City to conduct national search for chief
search is launched for a new fire chief, city spokesperson Stacie Walker said.
Sander and the department recently attained one of the biggest achievements in his career. After careful planning, the department was able to lower the public protection class rating for the city to Class 1, the highest awarded by the Insurance Services Office. Only 46 other cities in the state and 97 nationally have achieveda similar rating, according to information provided by the city’s communication department.
“I was excited,” Sander said about learning of the new rating. “At first, it was disbelief, but then I was excited. It’s a very huge thing.”
Missouri City’s previous ISO rating in 2006 was Class 3 and the department, under Sander’s leadership, implemented changes to the city’s fire protection program in a multiyear plan to improve the rating. The ISO rating of a city is taken into consideration by insurance companies in setting in- surance rates. When the new ISO rate takes effect in August, Missouri City residents and businesses could see savings in their homeowners insurance policies, Owen said.
The amount of savings, Owen said, may range from 8 percent to 9 percent for homeowner’s insurance premiums and a 4 percent to 5 percent decrease in commercial rates.
“But most of all, (it) says we are very well-prepared for fire protection for our citizens,” Owen said.
Sander also implemented a peak-time squad pro- gram that changed how staff members responded to calls. The change involved sending smaller response vehicles like SUVs and pickups to some calls instead of rolling out larger fire trucks on every emergency run.
The adjustment has saved the city $175,000 annually, Sander said.
“Wewent through three years of data. Fire Station 1 (on Cartwright Road) was our busiest station, and most of the calls were medical calls. We determined when our busiest days and times were for medical calls,” Sander said. “At the time, I had some analytical software that helped me make that determination. It wasn’t a whole lot of work. It was putting together some graphs and then verifying it.”
As Missouri City grew, Sander oversaw construction of Fire Station 5 in Sienna Plantation and some of the planning for the city’s planned sixth fire station, which will go near Lake Olympia Parkway and Vicksburg Boulevard.
He’s also increased the firefighting staff by 20 members to 77, added fire investigators and inspectors, and participated in response and cleanup efforts after Hurricane Ike in 2008.
He said he’s been proud to lead the fire department and be a part of its growth.
“I appreciate the opportunity to serve Missouri City,” Sander said. “(The City Council’s) confidence has allowed me to better the fire department. I will miss Missouri City. I’m very proud of my staff and the firedepartment.”