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Fire and Rescue Department continued from previous page Incidents of Significance In 2007, the Department responded to 4078 calls. 2632 of the calls were medical emergencies, with 1721 resulting in transportation of one or more patients to a medical facility. The following is a brief summary of incidents of significance: January 10: Working fire, 317 Katandin Drive. February 24: Second Alarm, Route 2 at the Lincoln line, single - family residence. May 7: Working fire, 9 Oxbow Road. July 6: Working fire, 48 Solomon Pierce Road. July 26: Working fire, 20 Ellison Road. August 8: Working fire, 4 Turnberry Hill Road. December 29, 2007: Second Alarm, 549 Marrett Road. Grants The Department received a grant from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security for the replacement of the Amkus res- cue tool, providing the Town with two hydraulic rescue tools. The Department received a grant from the State Executive Office of Public Safety - Department of Fire Services to con- tinue the Student Awareness of Fire Safety (SAFE) program, in conjunction with the Lexington Public Schools. A fire equipment grant was received from the Department of Public Safety and was used to purchase training equipment and an additional thermal imaging camera on Engine 2. Fire Prevention Division The Fire Prevention Division has been active with four major construction projects ongoing in town: Avalon at Lexington Hills, the old Metropolitan State Hospital site off Concord Avenue; two Starwood Hotels at the former Sheraton Hotel site on Marrett Road; and the redevelopment of 300 Patriot Way, the former Raytheon site off Spring Street. The Division over- sees the installation of all fire protection systems, including sprinkler and fire alarms, as well as smoke and carbon monox- ide detectors. In addition, the Division ensures adequate Fire Department access and appropriate hydrant locations. Oversight also occurred at smaller construction projects, such as tenant space renovations in many of the Town's com- mercial buildings, as well as renovations at residential sites. The Division reviewed 160 building construction plans sub- mitted to the Building Commissioner's office for building permits. These entire plan reviews resulted in fire prevention inspections for compliance with applicable fire prevention requirements. The Division issued 500 permits last year for activities that included: the installation of sprinkler and fire alarm systems, oil burners, above and below ground storage tanks for stor- ing flammable and combustible liquids and propane gas; and for performing explosive blasting, cutting and welding. Each permit required at least one inspection for compliance with applicable fire prevention requirements. The Department continued the Student Awareness of Fire Education (S.A.F.E.) Program with some reimbursement fund- ing from the State Executive Office of Public Safety - Department of Fire Services. The mission is to enable students to recognize the dangers of fire, and more specifically, the fire hazards tobacco products pose. Trained Fire Department per- sonnel administer the program and present it to first grade children in the six elementary schools. The objectives are to reduce the numbers of fires, burns and deaths, and to encour- age the children to see firefighters as role models. The Department is in the process of converting the munici- pal telegraph fire alarm system to a radio -based reporting system. Many of the traditional red fire alarm boxes will be replaced, while others will remain and be connected to a radio box. The boxes currently transmit a fire alarm from a building directly to the Fire and Police Department Dispatch Center via either an overhead or underground telegraph line. The new radio box system will transmit an alarm instanta- neously to the Dispatch Center via a radio frequency. In 2007 approximately 25 radio boxes were installed. All Town -owned buildings will be converted throughout the spring of 2008, with completion of the entire radio box sys- tem scheduled for July, 2008. Lieutenant Ken Tremblay was appointed to the Fire Prevention Division in 2007 to assist the Assistant Chief in performing the functions of the Division. Juvenile Fire Setter Intervention Program The Juvenile Fire Setter Intervention Program (JFIP) was established through the Middlesex District Attorney's office in 2001. In 2003 the Lexington Fire Department joined the coalition and trained one Firefighter to handle the cases that involved youths between the ages of five and 16. The Fire Department works closely with the Police Department, State Police, Department of Social Services, State Fire Marshal's Office, Department of Mental Health, and the Middlesex DA's office in investigating these cases. In 2007 the Fire Department representative screened 18 youths for various fire offenses, ranging from illegal possession of fire- works to homemade bomb building and detonation. There are many cases pending that still have no suspects. The Fire Department also takes phone calls from concerned parents whose children are involved in this type of risky behavior; in such cases parents are urged to involve the child in the JFIP. Emergency Medical Services Transports of patients continue to increase, reaching in excess of 1500 for the calendar year. Firefighter - paramedics now staff the first rescue - ambulance on a full -time basis, while the levels of staffing have exceeded the 60% mark for the second rescue - ambulance. continued on next page 2007 Annual Report, Town of Lexington Page 27