When emergencies strike, help is only a call away.  However, for those who live by themselves or who have special mobility issues, what happens when they can't get to the door to let first responders in?

A Knox-Box may be able to assist. A Knox Box is a small metal box attached to an entry door (or other location near an entryway) which holds a key to the door.  Only the fire department has the access key to a Knox Box - this allows the fire department to enter a structure in case of an emergency without causing damage. 

Knox Boxes are available for residential and commercial structures.

A residential knox box program is available for Concord Township residents.  Through this program a Knox Box may be purchased or rented directly from the fire department. 

Please contact Ken Weidig, Fire Educator at 440-350-1856 or kweidig@concordtwp.com for more information on Knox Boxes.

Home Fire Protection Registration Form 

In an April 2007 published report by the National Fire Protection Association, statistics show that almost all households in the U.S. have at least one smoke alarm, yet in 2000-2004 no smoke alarms were present or none operated in almost half (46%) of the reported home fires.  During the same period 43% of all home fire deaths resulted from fires in homes with no smoke alarms, while 22% resulted from homes in which smoke alarms were present but did not operate.  If all homes had working smoke alarms, an estimated 890 lives could be saved annually, or just under one-third the annual fire death toll.

More than 54% of the smoke alarm failures were due to missing or disconnected batteries; 19% were due to dead batteries.  Nuisance alarms were the leading cause of disabled alarms.

The Ohio Fire Marshall’s Office reports that from January 1, 2008 through June 13 2008, fires claimed 65 lives up from 61 during the same time in 2007.  From Thanksgiving 2008 to January 8, 2009 24 people lost their lives alone in Ohio and nationally over 200 people lost their lives.  In 2008 more than 180 people lost their lives in Ohio alone. 

In Ohio, on December 6, 2008 five people lost their lives and on December 10, 2008 two people died and 2 severely injured in fires where determination could not be made whether working smoke detectors were in place.

In addition to our current Smoke Detector Battery Replacement Program, Concord Township Fire Department is making an effort to combat the number of persons needlessly losing their lives by taking simple steps to improve your chances of survival.  We will do this by implementing 2 new REMINDER programs for the community.

Program #1:  Establish and maintain a list of residents, who would like an e-mail reminder to change their smoke detector batteries twice a year

Program #2:  Establish and maintain a list of residents who have a fire alarm or sprinkler system in their home.  Residents will be reminded via e-mail 1 time a year to have their home fire protection systems inspected and tested by a certified company.  (Please refer to the yellow pages: Fire Alarm System or your service provider as Concord Township Fire Department cannot provide inspection or testing services.)

The 2 programs are free to residents of Concord Township.  Your participation requires you to submit specific information which will be kept solely with Concord Township Fire Department. 

Information includes:

1)      First and last name

2)      Address of the fire protection system(s)

3)      Home phone number and an alternate phone number

4)      E-mail address

5)      The month you would like your annual notification via e-mail

6)      Type of fire protection systems you have such as fire alarm and/or sprinkler system

7)      Type of reminder you are requesting; change you smoke detector batteries and/or inspect you fire protection system(s)

You may register in any of the following ways:

1)      Print off the registration - (Click on the Home Fire Prevention Form link above)

2)      Fax the registration to (440) 354-7507

3)      Mail the registration to:

Concord Township Fire Prevention

11600 Concord Hambden Rd

Concord Township, Ohio 44077

4)      Send an e-mail with your informtion to:  FirePrevention@concordtwp.com

  If you have further questions, please contact the Fire Prevention Bureau at (440)354-7504

The next of Kin Registry is a voluntary program, allowing those with a valid Ohio drivers license, temporary permit or identification card to submit two emergency contacts to the Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles (BMV) to be used by law enforcement in the event they are seriously injured or killed in an automobile crash.  If the individual is involved in an emergency situation or is otherwise unable to communicate, law enforcement will use the information to notify these emergency contacts.

Q. How do I sign up for the Next of Kin service?
A. Emergency contact information may be submitted online at www.myemergencycontactinfo.org, or www.ohbmv.com or pick up a form at any Deputy Registers office.

Q. I am under the age of 18, can I sign up for the Next of Kin program?
A. Yes, if you choose to participate and you are under the age of 18, one of your emergency contacts must be a parent or guardian.  The second emergency contact can be someone other than a parent or guardian.

Q. Who has access to my emergency contact information?
A. Only authorized law enforcement and BMV personnel have access to this information.  It may only be used to contact your next of kin designation in the case you are unable to communicate due to an accident or emergency.

