Fire/EMS Needs Assessment for
Central Eastern District 1
November 19, 2009
Who
1.Susan A. Thomasson
8275 105th Avenue
Vero Beach, FL32967
Past President, VLEPO and current Chairperson of the Fire Exploratory Committee, Vero Lake Estates Property Owners, Inc. (VLEPO)
2.VLEPO is a voluntary community organization formed in 1983 whose purpose is:
To provide a forum for neighbors in Vero Lake Estates to share ideas, voice concerns and promote neighborhood involvement,
To improve the general welfare of Vero Lake Estates for a better tomorrow,
To discuss Legislative and Governmental issues affecting property owners of the community,
To meet with local and state officials concerned with the environmental conditions of the area,
To encourage legislation to improve transportation, zoning laws, drainage and general road conditions in our development,
To work with Indian River County on common aims and programs to benefit our community.
3.Central Eastern District 1 includes Vero Lake Estates (“VLE”), which is the largest subdivision in Indian RiverCounty. VLE is located in NorthIndian RiverCounty and is bordered on the west by I95/City of Fellsmere, on the east by CR 510 (Evacuation Route), on the north by CR 512 (Evacuation Route) and on the south by the City of Fellsmere. There are 4,788 parcels, 2,261 single-family homes on1,597 acres with approximately 6,000 residents in this Central Eastern area of District 1.
What
We are asking that, following this presentation, ESDAC will support our request to be considered first for a new Fire Station in Indian RiverCounty. In addition, we are asking for ESDAC’s recommendation of our request to the Indian River County Board of CountyCommissioners.
Why
Vero Lake Estates is in a fire protection/EMS coverage area that also includes three County schools (SebastianRiverHigh School student population 1,955; SebastianRiverMiddle School student population 970; Treasure Coast Elementary student population 618), an industrial park, many commercial establishments, a regional CountyPark with three swimming pools, a baseball field, and a soccer field. This Park is busy year round and hosts the annual Special Olympics, which brings in many out of town visitors. This area also includes 20 miles of Interstate 95, as well as more than 10 miles of State Highway emergency evacuation routes.
Before the hurricanes in 2004, the Vero Lakes Volunteer Fire Department (VLVFD) was operational. When the VLVFD Firehouse (Station 58) was extensively damaged because of the hurricane, IRC Fire/Rescue had to pull the equipment and the VLVFD ceased to function in the capacity of a Fire Department. Efforts were made to revitalize this station, supported by surrounding schools’ PTA’s, all five CountyCommissioners sitting at the time, and a letter of support from Rep. Ralph Poppell. IRC Emergency Management Director John King and Fire/Rescue management assisted efforts to revive this station, but an adequate number of volunteers willing or able to commit to train and serve, could not be gathered. Since the closing of Station 58, there has been no apparatus or personnel stationed in this area to answer emergency alarms.
Presently, engines must be dispatched from fire stations from other coverage areas 6 to 7 miles away and farther, as first due units. Ninety-five percent (95%) of the 70 miles of road within the Vero Lake Estates community are not paved and when subjected to inclement weather, they become nearly impassable. Response times of 5 ½ minutes are impossible to accomplish. Average response times are 10 to 11 minutes and have been as long as 22 minutes. This leaves a heavily populated area without readily available fire protection.
The 22-minute response time was the result of the closest mutual aid source being unavailable due to another fire. There was another instance of a young girl who fell out of the back of a pick up truck and landed on her head. An ambulance arrived 14 minutes later. In another situation a resident was having a heart attack and said she would have died by the time help arrived had she not had a defibrillator. These are just a few examples of extensive waiting times “from call to arrival” of emergency personnel and equipment.
Vero Lake Estates and the surrounding area have approximately 600-750 emergency fire/EMS calls per year. This means that when each of these 600-750 alarms are sounded in or around this region, equipment, personnel and vehicles must leave their assigned stations and travel 6-7 miles and more, much of this on unpaved roads, to answer these alarms. If there are alarms in their areas during these times, then they will have to be answered by Fire/Ems staffing and equipment stationed at other locations.
The completion of CR512 will create additional traffic and this will be compounded even more when large proposed commercial developments are completed.
It is a proven fact that a reduction in response time will decrease mortality rates and save homes and property from total destruction. Supporting documents are included. A new fire station in the Central Eastern area of District 1 will greatly reduce response times for this densely populated area.
Where
One example of an ideal location for a Fire/EMS station to serve this area of District 1 would be Parcel No. 31382200000100000001.0 This parcel consists of 300.17 acres of State owned land and is centrally positioned to the area. The NorthCountyAquaticCenter and RegionalPark are already located on this parcel.
When
As soon as funds for building and staffing this station can be secured.