Approximately 10 years ago Springfield Township Fire Department and the Springfield Board of Trustees developed a strategic plan for the future.

At the time, the department relied on volunteers to fight fires. In the following years, part time firefighters and EMT’s were hired to handle the increased number of calls.

It’s now time, due to increased emergency calls for the department to once again follow the plan and grow, said fire officials.

The department is changing in several areas. First the staff is developing into more full time positions.

Fire Chief Vic Wincik stated that it is difficult with a part time staff to man both stations. “I use five people on a shift, three for fire station No. 1 and two for fire station No. 2 on Pressler Road. If a part time employee for Springfield is called to his full time position in another town, I lose that person and have to close station No. 2,” he said.

“We are seeing now that staffing is always changing. If you get full time you keep them longer. The majority of the firefighters are looking for full-time jobs somewhere. We spend time training and preparing a part time employee that stays with you less time and over the long term that costs you more money. So we are trying to move our staffing to predominantly full time. We are not adding to our part time ranks we are using that money to add to the full-time,” stated Wincik.

The department is also noticing a decline in the equipment as the fleet is aging. Wincik has approached the trustees of Springfield Township about the purchase of a new truck.

“The fire department truck committee has researched the truck they want. It will replace two of the trucks, a 1983 Sutphen Tower and a 1983 Pierce fire truck, currently in use and will save on maintenance costs. The committee presented the information to the Trustees in March.” He will be asking the Trustees at their April public meeting to motion the fiscal officer to ask the County Auditor to Certify Tax Valuation.

The aging fleet and increased manpower due to an increase in calls also brings with it a look at the facilities. Fire station No. 2 is in need of major renovations and is not large enough to hold some equipment. Wincik has been discussing with the trustees and other departments what direction would benefit the township residents the most. Over the last year or so he has discussed building a station in conjunction with surrounding departments.

“After much thought, long story short,” he said.  “It looks like the most promising option is to work with the City of Akron.”

The board had given Wincik permission to enter into negotiations with the city and to have a study done by the GPD Group to see what options are most feasible and would be in the residents’ best interest. The study will weigh the options of the cost of developing the station No. 2 area or to build a new facility at the Industrial Park. Akron is working with the township to see just how much property would be needed and the GPD Group report will help in the cost factor, logistics, etc. of a new building and a new location verses the revitalizing of the current facility.

“What they will do now is give an estimate of what it would cost to operate from the property we currently own and operate and the limitations there would be at the location,” said Wincik.

He stated that the Pressler Road facility does not have city water or sewer.

“When you talk about gray waters, which are the contaminants that come from washing the fire hose after a fire, you need to address disposing of those safely with a non municipal sewer system and what those costs would be,” he stated. 

Wincik added that it comes down to the cost of renovating what they have verses reconstruction.

There are many things to be considered in the constructing of a facility such as fuel storage space, area for the police department, and space for another salt bin saving the road department vehicle expenses? Another consideration would be a community room. The list of options and the weighing of costs are a ongoing process.

When the GPD Group is finished with the report, the trustees will use the assessment for applying for grants.

“After we get that information we will go back to the board and look it over to see where it stands,” Wincik said. 

The Akron and Springfield Departments are discussing a regional radio system and a regional approach to mutual response. Akron could possibly cover areas of Springfield that are closer to its stations and the township could respond to areas of Akron that’s closer to their stations. It would provide a better response to the city and the township residents.

“We have to look at all the options. We have to spend a couple of bucks to see what we have and what is the best answer is to benefit the township,” said Wincik.