Full Time Firefighter/Paramedic Job Posting

TOWN OF BUXTON, MAINE

The Town of Buxton is accepting applications for the position of Firefighter/Paramedic (AEMT Accepted) for its Fire-Rescue Department.  There are currently two open positions, they are both full-time with benefit packages.  An active eligibility list will be kept for 6-months following this hiring process.

Requirements include: 

• High School Diploma or equivalent required; Associate degree preferred
• Must hold and maintain a valid State of Maine Class C Driver’s license
• Successful completion of Maine certified AVOC/EVOC class (equivalent)
• NFPA Firefighter I & II Certification, or equivalent
• Must hold and maintain at a minimum a Maine Paramedic license, Advanced EMT considered
• National Incident Management System IS 100, 200 & 700
• Post job offer, the candidate must complete a pre-employment physical, including drug test, and associated NFPA 1500 components
• Must successfully complete a comprehensive background check and license check
• Must be able to work fixed and rotating shifts.

Applications:   

Application packages are available on the departments’ website at: www.buxtonfr.org/ApplicationPackage  or you may contact the Chief’s Office at (207) 929-3099 to have an application package mailed to you.

Completed Application packages must be received at the Fire-Rescue Chief’s Office (185 Portland Road, Buxton Maine 04093) no later than August 3, 2018 at 1200 hours.  Emailed application packages will not be accepted.

EOE Statement: The Town of Buxton is an equal employment employer, and reserves the right to leave positions open until a qualified candidate has been found.

Construction began on the new addition to the Police Department on Monday October 9^th.  We quickly realized that there would be obstacles issuing fire permits the way we have done for so many years, because the entrance to dispatch is completely blocked.

Due to the length of time that this project will take, the Police and Fire-Rescue Departments have made the decision to stop issuing hand written fire permits.  Instead we will use a third party electronic fire permit website called Warden’s Report.  This program is being used by many other fire departments across the state with success.

Fire permits will remain FREE of charge and you can obtain a burning permit via computer, tablet or cell phone by following the link below:

http://wardensreport.com/index.php

The link will take you to the Warden’s Report website where you will select YORK COUNTY, and then BUXTON in the drop-down menu.  You will then be asked to read the States outdoor burning regulations and click a box acknowledging that you have read and understand the regulations.  The system will ask for you to input the permit information, which is the same information that residents were asked to provide previously on a paper burning permit.

We apologize in advance for any inconvenience.  Although we hope that this saves you time in travel to and from dispatch, also in fuel costs.

BUXTON IS NOW AN ISO PPC CLASS 5!

Over the last 3-5 years the department has been actively improving our service delivery in a number of areas, from staffing to hydrants and purchasing modern fire apparatus.  Last winter our ISO PPC Classification data was reviewed and was released initially in April.  The department is happy to confirm initial reports that our rating would be lowered to a ISO PPC rating of 5/10 versus the community’s prior rating of 9/10.  Verisk (ISO) confirms that the rating change will take effect in August 2017 when it is released to the insurance industry and the community.  This reduction should impact residential and commercial property owners with an overall reduction of insurance costs.

Please follow the link to read the full report and classification information.  If you should have any questions please do not hesitate to contact the office.

Link to ISO PPC Report: BUXTON PPC RATE CHANGE 8-2017

Thunderstorms & Lightening

All thunderstorms are dangerous. Every thunderstorm produces lightning. While lightning fatalities have decreased over the past 30 years, lightning continues to be one of the top three storm-related killers in the United States. On average in the U.S., lightning kills 51 people and injures hundreds more. Although most lightning victims survive, people struck by lightning often report a variety of long-term, debilitating symptoms.

Other associated dangers of thunderstorms include tornadoes, strong winds, hail and flash flooding. Flash flooding is responsible for more fatalities – more than 140 annually – than any other thunderstorm-associated hazard. Dry thunderstorms that do not produce rain that reaches the ground are most prevalent in the western United States. Falling raindrops evaporate, but lightning can still reach the ground and can start wildfires.

To prepare for a thunderstorm, you should do the following:

• To begin preparing, you should build an emergency kit and make a family communications plan.

• Remove dead or rotting trees and branches that could fall and cause injury or damage during a severe thunderstorm.

• Postpone outdoor activities.

• Secure outdoor objects that could blow away or cause damage.

• Get inside a home, building, or hard top automobile (not a convertible). Although you may be injured if lightning strikes your car, you are much safer inside a vehicle than outside.

• Remember, rubber-soled shoes and rubber tires provide NO protection from lightning. However, the steel frame of a hard-topped vehicle provides increased protection if you are not touching metal.

• Shutter windows and secure outside doors. If shutters are not available, close window blinds, shades or curtains.

• Unplug any electronic equipment well before the storm arrives.

Lightning Risk Reduction When Outdoors

• They may occur singly, in clusters or in lines.

