Cottonwood Fire Department Chief Ron Sauntman and Division Chief Troy Hoke presented the department’s strategic plan during the Cottonwood Community Awareness Group meeting on Tuesday, Sept. 26.
Sauntman was raised in the Verde Valley and has been working with fire departments since he was 18. He said that CFD is an all-hazards organization, meaning that crews respond to everything in the community and are engaged in all levels of emergency management. Sauntman added that the fire service is a reflection of the community and is not separate. CFD firefighters live in the community and participate in it.
Hoke has been working with the city of Cottonwood since 2003, having started as a volunteer firefighter. He is also the girls’ varsity basketball coach at Mingus Union High School.
The first initiative in the strategic plan was embracing a healthy and productive work environment. Hoke said that CFD intends to achieve this by developing a behavioral health program to address mental health needs and provide applicable training, and by creating a position that manages a peer support group to deal with traumatic events. Hoke stressed that they want people to be able to open up and talk, because when they don’t, it builds up and could potentially affect their lives and careers. Hoke added that being a firefighter isn’t a job or career, but a lifestyle, and said that he felt it was important to maintain healthy communication with peers.
Hoke said that CFD wants to connect more with the community, building trust and increasing communication and transparency. CFD wants the community to know what resources and community outreach events they have while fostering open communication with the public.
The next initiative was providing exceptional public safety and emergency services, which CFD hopes to achieve with the implementation of a community risk reduction division.
Another initiative was increasing opportunities for personal growth and professional development, putting a heavy focus on education and training.
The last initiative was improving facilities, equipment and technology. CFD will be getting a new ladder truck to add to their fleet.
“We want you guys to know your neighborhood fire department,” Hoke said. He said that when he’s at a scene, whoever he is helping is immediately family.
Both Hoke and Sauntman addressed an industry-wide trend of being unable to fill positions in the fire department, claiming that generational changes and the COVID19 pandemic response have played a role.
