Montclair

FIRE DEPARTMENT

RYON DIERCK FIRE CHIEF

Fire Department Classification in Top 5% Nationwide

T he Montclair Fire Department’s ongoing effort to provide top-level fire and emergency services received national acknowledgement this year. The department’s Insurance Services Office (ISO) rating, also known as the Public Protection Classification (PPC), improved from a Class 3 to a Class 2. “This rating places our department amongst the top 5% of departments nationwide,” said MFD Chief Ryon Dierck. “It shows that our department has kept up with training, staffing, equipment modernization, and response times. For property owners, it means a positive impact on insurance rates as well as overall service level.” ISO classification is based on several considerations including emergency communication systems, water supply, hydrant location, staffing, training, fire prevention and community outreach. Departments are typically assessed every five years, and the vast majority of property insurance providers use the PPC rating as one of many rate- determination factors. “It’s a great achievement for our department and good news for property owners who should see a reduction in their normally scheduled insurance premiums starting after the October timeframe” Dierck said. “It is important to note however that this past year has been particularly tragic with historic fire losses throughout the State. Although property owners should see a reduction in their premiums, they may still see a net increase due to the effects of the wildfires on the insurance providers. The resulting rate should be lower than what would normally be realized however as the reduced PPC rating should result in a reduction overall.” The Fire Department leadership team recognizes the continuing hard work of the entire staff and cooperation of city departments that led to this improved national classification and the department will continue to strive for excellence.

Mechanical CPR Device Makes a Difference A ll three of the MFD responding apparatus are now equipped with LUCAS CPR devices. These mechanical instruments can replace human-powered chest compressions in certain situations. “The American Heart Association (AHA) recommends consistent, high-quality compressions with minimal interruptions for the return of spontaneous circulation,” Dierck said. Human fatigue and slight interruptions when people are switched out affects the rate and depth of compressions, the AHA website explains. It continues to state that “the use of mechanical CPR devices by trained personnel may be beneficial in settings where reliable, high- quality manual compressions are not possible or may cause risk to personnel.” Specifically, said Dierck, the LUCAS CPR device frees up MFD personnel to perform other life-saving measures such as airway management and the administration of IV medications. “The device has definitely made a difference in complex emergency situations and we will continue to train personnel on the use of this life-saving tool,” Dierck said. The department budgeted for the devices, received city approval, and purchased the three machines over the past two fiscal years.

CITY OF MONTCLAIR | 2025 ANNUAL NEWSLETTER | 11

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