12/13/2006

OPVFD holds holiday party
By Dolores E. Pike

The Ocean Pines Volunteer Fire Department (OPVFD) held its annual installation dinner at the Ocean Pines Yacht Club on Saturday December 9. 

Among the many awards presented during the course of the evening, Pauline Patro was again awarded the Chief Richard A. Passwater, Sr. Participation Award.  Ms. Patro received the award previously in 2006 and was the first woman in the OPVFD to receive it.  Her name will be placed on a plaque that is on display at the South Gate Fire Station.

During the course of the evening, outgoing president Jackie Carey presented an impressive array of statistics highlighting the services that the 32 OPVFD members provide to the Ocean Pines community. 

From January 1 to December 6 of the current year the OPVFD responded to 190 fire calls and 1,095 emergency medical services (EMS) calls.  According to Ms. Carey these figures are up about 10 percent over last year's figures.

A total of 36,571 man hours for this time period are broken down as follows:
Meetings, administrative, collateral   6,095
Education and training  4,476
Fires   8,791
EMS   17,209

The man-hours, when multiplied by the minimum wage, which is $6.15 per hour, plus benefits, represent a savings of $224,911.65 to Ocean Pines.  Computed at an average $13.50 blue/white collar wage for this area, plus benefits, this represents a savings of $493,708.50.
At the end of the evening's festivities the OPVFD corporate and line officers for 2007 were installed.