WILMINGTON, MA — Wilmington Community Television recently premiered its fifth episode of “Town Topics,” where Executive Director Shaun Neville interviews Town Department heads and key town officials.
In the latest episode, Neville speaks with Wilmington’s Fire Chief Rick McClellan about the Fire Department. Topics covered include the Fire Department’s use of NARCAN as a life-saving tool and the status of a future North Wilmington sub-station,
NARCAN Saving Lives
“We definitely have a problem in town. Everyone agrees. It’s not hidden,” says McClellan. “This year alone, we’ve had 49 overdoses. 32 of the situations required firefighters to use NARCAN.”
Wilmington firefighters started carrying Narcan in November 2012, an early adapter compared to other fire departments across the state. McClellan is pleased to see that the cost of NARCAN has dropped and the approved standard dosage has recently doubled.
North Wilmington Fire Station On The Horizon?
“I’ve been [working in the department] for 34 years. A substation has been being talked about since before I got there,” says McClellan. “The town is recognizing that there is a need,… especially with the growth going on in North Wilmington…. It’s a boomtown up there right now and with a lot of land for future growth.”
“[North Wilmington] is a long run for us,” adds McClellan. “The recommended response time is 5 minutes or less, 90% of the time. We don’t have those numbers up in North Wilmington,” adds McClellan. “[North Wilmington] is the longest run for us. A substation would be a great asset to have up there.”
Based on talking with consultants and vendors, McClellan believes it would take about 4-6 years for the station to come to fruition once the initial planning begins. McClellan hopes to get the planning begun relatively soon, pending the results of the Facility Master Planning process, which is winding down.
Watch the episode below:
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