Fire-Rescue
 The Beachwood Fire-Rescue Service is
dedicated to protecting life and
property by promoting quality, progressive, performance-based
services.
The department provides these services with compassion
and
professionalism through education and teamwork.
The Beachwood Civil Service Commission will conduct an examination
for the position of Firefighter/Paramedic. Starting salary
is $56,504 for the current contract. Applications are available
from the City of Beachwood Fire Department, between the hours
of 9:00 a.m. - Noon and 1:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. Monday
through Friday.
Firefighter/Paramedic Entrance Examination
The Beachwood Civil Service Commission will conduct an examination
for the position of Firefighter/Paramedic. Applications are
available from the City of Beachwood Fire Department between
the hours of 9:00 a.m. - Noon and 1:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Monday through Friday, and must be returned
in person between Monday, February 18 and Friday, March
7, 2008. Click here for
complete application details (18K PDF).
Fire Department Accreditation
After three and a half years of preparation, the Fire Department has gained accreditation status from the Commission on Fire Accreditation International (CFAI), a sub-division of the Center for Public Safety Excellence. CFAI's mission is to provide a well-defined, internationally recognized benchmark system to measure the delivery of fire and emergency services to a community.
Overall, there were 254 criteria and performance indicators
within ten categories that were scrutinized. Of these indicators,
110 were considered to be "critical," whereby all
conditions must be met. The remaining indicators, if not
met, needed to be documented as to how they are being addressed.
The following had to be developed in preparation for the
accreditation process:
- a strategic plan,
- a risk analysis of
the community,
- a standards of coverage document defining
how and in what time frame the Fire Department responds
to emergencies,
- a self-assessment manual which included
information on all 254 indicators.
 "Accreditation
Manager Captain William Peskura and Assistant Manager Firefighter
Anthony Strazzo did a tremendous job heading this project.
The site visit consisted of three peer assessors and one
team leader, all of which stayed for five days. When on site,
our peer assessment team's main focus was on the operation
of our Department," said
Fire Chief Patrick Kearns, "They also talked with
other departments to get a handle on how our operation
runs within the City."
The Beachwood Fire Department is the sixth Department in Ohio to gain accreditation status, and the 122nd Department out of over 43,000 Departments in the country to gain this elite status. "In recognition of gaining accreditation status, I had the honor of attending an Awards Ceremony in Atlanta, Georgia on August 23rd with Fire Chief Kearns, Captain William Peskura and Firefighter Anthony Strazzo. It was as this ceremony that the Accreditation Commission unanimously voted in favor of presenting the Fire Department with this prodigious award," said Mayor Gorden.
State Fire Marshall Offers Fire Safety Tips To Ohio's Seniors
(Columbus) - State Fire Marshall Michael P. Bell reminded Ohio's senior citizens to exercise increased precautions to ensure their safety against fire in the home.
"Senior citizens are the fastest growing age group of the American population and also one of the groups at the highest risk for fire deaths," said Marshal Bell. "Seniors are vulnerable because they often live alone or are unable to respond quickly. With education and planning, many of these fire deaths and injuries can be prevented."
According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), adults over 65 years of age are twice as likely to die in a fire when compared to the rest of the population. Adults over 85 have a risk that is four and half times that of the national average. The United States Fire Administration indicates more than 1,200 senior citizens die in fires each year. In Ohio, more than 900 senior citizens have been killed or injured by fire since January 1, 2000.
Marshall Bell encourages senior citizens to:
- Install a smoke detector on each level of the home and inside each bedroom.
- Check the smoke detectors monthly and change the batteries at least twice a year. Caregivers are encouraged to check detectors for those who are unable to do it by themselves.
- Make a fire escape plan for the home and know two ways out of the home.
- Make any necessary accommodations, such as providing exit ramps and widening of doorways to facilitate an emergency escape.
- Speak to family members, the building manager or neighbors about your fire safety plan and practice it with them.
- Ask emergency providers to keep senior citizens' special needs information on file.
- In multi-story homes, make arrangements to sleep on the ground floor, if possible, or near an exit.
- Never smoke in bed or near an open oxygen source, gas stove or other flammable object.
- When cooking, don't leave pots and pans unattended. Use a timer to remind you of food in the oven. Avoid wearing clothing or dangling sleeves while cooking.
- Don't overload electrical outlets or extension cords.
"No matter your age, addressing fire safety issues and concerns before an emergency is essential," said Marshall Bell. "It can mean the difference between life and death."
Changing Telephone Service
The Mayor as Safety Director, Police Chief and Fire Chief caution all residents when changing telephone service from traditional lines to voice over internet protocol internet service, they should clearly understand the implications of how that change will affect their 911 emergency telephone line.
We have discovered that in some cases the 911 service has not been corretly configured. The Mayor strongly encourages all who have changed to voice over internet to contact the Beachwood Police Department for instructions on how to test their line.
Please call Beachwood Police Department at 216-464-1234.
Fact Sheet on Shelter-in-Place
One of the instructions you may be given in an emergency
where hazardous materials may have been released into the
atmosphere is to shelter-in-place. This is a precaution aimed
to keep you safe while remaining indoors. (This is not the
same
thing as going to a shelter in case of a storm.) Shelter-in-place
means selecting a small, interior room, with no or few windows,
and taking refuge there. It does not mean sealing off your
entire home or office building. If you are told to shelter-in-place,
follow the instructions provided in this
fact sheet (86K PDF).
Change Your Clock - Change Your Battery
What does this mean and what does it have to do with fire
safety?
Smoke alarms (detectors) can save lives when operating
properly. There are many types; however, most smoke alarms
are battery operated or have battery back-up features. It
is important to test your alarms each month to assure
they are in working order. Be sure the battery has adequate
power to operate the alarm. Smoke alarms have a monitoring
system for the battery, and they start chirping when the
battery is low.
Lives have been lost due to non-working smoke
alarms. Many smoke detectors are found without batteries
in them. The reason? Maybe someone took the battery for a
game or radio, or removed the battery to stop the chirping,
or maybe they were going to replace it and forgot. Because
of these findings, the program "Change Your Clock -
Change Your Battery" was
developed. If everyone follows this program, they should
never be subject to a non-working smoke detector due to a
missing or weak battery.
The action is simple, and we are
reminded each year at daylight savings time. Each year, the
change of clocks occurs twice. In the spring (March 9th,
2008), we move them ahead one hour. In the fall (November
2th, 2008), we move them back one hour.
For each time change,
change the battery in all the smoke detectors. If a specific
battery type is recommended, then that's the one to
use. Whether one type is recommended or not, always be sure
you are purchasing a fresh battery. Always check the dates
on the battery.
Note: The life of a smoke detector is 10 years.
If your detector is 10 years old or older, it should be replaced.
Remember, properly working smoke alarms can save lives.
Child Safety Seat Checks
In conjunction with the Safe Kids Coalition,
the Beachwood Fire
Department holds Resident Child Safety Seat Checks every
Thursday - by APPOINTMENT ONLY at Fire Station
1 located at 2655 Richmond Road. Individual appointments
and company-wide checks are available. Please call 216-292-1965
to make an appointment.
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Fire Station #1 & Administration
2655 Richmond Road
Phone: 216-292-1965
Fax: 292-1900
E-mail: fire@beachwoodohio.com
Fire Station #2
24619 Chagrin Boulevard
Phone: 216-292-1975
Fax: 216-595-5478
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