Prairie Township to partner with Columbus Fire Department

(by Megan Edwards, Staff Writer - April 23, 2009)

Prairie Township and the Columbus Division of Fire will partner in responding to calls in several areas.

Speaking at the Prairie Township trustees' April 22 meeting, Prairie Township Fire Chief Steve Feustel said there are several locations that have a longer response time for the township fire department. In such locations, the city may be able to respond quicker and assess the situation until township fire vehicles arrive.

Feustel stressed stated the city fire department is in no way replacing the township's department in those limited areas. The township will always respond, he said, but because of response times, city fire vehicles may arrive first.

"We are not ignoring you," he said. "We are trying to get a fire truck in front of your house faster."
In turn, the township's fire department will respond to limited areas in which the city's fire vehicles may not be able to respond quickly. However, Feustel stressed, the township is not taking over those areas, but only responding first to assess the situation.

"The objective is not to gain more runs," he said. "The objective is to get the fire truck in front of the house faster."

For now, Feustel said, the partnership will only involve fire calls and not EMS calls. The township will test the partnership for six months and then decide whether to continue. Feustel also stressed residents do not need to change the way they call for help. Simply dialing 9-1-1, he said, will ensure a fire vehicle will arrive on scene.

Feustel also advised hydrant flushing will take place the first week of May.
 

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