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Fire prevention efforts in Sun City and showing good results.
Sun City Fire and Medical Department officials and volunteers conduct weekly inspections in commercial establishments in the community to make sure they are complying with fire code standards. The inspections also help business owners and managers identify problems in their buildings so they can be resolved.
The fire prevention program is led by two paid staff inspectors — Jim Fox, fore marshal, and Kenny Kovac, fire inspecotr — and a crew of volunteers. The program set record numbers in 2019, according to Mr. Fox.
“November is the end of the year for the fire prevention program,” he explained.
By the end of November, SCFMD conducted 2,067 inspections during the year. That marked the highest yearly total in the program’s history.
“This is the first time we have completed inspections in all businesses within the district,” Mr. Fox said.
During the 2019 inspections, fire prevention officials found 2,154 violations, according to Mr. Fox.
“We are getting things corrected before they become major problems,” he added.
Among the top violations during the year were emergency lighting not in service, electrical issues and over use and improper use of extension cords, according to Mr. Fox.
Repair, renovation
Fire district officials have three major projects in the works.
The air conditioning repair and replacement at State 131, 17017 N. 99th Ave., is underway, according to Ron Deadman, Sun City fire chief. The board approved up to $20,000 for this project and it is expected to be complete for $19,516, he added.
“We are still working on plans to convert an area for the firefighters’ fitness area at that station,” Mr. Deadman said.
The fitness equipment at Station 131 is now in the main fire bay but is planned to be moved to a former storage area.
Work on the main bay concrete slab at Station 132, 11401 N. 99th Ave., has not started yet, according to Mr. Fox.
“We still need to do the core test first,” he said.
Fire officials are also renovating the main meeting room at the district headquarters, 18602 N. 99th Ave. The work is designed to enlarge the room and provide enhanced audio/video capabilities.
The room is used for board meetings, but is also used for training sessions and classes, both for fire personnel and the public, including CPR classes.
Mr. Deadman said the room is expected to be ready for the next board meeting, 9 a.m. Tuesday, Jan. 14 for a workshop session.
Retirement costs
Board member Tim Wilmes gave a report during the board’s Dec. 17 meeting about the Public Safety Personnel Retirement System funding.
As of June 30, 2019, PSPRS is funded at a 47% rate for tiers one and two, but tier three and health are fully funded. Mr. Wilmes said the PSPRS unfunded liability is at $9.329 billion, which is spread among the various public safety departments int he state. He said SCFMD’s unfunded contributions will increase by more than $146,000 next year.
Their (PSPRS officials’) actuary and base are off, so we’ll have to make of the difference in the future,” he said.
Mr. Wilmes plans to cover the SCFMD PSPRS funding in more detail during a meeting in January and the state and local district’s retirement funding picture in February.
Thank you
Yarnell Fire District officials were in Sun City Dec. 17 to express their thanks to the Sun City Fire District.
The Sun City district in November donated a 2008 Pierce fire engine to the Yarnell department, which lost some major equipment, and more importantly 19 members of its Hotshot crew, during a June 2013.
“We really appreciate your generosity,” said Jeff Shearer, Yarnell fire chief. “This truck was really needed in our department.”
Mr. Shearer and Arlon Rice, Yarnell district board chairman, presented the Sun City Fire District with a plaque recognizing the donation.
The small department did not have the funds to purchase a new truck. The donated vehicle replaces a truck that needed frequent repairs and when on a fire scene needed power from another vehicle to keep its pumps operating.
Rusty Bradshaw News Editor | Sun City &
Sun City West @SunCitiesEditor
Rusty Bradshaw is a 40-year veteran of community journalism, having worked at newspapers in Wyoming, Oregon and Arizona. He has been with Independent Newsmedia 15 years.
Rusty earned a junior college certificate from Northwest College in Powell, Wyoming and a bachelor of science degree from Eastern Oregon University in LaGrande Oregon.
An avid football fan, Rusty also enjoys photography, reading, spending time outdoors and enjoying life with his wife. He also authored three books of fiction, “The Rehabilitation of Miss Little,” “Moist on the Mountain” and "Gorge Justice." Visit www.rustythewriter.org.
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