The Chelsea Area Fire Authority (CAFA) has been awarded a federal grant that will help the authority replace much needed equipment including SCBA breathing apparatus, fire hose and turn out gear.
“The SCBA replacement allows most of the fire departments in the county to have the same units,” Jim Payeur wrote in his chief’s report, “the exception being the Dexter Area Fire Department. Identical SCBA units will greatly enhance the efficiency of operations at mutual aid incidents.”
CAFA has been borrowing breathing apparatus from Pittsfield Township.
In addition, after being laid off on April 29, Firefighter Ian Ballard was called back to work on June 21 and a new firefighter is expected to be hired soon. The entry-level, full-time position was posted on May 23 and according to the union contract, current paid-on-call firefighters were notified and those interested will soon be tested.
At the July 19 CAFA board meeting, the board and the firefighter’s union plan to work on a memo of understanding about a testing date in the hopes of hiring a firefighter as quickly as possible.
In other news, a committee made up of fire representatives and residents from the CAFA member municipalities of Chelsea, Lima, Lyndon and Sylvan townships have begun the process of choosing a new fire chief, following the retirement announcement of Payeur later this year. Board Member Peter Feeney said he would like the group to model the process after the library director’s search committee, which held numerous public meetings to gain resident input about the potential candidates.
In addition, discussions will soon begin about a transition plan for the fire authority until a new chief can be chosen.
If you’d like to view the entire meeting, please click here.