Q. I do not have a valid Ohio driver license, commercial driver license, temporary permit or Ohio identificaiton card, may I sign up for this program?
A. No. You must have a vaild driver license, commercial driver licencse, temporary permit or identification card from the state of Ohio to use this service.

Concord Township Fire Department hires members approximately 2-3 times per year.  Full-time members are hired from within the organization.  Applications for employment may be picked up during normal business hours at either fire station or may be downloaded: CFD Employment Application

To become a member of the Concord Township Fire Department, applicants must submit a fire department application, along with copies of the following:
1.  Current Drivers License - Firefighters MUST maintain the minimum level of auto insurance required by the State of Ohio and must be insurable by Concord Township's insurance company
2.  Firefighter Level 2 card
3.  Emergency Medical Technician Basic, Intermediater, or Paramedic Card (as a paramedic, a current ACLS card is also required)
4.  CPR Card
5.  Haz-Mat Operations (minimum)
6.  Certificate of completion of the Firefighters Physical Agility Testing from Cuyahoga Community College
     >Contact Cuyahoga Community College at 216.987.5063 for dates, times, and cost
     >Certification time MUST be 4.5 minutes or less
     >Certification is valid for 1 year from date of test
All information must be kept current in fire department records

The Concord Township Fire Department hiring process consists of the following steps:
1.  Application Review
2.  Interview with the Fire Chief
3.  Video  based evaluation
4.  Interview with Officers
5.  Job Offer from Concord Township Trustees
6.  Complete Background check
7.  Stress Test
8.  Physical Exam

All information and correspondence will be provided to applicants via US Postal Service.  Applicants are required to keep the department updated with their current address and contact numbers.

Applicants may be removed from the process at any point of the hiring process.   If an applicant is removed, no cause is required, nor will be given.  Applicants successfully completeing the application process are considered "at will" employees of Concord Township.

Throughout the process, each step will have clear directions and time-lines which must be followed or the applicant may be removed from the hiring process.


If you have any questions, you may contact Lieutenant Dennis Calhoun at (440) 354-7504 or via email at: lt.calhoun@concordtwp.com

NOVEMBER 1st - CHANGE YOUR CLOCK - CHANGE YOUR BATTERIES 
If you are enrolled in our smoke detector program, you will receive a call during the first 2 weeks of November for the department to check your detector and change your batteries

The Concord Twp Fire Dept. offers to all community members free changing of their smoke detector batteries twice a year.  If any Concord Twp resident would like to be part of this program, please contact Fire Staiton #1 at 354-7508 or send your name, address and a contact phone number to: smokedetectors@concordtwp.com

Ohio State Fire Marshal Bell states: "By taking a couple minutes to change the batteries in your smoke detectors and testing them monthly, you could save your life and the lives of your family.  Last year nearly 85% of the victims who died in Ohio fires lived in residences where there was no smoke detector or a non-functioning smoke detector."

Smoke detectors, when properly installed and maintained, provide early warning when fire occurs.  One smoke detector in a home doubles a person's chance of escaping a fire.  For the greatest protection, install a smoke detector on every level of your home and inside each sleeping area.  Also, develop an escape plan that every member of the family is familiar with if the fire alarm does sound.

Test smoke detectors at least once each month to ensure that they are working properly.  Vacuum the dust from inside the detector at least once every year.  Batteries in battery-operated dectors should be changed twice a year or whenever a detector "chirps" to signal low battery power.  Never "borrow" a smoke detector's battery for another use.  A disabled detector cannot save your life.  In addition, smoke detectors should be replaced every 10 years or according to the manufacturer's specifications.

In the early spring of 1948 a group of Concord residents raised $925.00 to start the Concord Fire Department. The first Chief of the newly established fire department was Ernest L. Spear. Clifford Webster served as Assistant Chief and Robert A. Welk was the Secretary and Treasurer. The first fire truck was a 1930 Model AA truck with a modified chassis.

AT the September 8, 1948 Concord Trustees meeting the following men were appointed to the position of firemen: Earl Ehrhardt, Ernest Spear Jr. Gust Pontoni, Tom McMasters, Howard Sarbach and Donald Webster. Compensation for one year was one dollar, which covered the cost of Workman’s Compensation for each fireman. At the same meeting the Trustees approved spending $300 for Fire Protection for one year.

2008 Annual Report

2008 Annual Report - Appendix (Incident Listing)

2007 Annual Report

Cooperative Care Initiative (CCI) is a public education program focused on reducing morbidity and mortality in Concord Township.

