Salute Firefighters - Salute to Firefighters 2015
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Transcript of Salute Firefighters - Salute to Firefighters 2015
2015 WHIDBEY ISLAND
A SUPPLEMENT TO THE SOUTH WHIDBEY RECORD, WHIDBEY NEWS-TIMES & THE WHIDBEY EXAMINER
SALUTE TO FIREFIGHTERS
2 » Salute to Firefighters 2015
It’s very important that you take precautions when it comes to fire.Always practice these safety tips: Never play with matches or lighters Do not handle gasoline or other liquids that burn Be careful around stoves, heaters and open fires Do not cook unless an adult is present If smoke is around, stay low to the groundREMEMBER, if something catches on fire, get help. Call 9-1-1Kids and adults should work together to form an emergency plan, including an escape route. Don’t forget to practice the plan.
Fire Safety
This page is sponsored by: FIRE DISTRICT #7
JOIN US! Volunteer to be a Firefighter!
STOP where you are.DROP to the groundROLL over and over until the flames are out, covering your face and mouth with your hands
If your clothes catch fire . . .
This page sponsored by: South Whidbey Fire & EMS
JOIN US!Volunteer to be a Firefighter!
OCTOBER IS FIRE PREVENTION MONTHFIRE PREVENTION MONTHFIRE PREVENTION MONTHFIRE PREVENTION MONTH
« 3Salute to Firefighters 2015
By RON NEWBERRYStaff reporter
When Rusty Palmer entered the fire service in the mid 1970s in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, the pace was slower, yet the job was more hazardous.
He remembers there were only two self-contained breathing apparatus in a depart-ment of 38 firefighters. So when a fire call came in, most firefighters went without ade-quate lung protection.
“Today, we’ve got one for every firefighter and in every seat in the organization,” said Palmer, who’s now the fire chief at South Whidbey Fire/EMS. “And there’s a very strong expectation that everyone wears it.”
Palmer has witnessed numerous changes in nearly 40 years in the fire service, with improvements in safety to better protect first responders among the most significant.
But just as safety regulations in the industry have evolved and expanded over the decades, so has the scope of the firefighter’s role.
Long gone are the days when the job was just about putting out fires.
“When I joined, all I did was fight fire,” Palmer said. “Not long after that, I became an EMT (emergency medical technician). Then, I fought fire and became a medical aid, then a hazardous materials technician.
“The number of things a firefighter is expected to do today is far and above what was expected four decades ago.”
The expectation for a firefighter in agencies on Whidbey Island, whether paid or volun-teer, is to obtain Firefighter 1 and EMT-Basic certifications within a year or two of being hired.
Earning these certifications gives a fire-fighter the skill-sets to perform nearly all duties associated with firefighting as well as additional medical training beyond First Aid and CPR.
Responding to medical emergencies is the most common call a fire department receives.
Through September, Central Whidbey Fire & Rescue was called to respond to 12 struc-ture fires this year, compared to nearly 700 medical incidents.
About 70 percent of the calls that come into Central Whidbey Fire are medically related,
said fire chief Ed Hartin, whose department consists of 10 career firefighters, 10 part-time firefighters and 20 volunteers.
About 60 percent of the calls that come into the Oak Harbor Fire Department are medical in nature, according to fire chief Ray Merrill.
“When I first came into the fire service, we were strictly fire,” said Merrill, who got his start in Westport 40 years ago. “We didn’t do medical work at all.”
“The biggest evolution firefighters have had in the last 40 years is the scope of their work,” said North Whidbey Fire and Rescue chief Mike Brown, whose department is mostly volunteer. “Besides our fire operation, we respond to motor vehicle accidents. We respond to hazardous material spills or releas-es. We respond to marine search and rescue. We respond to high-angle rescue. Those are things where the scope of our practice has expanded in such a way the last 40 years or so that our skill level is incredibly broad.”
With this widened scope has come the need for more training for the modern-day firefighter.
Palmer is amazed by the dedication shown by his department of 62 volunteers and 10 paid staff.
His volunteers range in age from 19 to 75 and have given about 25,000 hours of their time to the department.
He said South Whidbey is on pace to respond to more than 2,400 calls this year.
“That’s with volunteers,” Palmer said. “It blows my mind that our volunteers are able to keep doing that because it is such a tap on their time. The amount of training is huge now.”
The departments on the island have joined forces once a year to offer an academy where recruits can earn their Firefighter 1 certifica-tion.