• Some of the most severe occur when a single thunderstorm affects one location for an extended time.

• Thunderstorms typically produce heavy rain for a brief period, anywhere from 30 minutes to an hour.

• Warm, humid conditions are highly favorable for thunderstorm development.

• About 10 percent of thunderstorms are classified as severe – one that produces hail at least an inch or larger in diameter, has winds of 58 miles per hour or higher or produces a tornado.

Facts about Lightning

• Lightning’s unpredictability increases the risk to individuals and property.

• Lightning often strikes outside of heavy rain and may occur as far as 10 miles away from any rainfall.

• “Heat lightning” is actually lightning from a thunderstorm too far away from thunder to be heard. However, the storm may be moving in your direction.

• Most lightning deaths and injuries occur when people are caught outdoors in the summer months during the afternoon and evening.

• Your chances of being struck by lightning are estimated to be 1 in 600,000 but could be reduced even further by following safety precautions.

• Lightning strike victims carry no electrical charge and should be attended to immediately.

Know the Terms

Familiarize yourself with these terms to help identify a thunderstorm hazard:

Severe Thunderstorm Watch – Tells you when and where severe thunderstorms are likely to occur. Watch the sky and stay tuned to NOAA Weather Radio, commercial radio or television for information.

Severe Thunderstorm Warning – Issued when severe weather has been reported by spotters or indicated by radar. Warnings indicate imminent danger to life and property to those in the path of the storm.

If thunderstorm and lightning are occurring in your area, you should:

• Use your battery-operated NOAA Weather Radio for updates from local officials.

• Avoid contact with corded phones and devices including those plugged into electric for recharging.  Cordless and wireless phones not connected to wall outlets are OK to use.

• Avoid contact with electrical equipment or cords. Unplug appliances and other electrical items such as computers and turn off air conditioners. Power surges from lightning can cause serious damage.

• Avoid contact with plumbing. Do not wash your hands, do not take a shower, do not wash dishes, and do not do laundry. Plumbing and bathroom fixtures can conduct electricity.

• Stay away from windows and doors, and stay off porches.

• Do not lie on concrete floors and do not lean against concrete walls.

• Avoid natural lightning rods such as a tall, isolated tree in an open area.

• Avoid hilltops, open fields, the beach or a boat on the water.

• Take shelter in a sturdy building. Avoid isolated sheds or other small structures in open areas.

• Avoid contact with anything metal—tractors, farm equipment, motorcycles, golf carts, golf clubs, and bicycles.

• If you are driving, try to safely exit the roadway and park. Stay in the vehicle and turn on the emergency flashers until the heavy rain ends. Avoid touching metal or other surfaces that conduct electricity in and outside the vehicle.

• This section is Expanded. Click to CollapseAfter A Thunderstorm Or Lightning Strike

If lightning strikes you or someone you know, call 9-1-1 for medical assistance as soon as possible. The following are things you should check when you attempt to give aid to a victim of lightning:

Breathing – if breathing has stopped, begin mouth-to-mouth resuscitation.
Heartbeat – if the heart has stopped, administer CPR.
Pulse – if the victim has a pulse and is breathing, look for other possible injuries. Check for burns where the lightning entered and left the body. Also be alert for nervous system damage, broken bones and loss of hearing and eyesight.

After the storm passes remember to:

• Never drive through a flooded roadway. Turn around, don’t drown!

• Stay away from storm-damaged areas to keep from putting yourself at risk from the effects of severe thunderstorms.

• Continue to listen to a NOAA Weather Radio or to local radio and television stations for updated information or instructions, as access to roads or some parts of the community may be blocked.

• Help people who may require special assistance, such as infants, children and the elderly or those with access or functional needs.

• Stay away from downed power lines and report them immediately.

• Watch your animals closely. Keep them under your direct control.

If you require more information about any of these topics, the following resources may be helpful.

Facts about Lightning. 200252. A two-page facts sheet for boaters. Available online at http://www.nws.noaa.gov/os/lightning/resources/LightningFactsSheet.pdf
How to Guides to Protect Your Property or Business from High Winds. Available online at http://www.fema.gov/library/viewRecord.do?id=3263

Find additional information on how to plan and prepare for a thunderstorm and learn about available resources by visiting the following websites:

Federal Emergency Management Agency
NOAA Watch
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention – Lightning
American Red Cross
Listen to Local Officials

Learn about the emergency plans that have been established in your area by your state and local government. In any emergency, always listen to the instructions given by local emergency management officials.

The Maine Warden Service is reminding anglers, snowmobilers and others who enjoy winter recreation on Maine’s lakes and ponds that ice conditions on many waterways throughout the state right now may not be safe to hold themselves or heavy equipment and vehicles.

“I can’t stress enough the importance of checking ice conditions right now,” said Game Warden Colonel Joel Wilkinson, “Folks really need to take the time to drill test holes as often as they can and proceed with great caution.”

