Fernley Citizens Fear Safety Issues

[My Fernley News]

submitted

I am a citizen of Fernley, NV and genuinely concerned for the safety and care of our citizens that is provided by the North Lyon County Fire Protection District (NLCFPD). Currently the NLCFPD provides fire protection and EMS transport to the incorporated and unincorporated areas of northern Lyon County which includes the city of Fernley. Currently the district employs eleven first responders (Firefighters, Paramedics and EMT Intermediates). That is less one following the Fire Chief, Daryl Cleveland, targeting and terminating one employee as retaliation, in my opinion. Although not the reason for this public safety concern, it is a contributing factor to the abilities including ethical decisions and morals of Chief Cleveland.

 

Recently the Chief Cleveland was the guest speaker at the Fernley Chamber of Commerce luncheon on March 21, 2012. Chief Cleveland stated he was going to lay off 3-6 first responders due to lack of funding. That leaves a minimal staff of 6 or 2 responders per day. These two first responders will be assigned to the ambulance as required by the franchise agreement with the city of Fernley, for Emergency Medical Transport. NLCFPD, like every fire department/district in our region runs approximately 80-90% Emergency Medical Services (EMS). NLCFPD runs approximately 8-10 EMS calls per day and transports approximately 6-8 patients per day. Each transport takes at least 1.5 hours per run as the closest receiving facilities (Emergency Room) are located in Fallon or Reno. Simple math tells me that with Chief Cleveland’s reduction plan, it will leave the district un-protected for 9-12 hours per day. Chief Cleveland is licensed as an Advanced Life Support (ALS) provider as well having his command vehicle properly equipped with ALS equipment. The citizens of the NLCFDP can’t even rely on Chief Cleveland when he is the only provider left in the district. Please read the following which was written anonymously by a citizen of the NLCFPD:

 

On Wednesday  March 21 During the Fernley Chamber of Commerce luncheon at approx. 11:45 a.m. guest speaker Chief Daryl Cleveland informed members and audience that as he speaks he just received a phone call that a CPR Patient was in progress at Fernley Wal-mart store and a Sheriff Deputy and citizen was on scene giving emergency aid and that there were no immediate resources available and that they were all busy and out of the vicinity.    Reports from Wal-mart witnesses stated it took aprox. 40 minutes for paramedics to arrive.    We have heard the patient died.     Why did the Chief not leave the meeting immediately and respond to Wal-mart to provide AID?    He has claimed to be a paramedic for many years.    He went to the Chamber meeting in his new red emergency command pickup truck with special emergency equipment.     Isn't a human life more important than a meeting?     He further stated in the meeting that North Lyon County Fire Protection District is facing a 33% staff reduction.      We have also heard that in the past this same Chief has written up his firemen for poor vacuuming and not walking fast enough or on time to their ambulance or fire truck during an  emergency call.    Should the Chief be given the same treatment as he has to his firemen?       The City Mayor, Councilman Edgington Jr., Sheriff Alan Veil, and Chamber of Commerce director R.C Herrera and many others were present at the luncheon as the Fire Chief spoke.          Fernley Citizen

 

Chief Cleveland’s failure to respond to provide aid has resulted in the unfortunate death of this citizen in need of ALS care. Chief Cleveland had a “Duty to Act” and “Neglected” this citizen. The Department of Transportation, which sets forth standards and regulations to EMS licensure and care, clearly states “A licensed provider has the duty to act” as well as “will not be negligent”, both grounds for discipline, revocation of licensure, litigation and termination! Just a quote from Chief Cleveland at the last regular board meeting when questioned if needed will he respond in an ambulance, “No, I am not paid to do that”

Now back to the layoffs from lack of funds. The district has the ability to pay wages but instead makes unnecessary purchases, just to name a few: Two 30 year old fire truck that does not meet NFPA with open cabs. A new command vehicle for Chief Cleveland that was approximately $60 thousand (heated leather seats, back up cameras, lifted and chrome wheels) when the original command vehicle had approximately 86K miles. Slip in pumps for a Type VI engine that do not meet NFPA or NWCG standards, instead they are extremely high pressure car washer type pumps. Chief Cleveland requested and received three wage increases in his first year of employment while first responder continued their frozen salaries from the previous years. Almost $300K for the purchase of the building that is attached to their Station 61 from Fernley Volunteer LLC. Approximately $5-7K per month in attorney retainer fees which he spends under “Professional Fees” budget and preventable! Additionally, at the last board meeting is when the chief advised the directors that he would have to layoff first responder. That was right before he stated he was going to send three employees to a specialized school, again frivolous spending.