There will be two such opportunities for recruits six months apart starting in 2016.
Agencies such as Central Whidbey and North Whidbey also offer support roles for volunteer members who want to help but aren’t interested in becoming a certified fire-fighter or EMT.
Such roles include operating light appara-tus such as a water tender or brush rig.
“Our goal is to engage people more quickly
and give them a narrow skill-set so they can begin to provide to the community various aspects of work,” Hartin said.
South Whidbey is considering this support role option for its volunteers, Palmer said.
The Oak Harbor Fire Department doesn’t have volunteers. It has a career staff of 10 and 34 paid on-call firefighters.
All new hires are required to gain certifica-tion as firefighters and EMTs within a year.
“When you talk fire, it still comes down to putting the wet stuff on the red stuff,” Merrill said. “The basic concept is still there.”
Thank you for all yourhard work & dedication.
You are appreciated!
Windermere Real Estate/Whidbey Island32785 SR 20, #4, Oak Harbor, WA 98277
360-929-0922 - cellWhidbeyIslandHomes.com | [email protected]
Linda EarnhartManaging Broker
“Sending heartfelt thanks
for all you do everyday to
save our lives”
Mother MentorsNurturing the caregivers of young children
www.whidbeymothermentors.org
360-321-14845826 Kramer Rd Langley, WA 98260
360-321-7799
Thank you to our � re� ghters
Thank you for your service.
“Whidbey General Emergency Medical
Services saved my life. Thank you, EMS.”
- Wayne Locke, Oak Harbor resident
www.whidbeygen.org
Thank you for your service
www.whidbeygen.org
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Thank you for your service
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360-341-2101Underground Locating
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Service24 Hour
Since 1988
Jerry Beck& Company, Inc.
Change in scopeTraining required today doesn’t stop firefighters from serving communities
Photo by Ron Newberry
Captain Matt VanGiesen with North Whidbey Fire and Rescue operates the pump during a large brushfire at Fort Ebey State Park in July.
4 » Salute to Firefighters 2015
Thank you for your service!
150 SE Pioneer Way, Oak Harbor, WA 98277(360) 679-3533 Whidbey Island South
Cheryl KeefeBroker/Owner
206-930-7316
Thank youto our
Whidbey Firefi ghters
and EMS Responders
THANK YOU TO OURWHIDBEY ISLAND FIREFIGHTERS& EMS HEROES!
Harmony Veterinary Services, LLC
Sandi Farris, DVM
PO Box 772,Coupeville, WA 98239
Call us at: 360-969-9700
www.harmony-veterinary.com
South Whidbey Fire and Rescue
Commissioner Bobby Elliot
Deputy Chief Mike Cotton
Lieutenant Robert Frey
Bill Frederick
Commissioner Kenon Simmons
Captain Brian Vicki
AJ Agnew
Brett Davison
Commissioner Mike Helland
Captain Jerry Beck
Alex McMahon
Brian Boyd
Chief H.L. Rusty Palmer
Captain Tom Peterson
Andy O’Keefe
Carlee Mills
Asst. Chief Paul Busch
Lieutenant Rostov Hershel
Anne Collins
Chuck Baker
Deputy Chief Jon Beck
Lieutenant Mari St Amand
Ariel Childers
Lieutenant Eldon Baker
« 5Salute to Firefighters 2015
THANK YOU for your
service
We salute our brave � re� ghter heroes.
Thank you for your bravery and sacri� ce.
www.freeland-wa.org
Thanks foryour service!
360-341-3504
Thank you Whidbey Island � re� ghters and EMS
responders for your service!
31775 State Route 20, Suite A-1Oak Harbor, Washington 98277
360-675-7573www.growingkidsmiles.com
South Whidbey Fire and Rescue
Dena Peel
James Dobberfuhl
Jon Gabelein
Ken Starkweather
Don Mason
Jared Russell
Kathy Eyth
Keppi Mills
Drew Gardner
Jeff Cravy
Kay Cope
Kevin Rookstool
Jeff Simmons
Kelly Cammermeyer
Kurt Buchholz
Erik Westphal
Jen Buchholz
Kelly McDonald
Lisa Dilwicius
Heidi Beck
Jon Bryant
Ken Lindenstein
Marc Swenson
Darela Chittim
6 » Salute to Firefighters 2015
5438 S Woodard Ave. Freeland, WA 98249www.gordonsonblueberryhill.com
Phone: 360.331.7515 • E-mail: [email protected]
WE THANK YOU WHIDBEY ISLAND FIREFIGHTERS AND EMS RESPONDERS Local Service,
Measurable Savings
CALL ME FOR A FREE, CALL ME FOR A FREE, NO-OBLIGATION QUOTE!NO-OBLIGATION QUOTE!NO-OBLIGATION QUOTE!
