By MES Dispatch staff

The Briefing

• • Waterford Township, Michigan fire officials are proposing to charge elder care facilities fees for repeat non‑emergency fire and emergency medical service responses.
• • The proposal would amend the township’s cost‑recovery ordinance to require facilities to pay for non‑emergency calls after the first five in a calendar year.
• • Non‑emergency responses cited include lift assists, non‑emergency transports and false alarms, officials said.
• • The Township Board of Trustees is scheduled to consider the measure at a Jan. 26 meeting.

WATERFORD TWP., MI — Waterford Township fire officials are proposing an amendment to the local cost‑recovery ordinance that would require elder care facilities to pay for repeated non‑emergency responses by fire and EMS personnel, township leaders said.

Fire Chief Matthew Nye told the Township Board of Trustees that the department has seen a “measurable increase” in non‑emergency calls from assisted living and other elder care facilities, including lift assistance, non‑emergency transport and false alarm responses, according to a memo presented at a board meeting.

Under the proposed policy, facilities would be allowed five free non‑emergency responses per calendar year before fees are imposed for additional calls. Costs not paid within 60 days could be added to the facility’s property taxes, Township Director of Development Services Jeffrey Polkowski said.

Firefighters responding to calls would determine whether a call qualified as an emergency under the ordinance, and facilities would have the option to appeal charges they believe were issued in error, officials said.

Similar ordinances have been implemented in other Michigan communities such as Sterling Heights and Bloomfield Township, Polkowski told trustees. The township board is scheduled to consider adopting the amendment at a Jan. 26 meeting.

By MES Dispatch staff

The Briefing

• • Multiple fire departments responded early Wednesday to an intense fire that destroyed several modular structures in Cahokia Heights, Illinois.
• • The fire was reported a little before 2 a.m. on the 3900 block of Mississippi Avenue and involved abandoned business property and construction site trailers.
• • At least nine departments were involved, with crews facing challenges including limited hydrants and windy conditions.
• • The blaze is out and remains under investigation, and no injuries have been reported.

CAHOKIA HEIGHTS, IL — Firefighters from at least nine departments responded overnight to an intense fire that destroyed multiple modular structures and trailers in Cahokia Heights, authorities said.

The fire broke out shortly before 2 a.m. Wednesday on the 3900 block of Mississippi Avenue, involving an abandoned business and several construction site trailers, according to officials.

Crews encountered heavy fire conditions upon arrival and faced operational challenges due to a lack of nearby hydrants and windy weather, fire officials reported.

Operations by responding departments extended over an extended period before the fire was brought under control.

Fire officials have labeled the incident suspicious given the absence of electricity near the structures, and a fire investigation remains ongoing.

No injuries to firefighters or civilians have been reported in connection with the blaze.

By MES Dispatch staff

The Briefing

• • The Ogden Fire Department in Utah launched a mobile outreach clinic this week to provide immediate health care to people experiencing homelessness in parks and encampments.
• • The clinic is part of an expanded initiative including medical advocates funded through a state grant to address non‑emergency needs.
• • Ogden Fire Chief Mike Slater said the goal is to give care outside of emergency rooms and reduce unnecessary 911 calls.
• • The effort involves collaboration with homeless service advocates from the Ogden Police Department.

OGDEN, UT — The Ogden Fire Department has launched a mobile outreach clinic to provide on‑site medical care to people experiencing homelessness in public spaces and encampments, officials said.

The initiative, rolled out this week, uses a specialized vehicle staffed by fire personnel and medical advocates to address non‑emergency health needs and connect unsheltered individuals with appropriate care, according to Fire Chief Mike Slater.

The outreach clinic builds on a program started last year that placed medical advocates at the Lantern House homeless shelter through state grant funding to help with triage, medication management and access to health services.

Slater said the goal of the mobile clinic is to meet people where they are and offer preventative care to reduce reliance on emergency rooms and 911 ambulance responses.

The Ogden Police Department also participates in the effort by sending homeless service advocates on outreach missions to support individuals contacted by fire crews.

By MES Dispatch staff

The Briefing

• • A U.S. Coast Guard investigation found that tracking devices carried by Newark firefighters were not used during a 2023 cargo ship fire that killed two firefighters.
• • The devices, known as Pak‑Trackers, were intended to help locate trapped or missing firefighters inside the smoke‑filled vessel.
• • Investigators said Newark Fire Department had portable receivers available but they were never brought aboard the ship.
• • The investigation was part of a broader review of response shortcomings during the fire aboard the Grande Costa D’Avorio in Port Newark.

