Wildwood Fire Department Presents Year-End Report

WILDWOOD — This city’s fire department is the busiest in Cape May County, and the only one in the county to conduct its own fire inspections, according to Deputy Chief Daniel Speigel.
Speigel presented the Wildwood Fire Department’s 2009 year-end report to the city’s governing body at a March 24 meeting.
Last year was an eventful one for the department. It responded to 2,914 calls for service; conducted 3,828 fire inspections; and participated in 312 training sessions, Speigel said.
The Wildwood Fire Department is a combination fire department consisting of a paid career Municipal Fire Division in City Hall and a Volunteer Fire Division (Pine Avenue and Holly Beach stations), Speigel noted. The department has 16 paid and 60 volunteer firefighters, according to its Web site.
Municipalities in this county with paid departments include Cape May, North Wildwood and Ocean City. Other towns rely on volunteer companies.
Speigel said that Wildwood’s Career Division responded to 836 calls for service, including: structure, car, brush and rubbish fires; hazardous materials spills; electrical problems; unintentional fire alarms; alarm malfunctions; false calls; public service assists; extrications; water/ice related rescues; medical assists; and various other calls.
The rescue squad responded to over 2,000 medical emergencies including cardiac, respiratory, illnesses, diabetic, seizures, maternities, traumatic injuries with fly-outs, drowning/near-drowning and various other emergencies.
The department also conducts state-mandated fire code inspections in all businesses, rentals, mercantile and mutli-family dwellings. Last year, the department conducted over 3,828 fire inspections in 228 life-hazard and over 3,100 non-life hazard occupancies. In other municipalities, local fire officials conduct fire inspections.
Between fire inspections and ambulance fees, the department generated substantial revenue for city coffers with over $585,000.
According to Speigel, city firefighters gave back to the community in other ways as well, supporting activities, such as the annual show at local schools during Fire Prevention Week, the Pizza Hut/Make a Wish fundraising event, fish & chicken dinner held during Lent, sponsorship of the Greater Wildwood Little League, Sparkey the Fire Dog, National Night Out and the Chief William Fisher III Memorial Football Classic.
When finished with his presentation, Speigel received a round of applause from dozens of appreciative local residents.
Mayor Gary DeMarzo told Speigel that in his three years on the governing body, the fire department had never made such a presentation. He noted that the information could help residents understand how the department worked.
Speigel said a fire department representative would regularly attend city meetings to keep the public informed.