360-331-4440RANDY ENBERGINSURANCEYour Local Agent5589 S Harbor AveFreeland, WA [email protected]
CALL ME FOR A FREE, CALL ME FOR A FREE, NO-OBLIGATION QUOTE!NO-OBLIGATION QUOTE!
THANK YOU
www.wiws.org
South Whidbey Fire and Rescue
Melissa Conley
Rob Harrison
Shane Cummins
Will Piepeienbrink
Pat McMahon
Robbyn Hagglund
Terry Welch
Paul Rempa
Robert Armstrong
Tom Gideon
Paul Shimada
Robert Husom
Tony Nissen
Peter Lett
Sean McDougald
Trevor Jones
Rebekah Pomeroy
Sean Roberts
Vicki Lange
Not pictured:
Division Chief Wendy Moffatt
Ashley TaylorMelissa SimmonsKevin Simmons
Capt. James TowersBill Stolcis
LT. Chris Blasko
Make a family plan and determine:n The facilities that will be used as shelters in your community
in case of emergency n A designated meet-up location if your family is separated n An emergency contact outside of your area who would not
be affected by a local disaster Teach your children:n Basic personal information
to identify themselves if separated from you n How to dial 911n Your family’s meet-up locationsn How to reach your family’s out-of-town contact Have a communications strategy:n Program all family cell phones with “ICE” (In
Case of Emergency) contacts
n Include all family phone numbers plus out-of-town contactsn Remind family members
that text messages often get through in an emer -gency, even when a phone call can’t
Emergency ChecklistIf the unthinkable happens, your children will look to you to know how to react and respond. Use the checklist below to help your family prepare and keep children safe in a disaster.
« 7Salute to Firefighters 2015
To our local South Whidbey Fire� ghtersand EMS Volunteers.
Thank you for your bravery, hard work and commitment. We appreciate
your dedication to keeping us safe
Burley Funeral Chapel30 S E Ely Street, Oak Harbor, WA.
360-675-3192
Visser Funeral Home432 Third Street, Langley, WA360-221-6600
Village Pizzeria is the only waterfront restaurant In Langley.Serving delicious hand-tossed NY style pizza, we also serve pasta dishes, sandwiches, variety of salads and appetizers.Come in and enjoy the gorgeous view of the sound and full
bar service next to a warm � replace.Voting now open for “King 5 Best of Western Washington”
vote for us best pizza; we were top 5 last year!
106 1st Street, Langley, WA 98260 ▶ 360-221-3363
� ank You Whidbey Fire� ghtersAnd EMS Responders
Central Whidbey Fire and Rescue
Commissioner Cheryl Engle
Lieutenant Jennifer Porter
Brent Stevens
Dillion Rogers
Commissioner Paul Messner
Lieutenant Derik Vrable
Bryan Mollitor
Emily Hilberdink
Commissioner Steve Hutchinson
Acting Lieutenant Alex Majestic
Chuck Hathaway
Greg Behan
Chief Ed Hartin
Alexandra McMahon
Craig Youdarian
Holly Slothower
Deputy Charlie Smith
Andy Griffen
David Winship
James Meek
Training Capt. Jerry Helm
Brandon Skeith
Diane Paul
Jeff Rhodes
8 » Salute to Firefighters 2015
Bayview Embroidery N’Print“HIGH QUALITY - NOT HIGH PRICES”
(360)679-7900bayview-embroidery-n-print.com
890 SE Pioneer Way, Ste. 101 Oak Harbor, WA. 98277
Thank You Whidbey Fire� ghters
“Thank you to all Whidbey Island Fire� ghters”
Open 7 days a week.
Cozy’s Roadhouse8872 Hwy 525Clinton WA 98236
360-341-2838
www.cozysroadhouse.com
Central Whidbey Fire and Rescue
Jeff Tasoff
Keith Andrews
Mike Matros
Will Piepenbrink
Jesse Leyva
Kim Harpe
Phil Matthes
Will Suarez
Jessica Shaffer
Kolton Kellison
Robert Moore
Jim Colton
Kyle Jacobsen
Todd Duddridge
Jim Huff
Marvin Raavel
Tony McNair
John Lloyd
Michael Pelzer
Trenton Taylor
(StatePoint) While there are numerous ways to improve home safety, fires are a common threat that you have the power to prevent with preparation.