NEWARK, NJ — A U.S. Coast Guard investigation found that electronic tracking devices carried by Newark firefighters were not deployed during the 2023 cargo ship fire that left two firefighters dead, according to the agency’s report released this week.

The system, known as Pak‑Tracker, consists of a transmitter integrated into a self‑contained breathing apparatus and a portable receiver designed to help rescuers home in on the signal from missing personnel.

Documents and testimony before Coast Guard and National Transportation Safety Board investigators show that the Newark Fire Department had three handheld receivers but did not take them aboard the Italian‑flagged Grande Costa D’Avorio while searching for the missing firefighters amid dense smoke and darkness.

The report said it is unknown whether use of the tracking system would have changed the outcome, noting that radio communications were hindered by the vessel’s steel structure and the search environment.

The findings were part of a broader inquiry into operational issues during the July 5, 2023, blaze at Port Newark, which also examined training, equipment use, and shipboard firefighting familiarity. Newark city officials said the department has since acquired additional tracking receivers and implemented training improvements for maritime incidents.

By MES Dispatch staff

The Briefing

• • Jason “Jay” Kelly, a longtime equipment technician with the Bristol Fire Department, died unexpectedly while off duty, officials said.
• • Kelly had served with the department since September 2004 and was widely respected for his technical expertise and contributions statewide.
• • He maintained apparatus and equipment and played a key role in firefighting foam remediation efforts across Connecticut.
• • Colleagues and public safety officials described him as positive, helpful and beloved within the fire service community.
• • Funeral and memorial arrangements were announced by the department and local officials.

BRISTOL, CT — Firefighters in Bristol and across Connecticut are mourning the unexpected death of Jason “Jay” Kelly, a veteran equipment technician with the Bristol Fire Department who died while off duty Jan. 10, officials said.

Kelly joined the Bristol Fire Department in September 2004 and spent more than two decades maintaining and outfitting fire apparatus and staff vehicles, earning praise for his technical skill and dedication.

In addition to his work on department equipment, Kelly assisted other fire and police agencies statewide and played a key role in coordinating a program to phase out firefighting foam containing PFAS chemicals.

Bristol Fire Chief Richard Hart and other colleagues described Kelly as a positive presence who was always willing to help, noting his infectious smile and practical support both on and off the fireground.

Officials announced funeral and wake arrangements, with services scheduled at Farley-Sullivan Funeral Home in Wethersfield and a funeral mass at St. James Church in Rocky Hill, where Kelly will be laid to rest.

Kelly is survived by his wife and daughter, and public safety departments throughout the region have expressed condolences to his family and fellow firefighters.

By MES Dispatch staff

The Briefing

• • Rehab Five, a volunteer rehabilitation unit in Peabody, Massachusetts, is celebrating 40 years of supporting firefighters with hydration, cooling, food and decontamination services at incidents.
• • The organization was founded in 1986 by Roger Baker to help combat fatigue and environmental hazards at fire scenes before formal rehab was common.
• • Rehab Five now operates a fleet of nine vehicles and responds to about 175–280 calls annually across southern Essex County.
• • Volunteers provide seasonal services including cooling and hydration in summer and warming and vital sign checks in winter, plus decontamination to reduce occupational cancer risk.
• • Rehab Five is entirely donation-supported and does not bill for services, covering insurance, equipment and operational costs through community contributions.

PEABODY, MA — Rehab Five, a volunteer rehabilitation unit that provides essential support services to firefighters at emergency scenes, is celebrating its 40th anniversary, officials and volunteers said.

Founded in 1986 by Roger Baker in southern Essex County, Rehab Five began with a converted ambulance offering hydration and nutrition to crews before fire ground rehabilitation was widely recognized as a formal practice. The unit’s services expanded over the years to include cooling, warming, vital sign monitoring and, more recently, decontamination support aimed at mitigating long-term occupational health risks.

Today, a fleet of nine Rehab Five vehicles staffed by about 15 volunteers self-dispatches to an average of roughly 175 calls annually, with some years seeing as many as 280 responses. The unit supports local fire departments during extended operations, brush fires and other challenging incidents where firefighter fatigue and environmental exposures are concerns.

Rehab Five volunteers deliver services tailored to incident conditions and seasons, including cooling and hydration with ice, water and sports drinks in hot weather and warming stations with hot beverages in colder months. The organization also employs specialized wipes and other tools to help remove harmful combustion byproducts from firefighters after extended exposures.

Operating entirely on donations without billing for services, Rehab Five covers insurance and equipment costs through community support. Officials said sustaining the unit’s work depends on continued contributions to maintain readiness and presence at emergency scenes.