCE SERVICE City of Ell< River 2004 Annual Report MISSION STATEMENT: The primary mission of the Elk River Fire and Ambulance Service is to minimize loss of life and property for the citizens of the City of Elk River and contracted areas from sudden medical emergencies, fires, natural disasters, and life threatening situations and to assist other emergency agencies. To perform these services in an efficient manner by maintaining effective fire prevention, emergency response, fire suppression, and firefighter training. YEAR IN REVIEW The Elk River Fire and Ambulance Service continued to have a busy year throughout 2004. Emergency incidents rose four percent in 2004 as compared to 2003. We responded to over 1,825 emergency fire and ambulance calls. DEPARTMENT On September 20, 2003 the ribbon cutting ceremony was held at the Public Safety building and Elk River Fire Station 2 was open. Firefighters and fire trucks have been assigned to Station 2 and our department continues transitional planning from a single station response to a two station response system for emergency incidents. Once again, recruitment and retention continues to be a very difficult task, not only in Elk River, but also in all fire departments throughout the state. In the fall of 2004 and Fire Station 2 early 2005 recruitment of new firefighters has continued to bring our complement of firefighters to 40 members. Our firefighters continue to dedicate numerous hours and provide a professional fire and ambulance organization to our community. INSPECTIONS Fire-Our fire prevention and inspection department continues its work of fire and life safety. Our full time and part time fire inspectors are moving forward with inspections in commercial and industrial businesses. Our laptop in Engine I and Engine 3 entitle our incident commander to have available vital information regarding commercial and industrial businesses while responding to an incident. It enhances the department's response in the event of an emergency incident. Underground Facility Inspections-The underground facility program has been very successful. Part time underground facility inspector Rob Dreissig has done a very good job in conducting inspections on underground service work. During 2000 the Fire Department responded to nearly 50 natural gas line cuts in our service area. During 2001-02 our program for permitting and inspecting underground work within city right-of-way drastically reduced the amount of gas line hits. Changes were implemented and the underground facility inspection program was even