The International Association of Fire Chiefs and Energizer team up each fall to educate the public about how to improve in-home safety.
The “Change Your Clock Change Your Battery” pro-gram reminds everyone to replace the batteries in their home’s smoke detectors when they change their clocks for Daylight Saving Time so they have functioning smoke alarms.
Working smoke alarms cut nearly in half the risk of dying in a home fire by providing an early warning.
Having a fresh battery in your smoke detector plays a critical role in giving families the time needed to safely escape a home fire.
In addition to sponsoring this educational campaign, Energizer has donated more than five million batteries to fire departments over the years.
To learn more about the Change Your Clock, Change Your Battery program, visit www.energizer.com/responsi-bility
Take action for the safety of your family and make sure you have working smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors. It’s the first step to a safer home.
Change the batteries in smoke alarms at Daylight Saving Time
« 9Salute to Firefighters 2015
A big THANK YOU to all the South Whidbey Fire and EMS Volunteers
Call us or stop by todayfor a free quote!
5595 Harbor Ave.Freeland, WA 98249Porterwhidbey.com
360-331-1500 Tricia Bozin Vanessa McCalister
T I R E S • W H E E L S • B AT T E R I E S • A L I G N M E N T • S H O C K S • B R A K E S
11038 WASHINGTON 525, CLINTON, WA 98236(360) 341-3313 WWW.LESSCHWAB.COM
Thank you foryour bravery
North Whidbey Fire and Rescue
Commissioner Bruce Carman
Captain Gerald Smith
Lieutenant Dan Horton
Sarah P.
Commissioner Jerry Goen
Captain Jeff Amidon
Lieutenant Ed Klaszky
Albert Treiber
Commissioner Larry Wall
Captain Jim O’Connor
Lieutenant Sherri Brown
Amy Viers
Chief Mike Brown
Captain Matt VanGiesen
Amber W.
Andrew Schmal
Batt. Chief Chris Swiger
Captain Steve Lacy
Jesus Rellama
Ann Conto
Batt. Chief Lyle Zimmerman
Lieutenant Bill McArthur
Rebecca V.
Bill Brooks
10 » Salute to Firefighters 2015
Breakfast, Lunch, & Dinner 7 Days a WeekFor Food “To Go” Call 360-331-9945
1642 Main St., Freeland
~est 1974~
Thank you to our brave fire fighters
for your service!
Our family serving yours for 40 years
Thank You
THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE WHIDBEY ISLAND
FIREFIGHTERS!
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North Whidbey Fire and Rescue
Bill Cooper
Cliff Horr
Dillon Sather
Hannah Tripp
Brandon Bailey
Codi Bittner
Dustin Amundson
Ian Eby
Catherine Martin
Dale Esperum
Dylan Dahl
Jim Anema
Chris Chastain
Dave Hanson
Frank Valencic
Jimmy Zimmerman
Chris Hernandez
David Morris
George Lawson
Jon Lacy
Chris Lacy
David Nelson
Gregg Alonzo
Jon Pollock
Chris Turner
Deborah Rogers
Guy Fealey
Jonathan Walker
« 11Salute to Firefighters 2015
The team atFreeland
thanks you all!
Mon–Sat 8am-7pmSun 9am-6pm
331-67991609 E. Main, Freeland
The team at Freeland
thanks you all!
Mon-Sat 8am-7pm • Sun 9am-6pm331-6799 • 1609 E. Main, Freeland
We salute our Whidbey Island Firefi ghters &
EMS Responders(360) 678-5611 408 S Main St
Coupeville, WA 98239
1685 Main Street (360) 331-5211 [email protected]
THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE & BRAVERY
North Whidbey Fire and Rescue
Josh Fikse
Neil Loose
Sean Redmond
Ty Welshans
Josh Koorn
Noah Hetzel
Steve Cope
Walter Krytcha
Josh Richards
Paul Schroer
Tim Schulz
William Canty
Ken Powell
Ron Rogers
TJ Kelsey
Yi Qin
Lauren Powers
Ryan McCarthy
Tom Hoctor
Zac Skilbeck
Mark Boberg
Ryan Nowicki
Tom Mohlsick
Robert Dorr
Mathew Sypert
Scott Jackson
Travis O’Connor
Not pictured:Andy Kiesel, Cameron Hopkins, Carol Flowers, Holly Slothower, Jeffery
Cobb, Johnathan Karlburg, Justin Smith, Kevin
Frondozo, Mike Reinstra, Richard Hoover, Robert Crane, Shawn O’Connor,
Sienna Smoot andWilliam Cheman
Smoke Alarms Save LivesThe most important things you need to know are smoke alarms save lives and they should be in every home. Follow these impor-tant smoke alarm safety measures:
• Make sure your smoke alarms are working. This means test-ing smoke alarms monthly, replacing batteries once a year or when a low-battery alarm chirps and performing other maintenance as NFPA and your smoke alarm manufacturers recommend. And of course, a smoke alarm disabled because of nuisance alarms provides no protection at all.
