Affton Fire District's Restructuring Right On Schedule

A little over a month after Proposition A was passed by the Affton Fire Protection District’s voters the District is initiating the first phase of its restructuring plan.

At the April Board Meeting, Chief Fritz recommended that the District begin the long process of hiring and training the first wave of new employees to staff its promised second ambulance. The Board of Directors approved hiring three firefighter/paramedics.

Each new employee, in addition to their prerequisite training certifications, will be required to pass the District’s Probationary Firefighter/Paramedic Training Program. The initial training program lasts for three months with ongoing training and evaluations continuing for up to two years.

District officials stress the importance of this thorough, one-on-one orientation and training program.

“Our new employees spend every waking hour, while on duty, working with our training officers for months. We want them to be fully prepared to serve our community,” explains Chief Jim Fritz. “This process takes time. To properly train each new member of our work force we have to hire them in increments.” According to Chief Fritz, these increments will be spaced out over the next year.

A committee of District officials is simultaneously organizing the specifications for the new ambulances and equipment that will be carried on them. Committee representative, Lieutenant Aaron Rhodes, said he was pleased with the progress and hopes to keep the project ahead of schedule.

Chief Fritz said he was very grateful to the community for their overwhelming support and is excited see the District’s plan come to fruition in 2013.

“We will keep the community up to date on our progress through our website, Facebook page and Patch blog,” promised Fritz.

Any questions, please feel free to contact the District at 314.631.1803.