PITTSFIELD FIREFIGHTERS AT TRAINING BURN
The Pittsfield Township Fire Department is what is called a combination department. We are composed of both Full-time staff (20 personnel) and Paid on Call staff (39 personnel). The on duty full-time staff handles many of the emergencies within the Township.
When there is a need for additional personnel, the paid on call staff as well as our off duty full-time staff are notified by way of a voice alert pager. The pagers are sent a specific set of tones via a radio frequency and alerted which allows the dispatcher to inform the additional personnel where to respond for the incident.
The full-time staff is comprised of a Deputy Director - Fire Services and Fire Commander. The remaining eighteen (18) full-time staff is divided into three shifts and are at the station for 24 hours a shift. They work 3 out of 5 days and then are off for four days. An example would be Shift 1 would work Monday, Wednesday, and Friday and then would be off until the next Wednesday. They would start the (cycle) or (tour) over, working Wednesday, Friday and Sunday.
The paid on call staff respond when the need for additional personnel arises. They are also responsible for working 2 - 12 hour shifts a month, which is called a “Stand-by Shift”. During this shift the firefighter works with the on duty staff, goes on emergency calls, and trains.
All our personnel are required to become State certified Firefighter 1 and 2, State of Michigan certified Hazardous Materials Operations level, State of Michigan licensed Medical First Responder, as well as certifying as a Washtenaw County Automatic Defibrillator Technician with some personnel spending additional time being trained to perform Technical Rescues (Vehicle Extrication, Rope Rescue, Ice and Water Rescue, Confined Space, Building Collapse, Hazardous Materials and Trench Rescue).
