Fire Department

The North Royalton Fire Department is comprised of 35 full-time, professionally trained Fire Fighters, Officers, Fire Chief and 1 Administrative Assistant.  Also on staff are four paid-call Auxiliary Fire Fighters.  All full-time members are State Certified Emergency Medical Technicians.  Additionally, 32 of these members have received state and national certification as Paramedics, to provide Advance Cardiac Life Support to the community.   Emergency response time to a residence or business is generally four to five minutes.  Fire Fighters are on duty 24-hours per day, every day of the year.  Emergency apparatus includes; three fire engines, three rescue squads and two multi-purpose utility vehicles.  Two of the fire engines, purchased in 1995, are designed for state-of-the-art fire suppression and rescue operations.  The third fire engine, a 2003 model is equipped with a compressed air foam system, which can be used for fast-attack fire suppression in areas without city water mains.  Additional equipment in-service allows for a limited hazardous materials response, water rescue, vehicle extrication and rope rescue. Numerous North Royalton Fire Fighters have additional training in these above-mentioned specialized areas, and are members of the Southwest Emergency Response Team (S.E.R.T.).  This team combines the emergency resources of 18 area cities in the southwest part of Cuyahoga County.  The team will respond into the community with these additional resources and expertise when dispatched. Fire Safety inspections are performed by State Certified Fire Safety Inspectors for commercial and industrial occupancies along with all new residential construction. Currently, the fire department operates out of two stations.  Station #1 is located at 7000 Royalton Road in the center of the City and Station #2 is located at 10100 York Road at the corner of York and Albion Roads.  Station #2 was constructed and opened in 2006. Land has been purchased for a future station at Royalwood and State Roads.   The Fire Department responds to over 2,500 emergency and service calls each year.  The two (2) Fire Stations protect approximately 22 square miles and 31,000 residents. 

A Shift

B Shift

C Shift

Facts About Fireworks

The State of Ohio has very specific laws regarding the purchasing and use of fireworks.  OHIO FIRE CODE 3743 explicitly states that the use of fireworks in the State of Ohio is prohibited.  The only exception is granted to licensed contractors who must obtain a permit to conduct public fireworks displays.

Fireworks can be legally purchased within state limits by individuals over the age of 18 however, the buyer at the time of purchase must sign an affidavit stating that these fireworks will be transported out of the State of Ohio.  By state law, no one (other than a licensed contractor with a permit) is allowed the use of common fireworks.  Any individual regardless of age found using fireworks is in violation of this state law and is subject to first degree misdemeanor penalties.  If legally purchased fireworks are found to be used inside state boundaries, the buyer/user can not only be charged for illegal use but also for perjury for stating other intentions at the time of purchase.

FIREWORKS ARE EXPLOSIVES! - PERIOD

Their danger should not be underestimated.  Each year hundreds of injuries are received to unsuspecting individuals.  Some are bystanders who are in the proximity but are not using the fireworks themselves.  Common sense and sound judgment should dictate your actions.  Please be a responsible citizen and leave the pyrotechnic displays to the professionals.

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Information on Open Burning

PUBLIC NOTICE

For a permit to have a ceremonial fire, click here.

The City of North Royalton has had a NO OPEN BURNING ORDINANCE for more than 15 years.  Chapter 1620 of our Codified Ordinances was written to adopt State Law and Ohio E.P.A. regulations.  This means that the burning of yard refuse, construction debris or any other materials is strictly prohibited.  Any individuals who are found to be burning illegally are subject to citations and subsequent fines for violation of this ordinance.

To view Chapter 1620 online click on this link for Code of Ordinances. It is a searchable database link where you can key in 1620 and be taken to the Chapter.

In conjunction with the above ordinance, the North Royalton City Council approved ORDINANCE NO. 94-143 in September, 1994.  This ordinance prohibits the use of all residential incinerators.  This means that home incinerators must be taken OUT-OF-SERVICE.  Existing incinerators should be disconnected and the fuel source properly capped off.  Any person found using an incinerator is in violation of City Codes and is subject to citations and fines.

The purpose of these two ordinances is to improve the air quality for everyone in our community.  The smoke that is generated from the burning of trash and waste material is annoying, irritating and poses a health risk to people with respiratory ailments.  If you have previously burned these materials, past practice does not entitle you to violate current laws and our neighbor’s right to clean fresh air.

Outdoor cooking fires are allowed by state and local laws, however these fires must use the proper fuel and be appropriately sized for the amount of food being prepared.  These fires may be subject to Fire Department investigation if complaints are received.

