Sylvania Township buys 3 fire-rescue trucks, graduates 4 firefighters

NBRW SYLFIRE30p The Blade/Lisa Dutton Sept. 24, 2009 Sylvania Twp OH Get photo of new fire trucks and newly trained firefighters at Syvlania Township FD Station 4. NOTE TO DESK there were no new firefighters there.

Sylvania Township took delivery of three fire-rescue trucks on Friday and graduated four firefighters from initial training at Fire Station No. 4 on West Central Avenue.

The fire-rescue trucks, built for a combined $1.1 million by Kovatch Mobile Equipment in Pennsylvania, each carry 750 gallons of water and firefighting equipment, as well as paramedic gear, extrication tools, and vehicle stabilization equipment for use at traffic accident scenes.

Firefighters have begun training on the trucks paid for with proceeds from the township's recently approved 1.25-mill fire levy, Chief Frederick Welsh said.

The four new firefighters, who replaced recent retirees, have been certified as paramedics as well as firefighters.

They were trained in basic rescue, automobile extrication, initial response to hazardous-materials emergencies, and advanced cardiac life support.

The fire department has applied to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and the U.S. Fire Administration for a grant through the Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response program to pay for additional firefighter-paramedic hiring, Chief Welsh said.