To learn more about this program : CCI

Training 

Lieutenant Wallace Brainard, Training Officer
lt.brainard@concordtwp.com 

Nobody gets left behind 

The Concord Township Fire Department has a minimum requirement of a two-hour drill each day.  This has proven to benefit all of our firefighters and our customers.  We have reduced injuries and increased teamwork within our ranks. Mandatory training includes one live fire drill yearly, drivers training bi-yearly and yearly training at the Perry Nuclear Power Plant. 

During 2006, training and education encompassed EMS, preplanning, pump operation, driver training, hazmat, weapons of mass destruction, rapid intervention, officer leadership and practical evolutions which brought us over 11,000 hours of training and education.

Joint training between East End Lake County Fire Departments - Concord Twp., Fairport, Grand River, Painesville City, Painesville Twp, Leroy Township, Perry Joint Fire District and Madison -  was initiated in 2006.  Trainings have included such things as discussion of fires and major alarms which utilized an automatic aid response, to fire ground tactics and new standard operating guidelines to be used by these departments jointly.

Fire Prevention
440-350-1849
                                                                                                                          

Fire Inspector Frank Urankar	Fire Educator Ken Weidig
inspurankar@concordtwp.com	kweidig@concordtwp.com

Smoke Alarm Recall

For information on a Consumer Product Safety Commission Recall Notification:    Smoke Alarm Recall

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  Safety Checklist 

A residential fire occurs every half hour in Ohio.  How safe is your home from fire?  To determine the safety of your home from fire hazards, please utilize the Home Fire Safety Checklist.     

Recalls 
To assist Concord residents in knowing what products are listed as unsafe, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission may be of assistance.

 Recall Hotline:  1-800-638-2772

Online: Consumer Product Safety Commission

The Concord Twp Fire Prevention and Education Bureau has new offices.  We are now located in the "Annex" house, 6945 North Meadow, adjacent to Concord Fire Station #2.  Along with offices, this new location offers space for training classes and meetings.

Address Signs
Help us find you!  Address Sign Order Form 

 Open Burning 

Concord Township follows the Ohio Revised Code rules regarding open burning.

NO OPEN BURNING is permitted in Concord Township.

RECREATIONAL FIRES such as cooking and camp fires are permitted as long as they are in an approved container or cleared area.  Recreational fires shall not be conducted within 25 feet of a structure or combustible material.  Conditions which could cause fire spread such as leaves and dry or dead vegetation shall be eliminated prior to ignition.  The size of any recreational fire shall not exceed 3 feet in diameter and 2 feet in height.

All recreational fires shall be constantly attended until the fire is extinguished.  A minimum of one portable fire extinguisher with a minimum 4-A rating or other approved on-site fire-extinguishing equipment, such as dirt, sand, water barrel or garden hose shall be available for immediate utilization.

Any open burning or recreational fire that is offensive or objectionable because of smoke or order emissions or when atmospheric conditions or local circumstances make such fires hazardous is prohibited.

Aluminum Can Recycling

Concord Twp Fire Prevention Bureau is accepting your aluminum beverage cans for recycling. All proceeds go directly towards the purchase of fire prevention education materials. Cans must be in bags and may be dropped off at designated areas at either fire station:

Fire Station #1: 11600 Concord-Hambden Rd
Between "A" and "B" buildings, accessed from the Town Hall parking lot OR

Fire Station #2: 10154 Prouty Road
South side of the Fire Station

I.C.E.
ICE stands for "In Case of Emergency".   

 ICE program encourages you to store the word ICE in the address book of your cell phone and to make this listing the phone number to the person who you would like contacted in case of an emergency.  For more than one emergency contact, use ICE2, ICE3, for example.

Emergency workers or hospital staff could utilize this contact information if you are seriously injured and unable to communicate.  When minors are the owners of the cell phone, "ICE" could be a link to a person capable of providing medical consent for treatment.  When seconds matter, this information may be vital.

Post members attend regular meeting and drills to learn about the different aspects of firefighting and EMS, such as structural firefighting, hose lays, SCBA (Self Contained Breathing Apparatus), ladders, bandaging, splinting and back boarding, station equipment maintenance, personal   fitness, and safety in the station.  Explorers work side-by-side with Concord Fire Department Firefighters to obtain hands on and classroom training.

We meet Tuesday evenings 6:00pm to 9:00pm
Concord Fire Department - Station #1
11600 Concord-Hambden Road (next to Town Hall)

Who can become a Concord Fire Explorer?