The Salem Fire Protection District listed fire damage during 2020 at $109,000 while property saved is placed at $1,257,700.
Fire Chief Dave Duncan says there were 236 fire and rescue alarms last year, up ten from the prior year. They included 31 structure fires, 23 calls for mutual or automatic aid to various neighboring fire departments, 21 calls for vehicle extrications and motor vehicle assists, and 21 vehicle fires.
There was one civilian fire death and two civilian fire injuries during 2020 and no injuries to fire district personnel.
Duncan says the largest project completed by the district in 2020 is a new radio tower at the fire station designed to improve communication during firefighting efforts in more distant parts of the district. The cost of the project is placed at $70,000.
Duncan says all firefighters are mandated to participate in scheduled weekly training as well as frequent weekend training exercises. He reports they participated in an impressive 9,800 certified training hours. Duncan says that is an average of 251 hours per man with many firefighters significantly exceeding that number and substantial improvement from the previous year’s total.
Duncan says COVID-19 has affected many aspects of the department operations especially in the area of training where some remote delivery methods were used. There was also a serious effect on education programs in schools as well as for community groups and churches alike.
He reports the department’s roster remains strong, at nearly 90-percent with 10 to 12 additional firefighters joining the ranks in 2020 while most existing firemen stayed with the department.