Game wardens are suggesting that people test the thickness of the ice before venturing out by using a chisel or auger and to continue to assess the safety of the ice as you move out onto the lake or pond. If the ice is not thick enough to hold, turn around and go back to shore or a safe location.

The general guidelines for ice safety are a minimum of four inches of solid ice for on foot travel and six to eight inches for snowmobiles and ATVs. Due to uneven temperatures and high winds, ice conditions are currently very unpredictable and it is not advisable to drive vehicles onto the ice.

It is also important to remember that thick ice does not always mean safe ice. The varying weather conditions so far this winter make is possible for ice to be thick, but not strong. Weak or unsafe ice is formed when temperatures warm and break down the ice and the slushy surface then re-freezes. Great caution should also be used near inlets, outlets and springs holes.

For more winter safety tips, please visit:http://www.maine.gov/wordpress/insideifw/2014/12/31/ice-safety-tips/

Do you have a working smoke detector in your home?

This year we are focusing our fire prevention effort on ensuring there are working smoke detectors in the homes of our community.

If you do not have working smoke detectors in your home, or if you do not have working smoke detectors in your bedrooms, please let us know.  We have received a couple of small grants to purchase smoke detectors, and we will come to your home to discuss fire escape planning with you and your family, and install the grant funded smoke detectors.

If you are in need, please email bfreeman@buxtonfr.org for more information.

OCTOBER IS FIRE PREVENTION MONTH!!

This year, fire departments across the country, including your department here in Buxton, will partner with the National Fire Protection Association, to spread the word about the need for WORKING smoke detectors inside, and outside our bedrooms.  Aside from subtle reminders to change the batteries in your smoke detector when you set your clocks for daylight savings time, it is important to ensure that your home is properly covered with smoke detectors in case of a fire.  Below is a checklist for you to use in your home.  Take a second and run through the list with your family.  You can also find more information on NFPA’s Website at NFPA.org and the form can be found in PDF format for easier printing.

Aside from the “HEAR THE BEEP WHERE YOU SLEEP” message, our members will visit daycares and schools in the community.  If you are interested in having us come visit your daycare or school, or you would like to bring your class to the fire station, please email Brianna Freeman at bfreeman@buxtonfr.org or Chief Schools at nschools@buxtonfr.org .

Welcome to Buxton-Fire Rescues Official Website.  Below please find information about our Community, Department, and the way we deliver services to our Community.  If you should have any questions about our department do not hesitate to contact me at nschools@buxtonfr.org

The Town of Buxton, Maine, is located in Northern York County bordering Southern Cumberland County, and the communities of Saco, Hollis, Standish, Gorham, and Scarborough.  The Town is 10 miles from the City of Portland with a metro population of 230,000 people.  Buxton also borders the City of Saco with a total population of 18,241.  Also bordering the towns of Scarborough (Population: +17k) and Gorham (Population: +14k), both with broader commercial and business base. Buxton has a slow, but growing residential base, with a slim and frozen commercial base.  Currently the breakdown for land use is as follows: 60% open space, 5% commercial and 35% residential (Town of Buxton Assessor’s Office), with a total population of 8,100 residents, with 21% of those residents being under the age of sixteen.

Buxton has become a bedroom community, where 94% of workers (+16 years old) commute to and from work each day.  The remaining 6% of workers (less than 250 people) carry on traditions in farming and agriculture, and other work at home.  The mean family income in Buxton is $75,153, in line with the State of Maine’s mean family income.  The Town of Buxton has a tax rate of $11.90 per thousand (at 100% of market value), where surrounding communities have comparable tax rates including: Gorham $16.30, Scarborough $13.80, Standish $11.60, Hollis $10.35 and Saco $18.30.  One of the attractions for homeowners and builders to locate in Buxton is due to the ability to build a large home, with a low mill rate, just outside of a metro area, yet still be within a short commute to the city, or to work.

The Department provides fire, rescue, and emergency medical services through a combination fire-rescue department.  The department operates from three stations strategically located to protect the 40.5 square mile community, with the following equipment: 2-Advanced Life Support Ambulances, 2-Tanker/Pumpers (+2,500 gallons), 1-Tanker, (+2,500 gallons), 2-Pumpers, 1-Rescue Pumper, 1-Quint, 1-Brush Truck, 1-Forestry Truck, and support vehicles.

The department is made up of the following employees: 1 Full Time Fire-Rescue Chief, +/- 40 Per Diem (Part Time) employees, 4 – Full Time Firefighter/Paramedics, and +/- 50 Volunteer (Paid Per Call) employees.  The approximate call volume per year is between 1,000-1,100 fire/rescue calls.  The department’s paid staffing level is three (3) per twenty-four (24) hour period, who are assigned to handle both fire and emergency medical calls.  The department also uses Student Live In’s from Southern Maine Community Colleges’ Fire Science Program to supplement volunteer staffing.