Fireline december 2014
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Transcript of Fireline december 2014
DECEMBER 2014 FIRELINE
FROM THE DESK OF THE CHIEF T H O M A S M. B I L L I N G T O N
I N S I D E T H I S I S S U E :
EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT 2
BIRTHDAYS 3
BATTALION 1 4
BATTALION 3 5
TRAINING 6
ANNOUNCEMENTS 7
THE F IRELINE NEWSLETTER
FAUQUIER COUNTY
DEPARTMENT OF FIRE, RESCUE
& EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT
Phone: 540-422-8800
www.fauquierfirerescue.org
“What's in your Bucket?"
In “Go for Gold: Inspiration to Increase Your Leadership Impact” by
John Maxwell, the author expresses that every good leader
continuously holds two buckets: in one hand is a bucket of water,
the other holds a bucket of gasoline. Empowering leaders know
when to use each bucket. Disruptive leaders do not. The way you
use each bucket is the way you influence individuals, groups, and
situations.
When a wise leader comes upon a situation that’s volatile and
tense, he/she doesn’t pour gasoline upon it! That’s a situation
where cooler heads need to prevail. This situation calls for a
bucket of water, so that you can put that fire out. Imagine the
damage that’s created when a disruptive, dysfunctional, or down-
right MEAN leader comes into a volatile setting and just adds to it!
That is pouring gasoline on a fire, and it won’t be long before it’s
worse than ever.
On the other hand, not all fires need to be put out. We’ve probably
all seen times when a person in the organization gets really
excited about a new vision, new challenges, or new opportunities;
only to have someone “pour water” all over their aspirations. It
may even have happened to you! That’s when an empowering
leader uses her bucket of gasoline. It is a situation that calls for
encouragement and enthusiasm!
Everyone has both buckets in their possession. Great leaders just
know when to use the right one!
FAUQUIER COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF FIRE , RESCUE & EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT
DECEMBER 2014 FIRELINE 2
EM E RG E N CY MA N AG EM EN T B Y : S A R A M A K E L Y
Check or have a mechanic check the following items on your car:
Antifreeze levels - ensure they are sufficient to avoid freezing.
Battery and ignition system - should be in top condition and battery terminals should be clean.
Brakes - check for wear and fluid levels.
Exhaust system - check for leaks and crimped pipes and repair or replace as necessary. Carbon
monoxide is deadly and usually gives no warning.
Fuel and air filters - replace and keep water out of the system by using additives and maintaining a
full tank of gas. A full tank will keep the fuel line from freezing.
Heater and defroster - ensure they work properly.
Lights and flashing hazard lights - check for serviceability.
Oil - check for level and weight. Heavier oils congeal more at low temperatures and do not lubricate
as well.
Thermostat - ensure it works properly.
Windshield wiper equipment - repair any problems and maintain proper washer fluid level.
Install good winter tires - Make sure the tires have adequate tread. All-weather radials are usually ade-
quate for most winter conditions. However, some jurisdictions require that to drive on their roads, vehi-
cles must be equipped with chains or snow tires with studs.
Update the emergency kits in your vehicles with:
a shovel
windshield scraper
and small broom
flashlight
battery powered
radio
extra batteries
water
snack food
matches
emergency flares
extra hats, socks,
and mittens
first aid kit
pocket knife
medications
blanket(s)
tow chain or rope
road salt and sand
booster cables
distress flags
DECEMBER 2014 FIRELINE 3
12/03—Chief Randall
12/11—Terry Graham
12/28—Kerri O’Brien
12/31—Clifton Frederick
Be Safe during the Holiday Season!
Follow these important safety tips:
Holiday Trees
Place your tree away from fireplaces, heaters and other
heat sources.
Don’t use candles on or near the tree.
If you have a live tree, keep it in a sturdy base filled with
water. Check the water level every day.
Safely dispose of your tree before it becomes dangerously
dry. Never burn the tree or tree parts in your fireplace.
Holiday Lights
Use “UL” approved lights.
Examine all indoor and outdoor lights for frayed
cords and replace if necessary.
Lights should not touch combustible materials.
"Indoor" lights should never be used outdoors.
Avoid using extension cords, but if you do, follow
instructions carefully.
Do not overload electrical circuits such as wall
outlets and extension cords. Use a circuit strip.
Holiday Gift Wrap
Keep papers, bows and trims
away from heat sources such as fire-
places, space heaters, and radiators.
Never burn gift wrappings in your
fireplace.
Fireplaces and Wood Stoves
Have chimney or wood stove inspected and cleaned by a certified
chimney specialist.
Leave glass doors open while burning a fire to prevent creosote
buildup.
