04/19/2010 8:27am

Newly updated St. Tammany Parish Residential Open Burning Rules and Regulations.

This notice does reflect both the St. Tammany Parish and the City of Slidell's adopted Ordinances.

04/16/2010 8:59am

Attached are the Year to Date Statistics for:

January through the end of March 2010

04/16/2010 8:58am
Attached are the March 2010 Monthly Statistics

04/14/2010 7:30am
Financial Statement and Supplementary Information March 31, 2010

03/31/2010 7:48am
St. Tammany Fire District 1 this morning was named one of the "Safest 70" by the Louisiana Workers Compensation Corporation (LWCC), which insures more than 19,000 clients in the state.  It is the third consecutive year Fire District 1 has received the award, which is based on claims and other variables for the previous five years.

"Through your achievements in loss prevention, you not only accomplish much for your own company, but also for your employees, other policyholders, your industry and LWCC," LWCC President and CEO Kristin Wall wrote in a letter that accompanied the "Safest 70 Award."

Fire District 1 is one of very few fire departments to receive the award, both for 2009 and in years past.

"Considering that we are in one of the most dangerous professions around, receiving the Safe 70 Award for three consecutive years is a tremendous achievement for all of us at Fire District 1," said Fire Chief Larry Hess.  "Our dedication to firefighter safety isn't unique, but our results are extraordinary."

Fire District 1 saw a reduction in health insurance premiums totaling nearly $150,000 last year, and LWCC presented FD1 leadership with a dividend check for more than $33,000 this morning - a direct reflection on lower claims among LWCC clients.

While fire scene safety is paramount, Fire District 1 also has a mandatory fitness program and annual health screenings for all employees.  This not only reduces healthcare costs and insurance premiums, but helps prevent work-related injuries among firefighters.

"The most common disabler of firefighters is coronary artery disease," Hess said. "Mandatory exercise and health screenings reduce the occurrence of these conditions.  On-scene injuries are often due to overexertion or strain on the joints.  Consistent fitness programs help eliminate these problems, as well.  Although there is a cost to these programs, the payoff is lower health, worker comp and disability claims, which saves taxpayer dollars."

The fitness program, for example, costs the Fire District about $15,000 a year.  The reduction in healthcare premiums alone covers that cost by 1,000 percent, and the LWCC dividend check covers the cost for more than two years.

"We are first and foremost committed to safety - for our firefighters and our community," Hess said.  "After all, that's what people expect of us and that's why we're here.  To accomplish those missions at a reduced cost to taxpayers is an added benefit, and one of which we are very proud."
 
Media contact:  James Hartman, james@jameshartman.net or 504.458.4600.

03/29/2010 1:21pm

St. Tammany Parish Fire District 1 administrators have received several calls this morning from citizens concerned that a fire engine used in election day activities in Slidell last Saturday was the property of FD1 and was staffed by FD1 firefighters or other personnel.

"While we are aware that a fire engine was used by one of the candidates to draw attention to his election day efforts, neither that equipment nor the people on-board were associated with FD1," said Chief Larry Hess.  "From what we understand, the equipment involved is privately owned and was acquired by the candidate in question through his own means.  None of our employees were involved."
 
Media contact:  James Hartman, james@jameshartman.net or 504.458.4600.

03/15/2010 11:42am

03/10/2010 12:52pm
Amended Agenda of Special Meeting for March 12, 2010.

03/02/2010 10:07am
Financial Statement and Supplementary Information February 28, 2010

03/02/2010 9:14am

Slidell, LA - Special Olympics Louisiana will host their 1st Fire Truck Pull on Saturday, March 6, 2010. The objective is to have 10 people form a team and pull a truck weighing approximately 42,000 pounds a distance of 12 feet. Each team will have the chance to compete against other teams for various prizes. Truck Pull is open to registered teams only and registration is open to the public.  St. Tammany Parish Fire Protection District 1 is a proud participant in the event.

The cost for a 10 person team is $500 The event will begin on Saturday, March 6 at 9 a.m., at the St. Tammany Parish Sheriff's Office Administrative Building located at 300 Brownswitch Road, Slidell.

Other activities include music from the bands Country Pride and Kaios, food from Bad to the Bone BBQ, law enforcement and military vehicles, a Cajun sprint car, race cars, Kenny Schrader's NASCAR truck and a mini truck pull. Doug Mouton from WWL-TV will be the Master of Ceremony and other local celebrities will attend. This event is to benefit Special Olympics Louisiana programs. For more information, log onto www.laso.org.

Special Olympics Louisiana (SOLA) is a statewide organization that changes lives by promoting understanding, acceptance and inclusion between people with and without intellectual disabilities. SOLA offers year-round programs for 13,000 children and adults with intellectual disabilities in all 64 parishes with the help of 12,000 volunteers. We have health, education, leadership, family, training and sports programs for people beginning at age 2 and there is no upper age limit. There is no cost to participate in Special Olympics. For more information about Special Olympics Louisiana, please visit www.laso.org.

Media Contact:
Tiffany Harvey-Gautier, Director of Communications and Marketing
Special Olympics Louisiana
tharvey@laso.org
(800) 345-6644