Interim Chief Stephen Koch said despite its recent turmoil, Fire District 11 in Pearl River is on schedule to undergo its required rating review.

Preparing for a ratings review can be a daunting task for any fire district, but when one takes into account what District 11 has been through in the last four months, the idea of undergoing such a thorough review at this time could be a disaster.

However, Koch said he is prepared and has developed a workable schedule to get everything in shipshape order. With a fire rating of 2, the district currently has one of the lowest fire ratings in the parish, matched only by Mandeville, a much larger district with a much larger budget.

Koch said Fire District 11 personnel, who according to him work together very well as a team, pride themselves in that excellent rating.

And because of that rating, residents in District 11 enjoy a reduction in their fire insurance premiums.

Koch said he has until April 7 to have his packet in, but wanting to stay ahead of the game and be prepared for possible hiccups, he has set a March 27 deadline for himself.

At the fireboard meeting Tuesday night he praised the efforts of all of the personnel with the district, who he said have given up of their free time to help prepare for this audit.

On Saturday, the district will conduct a hose test at Creekside Elementary School, to determine water pressure and length of usable hose.

On Sunday, the district will start an apparatus inventory, taking everything off the trucks and making sure all of the equipment is there, in working order and in the right places.

“We are on goal, and we are on target to meet all of our goals,” Koch told the board Tuesday night.

At the same meeting, Paramedic John Kerwin reported to the board about the legality of district EMS service.

He said there were some questions about whether the district was breaking the law in anyway by operating its own ambulances.

Kerwin said as he expected the state and parish attorney Neil Hall both confirmed that the district is not breaking any laws.

He said the request for clarification on the issue was sparked when a resident questioned if the district was breaking the law by allowing first responders to drive the ambulances on calls.

He said he research proves it is legal for first responders to drive the ambulances as long as they are certified to be drivers. It is also legal for the first responders to be in the back of the ambulance with a patient as long as a paramedic is back there with them.

“Never have we transported a patient that I know of with just a first responder in the back treating a patient,” Kerwin said. “If first responder is in the back they are treating a patient under guidance of paramedic.”

Fire District 11 has been under a microscope since December when some of the fire board members went into a station a fired then chief Robert Crowe without giving notice or a reason.

Crowe, who said he was wrongfully terminated, has filed suit against the board.

Crowe claims in his suit that the board did not give him a reason for the termination, nor did they give him a written letter of notice. He wants to be reinstated and given back pay for the time he was out.

The board then appointed Matt Parrish to serve as interim chief.

Last month, Parrish stepped down, and Koch was asked to serve as interim chief for a short period until someone could be appointed.

The board has since started advertising for resumes to fill the permanent position.

Board member Donna Christopher said the advertisements will run for another week, and after that time the board will call a special meeting to name a new chief.