I urge you to investigate, interview and report the facts as I have. Public safety and lives are at stake! There is a NLCFPD board meeting on the 5^th of April that I highly encourage you to attend and report on. Please be fair and speak to the first responders (Career Firefighter, Administration and the public).   

 

Sincerely,

 

Another Anonymous and Concerned Citizen.

[Darryl Cleveland]

Readers of Fernleynews.com, I would not normally respond to such anonymous ramblings of this nature. However, in this case the facts cited are horribly misstated and my character and professional ethics have been attacked. The one area of this individuals "concern" that I do agree with is that we are a public agency and we have monthly public meetings. I welcome and invite our community to attend those meetings and I will gladly provide truthful, straightforward answers to your questions regarding the Fire District.

 

Darryl Cleveland, Fire Chief

NLCFPD

[ken money]

Readers of Fernleynews.com, I have read these letters and find it hard to understand why people feel the need to post inaccurate information. Let me clear up some things with factual info that i know to be true. Concerning the incident at Wal-Mart, the first thing to take into consideration is the time that the gentlemen was unresponsive is unknown, effective CPR was being performed by two (2) sheriffs deputy's and an off duty firefighter who happened to be there shopping. The response time for the first in ambulance was approximately 20 min (not 40 as reported) once the units arrived on scene CPR continued and the patient was ultimately transported to the hospital.I know this information as I was the off duty firefighter on scene. The next item in regards to the potential layoffs, it is  fact of not having money with the decline in revenue we are feeling the effects of a broken economy as is most if not all of the nation.The district did in fact approach the district staff with a proposed pay cut's to save job's......this offer was not taken for what ever reason. Another issue that was brought up were the two fire engines that were purchased, they were purchased to replace to engines that were older than that and with more miles on them. The idea of "make due with what you have" comes to mind when i think of the district and the budget that they have.(please note i am one of the six firefighters that is looking to be laid off) getting angry and pointing the finger is getting us no where, and it won't please come to the board meeting and see for your self, ask the questions and see the facts.....not the theory's!!!!!

[Wishya knew]

Ken,

Let me ask you a few questions in you "professional"  one year tenure.... Are you a certified EMT and if so what level are you (Basic, Intermediate, Advanced)? Regardless if it was 40 or 20 minutes until an ALS provider/transport showed up no equipped Fire District personnel responded. Were you taught that the best care of a cardiac patient in the field would be a properly trained and equipped ALS provider? Now please describe to the Fernleynews.com readers what an EMT Intermediate can not do compared to an ALS provider. Now you stated you were off duty, right? So what equipment (BSI, BVM, manual AED, IV, ET Tube, medications and so on) did you have off duty? It appears to me the original writer understands the basics, that immediate response of an ALS provider is the highest chance of survival along with quick transport. POINT BEING FIRE CHIEF DARRYL CLEVELAND HAD A DUTY TO ACT AND NEGLECTED THIS PATIENT.

 

You are right about one thing, the district has declining revenues. Sadly it's been that way for three years. With a steady declining budget both you and the chief find it prudent to spend. Spending the wages of you Ken, your wages, and the very first responders wages. Additionally, what is the loss of revenues to the district without a second ambulance, That will now go to Central, Story or REMSA?  Without Firefighters what is the loss of revenues for off district assignments? Do you accurately know what the shortfall is? Do you accurately know what the offer was? If you do, readers would love to read them. Correct me if I am wrong, one of those two engines has been out of service and just sitting in the parking lot next to the station on Farm Dist. That was a buy two and use one package huh? What about the remainder of the spending? Even needing, as your theory, those engines there was over $300K in spending during a declining budget. That does NOT show fiscal responsibility.

 

You are clearly buddies with the Chief cuz you must be the only person, not just Fireman, that suppors their supervisors spending which in turn gets you layed off. Its clear he has supported you in the past! 

[ken money]

