Atlas Twp.-Morale and pride.
That’s what new township fire chief Fred Forys says is top on his list of objectives for the fire department he took over on July 15.
‘I’d like to be more active and try to get the morale back,? said Forys, 53. ‘This group of guys we have now are great. I’m just trying to get that pride back.?
A 23 year veteran firefighter which included serving as lieutenant and, most recently chief, Foryes, said the only thing to surprise him so far about the job is how much time it requires.
‘People don’t realize how much time goes into (being a firefighter),? said Forys, who recently retired from General Motors after 34 years.
Much of that time is not spent actually putting out fires, said Forys, a good thing thanks to solid community-wide fire prevention.
Forys replaced James Naugler as fire chief after his retirment from the department to move closer to his job in Inkster. Naugler was township fire chief since 2001.
The township fire department includes 18 paid-call personnel and seven trucks (one of which is the department is selling) and covers 36 square miles, operating on a yearly budget of about $300,000.
The department is funded by 1 mill from taxpayers, or about $100 a year for someone with a $200,000 home. Voters will decided whether or not to renew the mill until on Aug. 8.
‘We need that,? said Forys. ‘It’s just a big plus in helping this department run. It’s a big plus in purchasing things.?
Forys said money from the previous mill was used in the purchasing of a new fire truck. By being able to buy that truck in cash, Forys said the department was able to save taxpayers from covering the cost of interest on financing for the truck.
‘We aren’t going to jump into buying anything,? said Forys. ‘It’s not a one person decision’it goes before a committee.?
‘The people here are all taxpayers themselves,? said Forys, who added if renewed, money from this mill might be used to buy a new tanker trunk (trucks used to haul water to a fire).
‘The biggest thing is the safety of the guys,? said Forys. Money from the mill is mostly used to buy things that help with keeping the firefighters safe, added Forys.
To ease the burden on taxpayers, Forys said his department applies for many government grants, including one recently received for safety vests and flashing safety lights.
‘Hopefully we can get more of this ‘free money? from the government,? said Forys. ‘We need it to just to keep updated.?