Install a stovepipe thermometer to help monitor flue temperature.
DECEMBER 2014 FIRELINE 4
Let’s Get Ahead of the Fire!
Staying in good physical condition is a challenge no matter what may be happening in our
lives, but during the holidays it can be downright the last thing we want to do. The good
news is that most folks who choose the fire service as a career are “take the bull by the
horns”, type “A” personalities that attack change. The bad news is, no one ages
backwards. We need this for our career, our families, and frankly to enjoy life after
retirement. All of us can decrease the chance for injury, enhance our lifestyles, and heal
more efficiently with exercise just 30 minutes per day, 5 times per week. Yes, this requires
commitment to not only exercise but diet as well. So, keeping the end of the journey in
mind with first steps, I propose a two stage approach this holiday. #1: Start today, during
the holidays. That can be the hardest time to do it but we all are a rare breed indeed that
faces challenges each shift, we got this! #2: Reduce your portions by 1/3 and start a fit for
life regime. More meals per day of smaller portions help to metabolize fat and keep the
pounds away. Stretching, walking, running, pushups, air squats, and core strengthening
exercises will have you well ahead of those folks who use the New Year as their
benchmark. It takes 21 days to create a habit, let’s give ourselves a gift before Santa
comes calling. Not a sermon, just a suggestion. Be safe and have a great Christmas!
B A T T A L I O N 1 B Y : T E C H N I C I A N K R I E G
Technician Dodson and family
Technician Wood’s
newest edition
Battalion 1 also added some
new additions to their families
last month! Congrats!
DECEMBER 2014 FIRELINE 5
The month of November is already behind us and we are
only a few short weeks away from the holiday season and
the New Year. The Southern Battalion is getting ready for
the end of the year and the start of a new one. As the
year comes to an end we look back at what we have
learned and accomplished and look forward to the chang-
es of the New Year.
We would like to thank Technician Wilson and Technician
Neese for their DFREM presence at this year’s Turkey
Trot. They showed that although DFREM’s participation
was not as high as last year, we were still there. Techni-
cian Wilson even got himself a ribbon (ask him for more
details).
Lastly we would like to congratulate the Catlett Volunteer
Fire Department for the arrival of their new Rescue En-
gine which is anticipated to be in service around the first
part of the New Year.
T H E S O U T H E R N V O I C E B Y : B C L I C H T Y
Tractor trailer accident
at Elk Run Road and
Bristersburg Road
Technician Wilson learns how to
start a burner on an old stove
Big vehicle fire
on Daffan Drive
DECEMBER 2014 FIRELINE 6
The holiday season is upon us and it seems winter is coming early this year. With cold
weather setting in on us, take some time and make sure you are prepared for the cold
weather. As everyone is settling in and adjusting to their new assignments, we in the north
have been busy training, inventorying, cleaning around the stations and visiting new
construction sites. Calls in the north have been business as usual; auto accidents, fly outs,
fires, and medicals. Staffing at 4 and 11 have swapped days with Station 11 now being
staffed Monday, Wednesday, and Friday and Station 4 now being staffed Tuesday and
Thursday. Companies 3 and 5 are still anxiously awaiting the arrival of their new units.
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
N O R T H E R N L I G H T S B Y : T E C H N I C I A N T R O I L O
DECEMBER 2014 FIRELINE 7
T R A I N I N G D E PA R T M E N T
There’s a lot going on in the training department lately! Check out the photos below
from various events and training opportunities from last month. There are photos
from the new protocol training, bailout training, the department update with Chief
Billington, and some photos taken at our new SIM Lab!
DECEMBER 2014 FIRELINE 8
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Fauquier Alert Network (FAN)
Fauquier County Emergency Notification System
Effective July 1st, 2014 - Fauquier County has launched a new emergency notification system, Fauquier Alert Net-work (FAN) provided by Everbridge. Everbridge is a web based service that enables the County to provide mass no-tification quickly and easily. Notifications may include evacuations, missing person alerts, hazardous materials inci-dent, flooding, and other emergency incidents where rapid and accurate notification is essential for life safety. Mes-sages are delivered by phone call, text, and email. To ensure you receive emergency notifications, sign up by clicking on the image link below.
Remington Volunteer Fire and Rescue Department’s annual Toys-for-
Tots breakfast buffet will be December 14th from 8 AM until noon. Bring
a new, unwrapped toy and eat for free! All toys go to the Marines Toys-
for-Tots program. Remington filled seven boxes last year, and has a goal
to fill at least ten this year! Also, Santa will be there from 9:30 AM to
10:30 AM, so be sure to stop by.