wishya knew...well first off i see my name on here and not yours!!!!!, third the district is loosing revenue and the chief and i still spend it....how would you know this? what have i spent anything on? let me correct you, if anything myself and another firefighter have personally have saved the district almost $70,000 in the last year doing all the work on the district equipment. So please don't even try to drag me through your mud. and i do accurately know what the offer was.... i read it, i was at that meeting, were you? And to call me and the fire chief buddy buddy please don't you have anything better than that? attack me if you will, i can take it. I have a feeling who you are and i see it as comical at best on what you are doing, scare tactics don't work!!!! you can harass an throw insults and yet you won't even sign your name to it, the lies have got to stop, i am an outcast because i wanted to take the cuts and i wasn't on board with the group.as for the engines do you know why it sits in the parking lot? probably not but i will tell you, the transmission is broken!!! we try to fix what can be fixed and do the best we can. also as for what i cannot do compared to an ALS provider.....use certain drugs...You try to bash me because i want to work...not stay home and collect unemployment, because i want to do the job i love doing, and because as the lowest paid person here I WAS STILL WILLING TO TAKE A CUT TO KEEP JOBS!!!!!! It sounds like you have a personal agenda and just want someone to pick a fight with, you say in my one year tenure,well been here longer than that and if you knew that why don't you know what my level of care is? use your name , come to the meeting, and get your answers!!!!!!! personal attacks are not permitted here and i am not the only one that supports the fire chief or the district!!!!!! the fact is six firefighter/EMT's are looking at layoffs,not only will the six people and there family's suffer but more so the citizens.

[Wishya knew]

Ken,

Let me explain just a bit about me. My name is Howard. I am retired from the military, 23 years. I am currently employed by a private intelligence firm in northern Nevada and reside in this community.  I have a vast amout of knowledge and resources when it comes to the Fire Service. My father is a retired Fire Chief and two brothers currently in the fire service, one a BC and one a Fire Captain. Now read carefully, I did not say you spent it but rather said you both find it prudent. Now as for working on the equipment are you a licensed and certified mechanic? That could just be another pending litigation issue for you, the chief and district.

I am not dragging you through any mud nor bashing you. You and the district have a political or protective side and as with everything there are two sides to a story. You gave yours and I gave mine along with the person that submitted this.

Now with that said, let's get back to the point Mr. Money. If you choose to jump on a fan train, be prepared to get bucked! 

[My Fernley News]

Message from the moderator: This was submitted by email to be placed in this forum. Please note that all you need to do is become a member of Fernley News Community, and you can place comments yourself. Replies like this one can have a delay with posting since I receive close to 1000 emails of one type or another per day.

As far as policing the forum or patrolling the site .. citing any known or assumed facts or figures are not personal attacks. Nor is questioning an action or stating an opinion. If they are wrong, anyone is free to add any corrections or counter opinions. . Free speech is your right.

Submitted Post

4/3/2012

I think that "Another Anonymous and Concerned Citizen" is making some very serious personal insults against Chief Cleveland's ethics and morals and has an argument with the North Lyon Fire District. Not only is "Another Anonymous and Concerned Citizen" a coward but he is sadly mistaken on his information, information I am sure he is getting from a former disgruntle employee that is also a coward.  

Below are FACTS that can be given to the public at any time requested:

1) Chief Cleveland has in fact had 1 (ONE) annual step increase since he has been an employee with the District, October 1, 2010. This increase was given at his 1 year evaluation voted by the Board.  

2) Chief Cleveland has in fact made apparatus purchases that have benefited the community, including 3 ambulances, 2 fire engines, and a command vehicle all of which run calls and assist the public. The Command Vehicle was initially purchased as a Patrol Vehicle but was better suited as a command vehicle and the skid unit was placed onto another vehicle which gave the district 2 Patrol Units. The cost was $80,000 and gave the citizens 3 Units for less then the price of 1. The Command Vehicle was also not "New", it was in fact a Demo unit that arrived with 53,000 miles.  

3) The attorney fees are cost incurred by very selfish people / employees who belong to a "group" that insist on not following policy and procedure set in place by the Board of Directors to protect the public.  

4) The purchase of the land / building ATTACHED to Station 61 was necessary for our staff as our employees needed living quarters as they serve the community 24 hours a day 365 days a year. Chief Cleveland could not have his employees living out of the meeting room with no living facilities. The purchase was in fact necessary to follow the Collective Bargaining Agreement set by the employees and mandated by law.  

5) A "Specialized School" for employees is far from "frivolous spending". It in fact is very necessary for staff to train and continue their education for the safety of the community and safety of fellow employees. Most of the "Specialized School" attended by staff is Grant Funded and no cost to the District. Anyone with any level of education or certification knows that training is completely necessary and much needed.   

I suggest that Fernley News.com patrol their site better and make sure everyone follows the rules that are posted. Also, those that are too cowardly to sign there names be denied from posting.   

Please feel free to post this comment as I am not a coward and have no problem stating my name or the facts.  
I also invite the public and "Another Anonymous and Concerned Citizen" to attend the April 5, 2012 meeting at 6:00 at 195 East Main Street, Fernley NV.  

Thank you,  
Kasey Miller
Another Concerned Citizen who is NOT Anonymous nor a coward.