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.
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 remianing 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 at this ceremony that the Accreditation Commission unanimously voted in favor of presenting the Fire Department with this prodigious award," said Mayor Gorden.
Accreditation Workshop Series - September 24-26,
2008
Presented by the Beachwood Department of Fire-Rescue in
cooperation with The
Center for Public Safety Excellence and The Commission
on Fire Accreditation International.
- Self-Assessment Workshop
- Standards of Response Coverage - Basic Workshop
- Peer Assessor Workshop
See registration information (54K
PDF)
Ohioans Urged to Use Caution with Grills This Summer
As Ohioans prepare for barbeques and backyard grilling this
summer, State Fire Marshal Michael P. Bell urges families
across the state to take safety precautions when using their
grills. Learn more (528K
PDF)
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).
Fire Pits / Chimineas
In the past few years outdoor fireplaces or commonly known as fire pits/Chimineas have become very popular in the United States. Outdoor fireplaces, fire pits or chimineas have some very important characteristics that make them fall into the outdoor fireplace category. Listed below are some characteristics that must be present to allow these devices to be considered an outdoor fireplace.
1. Constructed of clay, cast iron or cast aluminum.
2. Must have a chimney, screen or top for spark arresting safety.
3. Shall be listed for use as outdoor fire place, fire pit, or chiminea.
4. Elevated off the ground with feet or pedestal.
The State of Ohio fire code allows these devices as long as safety is the #1 priority. When using these devices here are a couple of safety tips that shall be followed and if not can result in an unsafe condition or the fire to be extinguished by local authorities.
1. Have a fire Extinguisher or water source readily available to extinguish the fire. (Beachwood Codified Ordinance 660.08 .(E).4 / Ohio Fire Code 307.5)
2. All recreational fires in approved containers must be a minimum of 15ft from any structure. (Beachwood Codified Ordinance 660.08 .(E).3 / Ohio Fire Code 307.5)
3. Do NOT burn treated wood, pellets, or charcoal (and of course, never burn toxic materials) (Beachwood Codified Ordinance 660.08 .(E).6)
4. Place the Fireplace/chiminea in a spot that is clear of hanging trees, branches, brushes, or anything else that is flammable.
5. Position the chiminea on a flat and fireproof surface (rock, concrete, bricks)
6. Never leave the fire unattended. Also make sure it is completely extinguished before going in for the night. (Beachwood Codified Ordinance 660.08 .(E).4 / Ohio Fire Code 307.5)
7. Do NOT use lighter fluid or gasoline. Use fire starters!
The City of Beachwood Fire Prevention Bureau does not encourage the use of outdoor fireplaces/chimineas fire safety reasons. The fire Prevention Bureau would also like to remind you that the Beachwood Codified Ordinance and the Ohio Fire Code reserves the right for these fires to be extinguished anytime a complaint is received for conditions that are offensive or objectionable because of smoke or odor emissions or conditions that warrant it due to safety. (BCO 1503.10 / OFC 307.1.1)
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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