Ceremonial fires such as BON FIRES are also allowed under specific conditions.  The resident or organization wishing to have such a fire must first submit a CEREMONIAL FIRE PERMIT APPLICATION to the Fire Department at least ten (10) business days in advance of the event.  The fire must be contained to an area no larger than 5’ x 5’ is size and cannot burn for more than three (3) hours.  Only clean fuel can be used (this means no railroad ties or oil soaked wood pallets, etc.)  An extinguishing agent (water) must be immediately accessible in sufficient quantity at the site of the fire.  If complaints regarding this fire are received, the fire must be extinguished regardless of advance permission.

Please recognize your responsibility, abide by the laws and respect the environment.  City Officials spend a considerable amount of time and resources trying to resolve smoke or odor complaints and locate violators.  Please help us with this issue; it does involve each one of us because it affects the air that we all breathe and share.  These ordinances are in place for the health and safety of all our residents.

YOUR COOPERATION IS APPRECIATED.

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PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT

CARBON MONOXIDE SAFETY INFORMATION

Recently, there has been considerable attention given to the dangers of Carbon Monoxide poisoning in the media.  Our effort is to inform you, the homeowner and the business owner of the facts for your own safety and peace of mind.

Carbon Monoxide is a colorless, odorless, tasteless gas that is the by-product of combustion.  Fossil fuels such as natural gas, propane, gasoline, oil, wood, kerosene, and charcoal are the only producers of this dangerous gas.  Electrical appliances, including electric heaters will not produce Carbon Monoxide.

Carbon Monoxide affects the body by entering the bloodstream through the normal breathing process.  The dangerous characteristic of CO (Carbon Monoxide) is that it has a greater ability to bond itself to the blood than Oxygen has.  In essence, if CO is inhaled, it will displace Oxygen and this could lead to Oxygen starvation by the body’s cells and eventual asphyxiation.  An additional danger to be aware of is CO’s ability to remain in the bloodstream for extended periods of time, sometimes hours, allowing CO to add to itself over a period of time reaching unhealthy levels in the body after many hours.

Some common sign of CO buildup are:  The formation of condensation on a large number of windows inside the house, and dying houseplants.  Some symptoms of CO poisoning include are flu-like such as headache, nausea and vomiting, dizziness, shortness of breath, and unconsciousness in later stages.  If such symptoms exist in only one member of the household, a CO problem usually does not exist.

If you own a CO detector that measures CO presence in the atmosphere, the following levels should be understood: (Levels are read in p.p.m. or Parts Per Million)

NOTE: 10,000 p.p.m. = 1% CO in the air.

CO detectors are designed to sound their alarm before a hazardous condition exists.  Also, when installing a CO detector, place it at least five (5) feet away from fuel consuming appliances.  This is because some appliances will emit CO in excess of 200 p.p.m. during start-up – this condition is NORMAL and ACCEPTABLE.  The CO will dissipate and drop to a normal level within a few minutes for an appliance that is operating properly.

IF YOUR CO DETECTOR SOUNDS THE AUDIBLE ALARM OR YOU EXPERIENCE ANY OF THE ABOVE MENTIONED CONDITIONS, CALL FOR ASSISTANCE.  RESPONSE CAN BE OBTAINED FROM THE FIRE DEPARTMENT (DIAL 9-1-1) OR YOUR GAS UTILITY.

It is also important during colder weather to occasionally allow in fresh air.  Energy efficiency has created almost airtight living spaces.  With an understanding of this gas and a calm response, if required, the safety of you and others will be assured.

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Home and Family Emergency Preparedness Checklist

To help you prepare your family for an emergency incident, FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency) recommends that each household put together an emergency kit that contains items of food, water, clothing and important documents or records that will help you and your family survive natural disasters or other emergencies.

A guide to assist you in compiling a disaster kit is available at; www.msdh.state.ms.us. Click on the “Emergency Preparation” section at the bottom of that page and a comprehensive planning guide will be available to you. Not all of the items listed will be essential for survival for your family; however it is a very good guide to help you plan to “HELP YOU TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF.” We suggest you review this information and plan and assemble a kit for your family.

In 2005, communities within the United States faced 48 major disasters, 68 emergency declarations, and 39 fire management assistance declarations. Those numbers indicate that a major incident affected a community somewhere every 2.5 days. One of the most important lessons learned from all of that emergency activity is that each and every household must take an increased level of responsibility to be able to provide for itself during a local emergency.

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Hospitals and Health Care

Parma Hospital is a uniquely successful, not-for-profit, independent, community-based hospital dedicated to providing access to affordable, quality health care to everyone in need of its services. The Hospital is a preferred provider for all major health insurance plans including Medicare.