• It is important to have not just one smoke alarm but smoke alarms in every location required by NFPA standards. (On each level of your home, outside each sleeping area and inside each bedroom.) Tens of millions of U.S. homes are es-timated to have smoke alarms but not enough smoke alarms to meet the standards and protect their homes.
• Interconnect your smoke alarms so that a fire detected by any smoke alarm will sound an alarm at every location where a smoke alarm is installed. Interconnection can be done using hard-wiring or wireless broadcast technology. Interconnected smoke alarms provide early warning of fires that are still far away or are located on the other side of a door or wall that may block sound.
• Develop and practice an escape plan so that everyone in the home knows what to do if the smoke alarm sounds. That includes planning a second way out from every room in your home. Every household that develops and practices an escape plan with two ways out from every location improves its time to escape in every type of fire.
There Are Different Types of Smoke Alarm Technologies—Ionization and PhotoelectricThe two most commonly recognized smoke detection technologies are ionization smoke detection and photoelectric smoke detection. Ionization smoke detection is generally more responsive to flaming fires and photoelectric smoke detection is generally more respon-sive to fires that begin with a long period of smoldering (called “smoldering fires”). For each type of smoke alarm, the advantage it provides may be critical to life safety in some fire situations.
Home fatal fires, day or night, include a large number of smoldering fires and a large number of flaming fires. You can not predict the type of fire you may have in your home or when it will occur. Any smoke alarm technology, to be acceptable, must perform acceptably for both types of fires in order to provide early warning of fire at all times of the day or night and whether you are asleep or awake.
The best evidence has always indicated that either type of smoke alarm will provide sufficient time for escape for most people for most fires of either smoldering or flaming type. How-ever, research is ongoing, and standards are living documents. If at any time, research points to a different conclusion, then that will lead to proposals for changes in the NFPA standard or the closely related Underwriters Laboratories standard for testing and approving smoke alarms. Both organizations currently have task groups looking at smoke alarm performance in the current home environment.
For Best Protection Use Both Types of Smoke Alarm TechnologiesFor best protection, it is recommended both (ionization and photoelectric) technologies be in homes. In addition to indi-vidual ionization and photoelectric alarms, combination alarms that include both technologies in a single device are available.
Nuisance Alarms Can Be MinimizedIonization type smoke alarms are more susceptible to nuisance alarms due to cooking, the leading cause of nuisance alarms, but both types have some susceptibility to nuisance alarms from cooking fumes, and both have susceptibility to nuisance alarms from the steam from a hot shower.
In the past decade or so, a number of steps have been taken to reduce the likelihood of nuisance alarms, including hush fea-tures and refinements to installation rules that include guidance on safe distances from nuisance sources.
TV Demonstrations of Smoke Alarm Performance Can Be MisleadingInformal demonstrations, such as ones done for TV news shows, of smoke alarm performance can seriously mislead the viewer and do not provide a sound basis to assess performance. These demonstration tests are not performed in a controlled or sci-entific way that compares the time of smoke alarm operation to the time when occupants would be incapacitated. The selected fire scenarios may not be representative of real fatal home fires. Passing or failing a “test” of this sort may have nothing to do with performing well or badly in the wide range of real fires. A valid engineering analysis must select fires that are realistic and analyze them accordingly.
In an informal demonstration, the eye reacts to conditions that look dangerous, mostly visible smoke and visible flame. However, most people are killed by invisible gases, which do not necessarily spread at the same rate as smoke or flame. A valid engineering analysis must measure conditions caused by fires and assess them according to their real danger.
What you should know about
For more information go to www.nfpa.org/smokealarms
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