Boardman Fire Chief Mark Pitzer labeled 2022 as a “roller coaster year” that he cannot look back on “without great concern.”
      The chief released that message in his department’s annual report for 2022, that was released in Aug. 2023.
      “For as many positive strides we have made as an organization over the years, I cannot ignore the challenges that plagued our department [in 2022],” Pitzer said.
      Noting that eight members of the Boardman Fire Department left their posts last year.
      “This is a very alarming trend, equating to nearly 25 per cent of out department,” the chief said, adding “this turnover has several contributing factors---low wages and high health care costs seem to be at the top of the list.
      “Another factor is that most career fire departments provide advanced life support services.
      “The vast majority of fire-fighters hired have paramedic credentials and they want to function as a paramedic providing a higher level of care. Many recommendations have been made to the administration regarding these issues, and we are hoping improvements can be made in the future.”
      Chief Pitzer said in addition to staffing struggles, emergency medical services “continued to be an issue with the community...resulting in the unavailability of ambulances to respond to medical emergencies, requiring [the Boardman Fire Department] to call for mutual aid from neighboring fire departments.”
      During 2022, according to Chief Pitzer, the Cardinal Joint Fire District answered over 100 medical calls in Boardman. However, in August of this year, the joint fire district said they will no longer provide ambulance service to Boardman “due to our inability to provide reciprocal services,” the chief said, adding “All other surrounding fire departments who have also provided mutual aid wrote similar letters and emails stating the same.”
      Without mutual aid ready at hand, Chief Pitzer said “This has placed a significant burden and hardship on out department and community, resulting is delayed responses of up to 45 minutes in some cases.”
      The chief said “As someone who is tasked with the safety of our community, I have serious concerns for the well-being of our residents and our firefighters.”