Parma Hospital offers a wide range of services to the community including: inpatient and outpatient hospital care and surgery; emergency care; a beautiful, newly renovated Maternity Unit; a Women’s Clinic for uninsured and Medicaid patients; an inpatient rehabilitation unit, the only fully self-contained rehabilitation unit in the southwest area of Cleveland; physical, occupational, speech and respiratory therapies; diabetic counseling; dietary and weight management services and sports medicine. A 27-bed Skilled Nursing Facility provides sub acute care for inpatients prior to discharge. Laboratory, radiology and mammography services are available at the Hospital as well as at satellite locations. The Hospital offers a Behavioral Center for Older Adults, a geriatric assessment program and operates two ElderCenters, which provide adult day care.

Employers’ HealthSource, the Hospital’s occupational medicine program, works with employers and businesses. A 41-foot-long mobile health unit, the first in the area, is now available to take exams, screenings and immunization to the workplace as well as community events.

In addition, the Hospital’s Health Education Center, located at 7300 State Road, has a variety of free and low-cost offerings open to the public, from exercise and craft classes to health screenings. Along with the Health Education Center, Parma Hospital has four professional buildings and continues to grow. A new, state-of-the-art Heart Center brings comprehensive cardiac care to patients including surgery and rehabilitation.

The support of the Parma Hospital Auxiliary and the Parma Hospital Health Care Foundation helps make this growth possible. These organizations are a major source of fundraising and provide hours of volunteer service, goodwill and enthusiastic support, beyond measure, for the Hospital.

As Parma Community General Hospital moves into the next century, the Board of Trustees and all the people who are Parma Hospital are committed and dedicated to continuing the delivery of high-quality health care.

“CODE  STEMI”

“Code Stemi” is a term that most North Royalton residents are not familiar with – YET!   Our Fire Department and the Cardiac Care Treatment Center of Parma Hospital that was opened several years ago hope that will soon change.  “S T E M I” is an acronym for a condition that was traditionally diagnosed  by a cardiologist or physician indicating that there is a blockage of blood flow within the heart.  When the heart muscle and tissue are deprived of oxygenated blood flow that heart tissue is damaged and eventually will be destroyed.  If a patient survives the blockage episode or “heart attack” the remaining heart muscle will be weakened and cardiac output is forever diminished, and so is the quality of life for the patient.  It is important to understand that when diminished blood flow is detected it is critical that proper blood flow be restored as quickly as possible.  Minutes count! and usually a surgical repair procedure is necessary. The American Heart Association goal for placing a “Stemi” patient into surgery from the time they leave home with the 9-1-1 emergency squad to the surgery table is 102 minutes.  “Time” spent beyond this benchmark usually results in a poorer recovery.  

The traditional process of EMS transporting a patient with “symptoms” of a heart attack to the emergency room, having the emergency room recognize the “Stemi” condition and then assemble a team of cardiac specialists  and move the patient to surgery was not effectively saving heart tissue.  “Time is Tissue” when there is circulatory blockage.  The sooner the repair could be made a better outcome is expected.  Within our City’s/Hospitals traditional approach 120 minutes or more were needed to place the patient in surgery.  The problem: How to reduce the time?

Our residents are fortunate that the Cardiac Care Center of Parma Hospital recruited a distinguished and aggressive team of Cardiac Specialists who were determined to provide the best care possible for area residents.  After thoroughly diagnosing the problem, the solution would lie with our EMS squads and a committed cardiac team standing by when the patient arrived at the Hospital.  Two (2) years ago, our FF/Paramedics began advancing their Advanced Life Support Skills even further when our City committed to more training, new medical protocols and sophisticated cardiac monitoring equipment upgrades.  The hospital built new cardiac surgical labs and made the internal commitment to have the surgical teams in place within 35 minutes of notification.  The Result:  The current average time for a North Royalton Rescue Squad / Parma Hospital “Stemi” patient has been reduced to 68 minutes!  Nationally this is an incredible achievement and statistic that is made possible in part, by the quality and proficiency of our Firefighters/Paramedics, their pre-hospital intervention skills to recognize an impending heart attack (a stemi), initiate definitive care protocols, and activate the Cardiac Cath Lab Team.  Our FF/Paramedics are empowered to activate the Hospital Cardiac surgery team 24/7 365 days.  We are proud to be a “Key” Provider and Partner in this Premier Medical Service available to our Community and we are grateful to the teams of Cardiac Care Specialists of Parma for their trust, confidence, and recognition of our Fire Department’s skills, abilities and personnel.  Code Stemi is a truly remarkable fast-track Public Safety and Medical Partnership that has resulted in real; life saving – heart saving, second chance success stories for our residents and their families. 

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