Saturday, December 27, 2008

Update on vests

Just a quick note: The remaining vests have been returned with the updated stitching. So we have all our vests in and they should now be on the correct trucks. I mean, the numbers on the back of the vest should match the unit number.

Stay safe today and go slow. Watch for falling ice!!

Monday, December 22, 2008

Safe and Happy Holidays

I just wanted to take a moment and wish everyone and their families a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. This year has been a year of change for me both personally and departmentally. Enjoy your families and if you have to travel, be safe on the roads and watch weather conditions.
Along the safety side, there are several reports of EMS and FD personnel being struck while working roadside incidents. While we have taken the recommended safety precautions, remember that the way roads are, even the safest driver could lose control and enter our scene. So always be cognizant of your surrounds!! Apparatus placement and wearing our protective equipment plus the vests are helpful but strange things occur. So be careful when out on roadway scenes!!
Lastly, I know that Chief is still trying to get the one on one conversations completed. I have heard several that are still waiting to be called in. This is an excellent chance for you to speak your peace. If you feel there are things that need to be changed, mention them. If you think there are good things happening, mention it. The key to this is when you have your turn, speak!! This is a chance to have input and help make the department better. Good, bad, or just a thought, Chief is looking for your input and wants to hear your thoughts.

Equipment update:
-Ladder testing was done and we had to take out of service one of the 35' ladders off of T334.
-With the cold weather, winter checklists are back!! Please make sure you do this after you return from a call.
-The new 245 is in service. Take a look at it and see where the equipment is located. Most of it should be in the same area as the other squads but always good to check it out before you need it.
-No word yet on when the vests that we shipped in will be back, but be looking for updates.

Merry Christmas,
Jamie

Wednesday, December 3, 2008

Do we still take pride in what we do??


This picture was sent to me and my answer to the question would be "NO" based on the picture. I don't know when or who was involved in loading the hose, but come on!! Anyone should be able to look at this and realize that it is not done neatly. Thank you to the crew that took the time to pull it off and reload it!

Thursday, November 27, 2008

Happy Thanksgiving

I just wanted to send out a Happy Thanksgiving to everyone from the Sauter family. I had a good afternoon, Ali and Teegan visited me at the station and we had a traditional dinner. (Course, as soon as everything is ready to be dished out, we have a small tree fire.) I hope that everyone was able to get their fill of their favorite holiday treats! Enjoy the leftovers and just think, we are already less than a month and it is Christmas!!

Friday, November 21, 2008

Safety Update

Just an update with the vests and cones. The newer vests are on most of the apparatus. The first 15 vests that we ordered have been shipped back for some additional stitching to make them the 5 point break away vests. Once those return, the vests will be placed where they are marked. Until that time, don't get to concerned about the unit number on the back of the vest. I had to juggle them around to get what we needed filled.
The new pop-up cones are in and on the apparatus. They are in the same compartments as the old cones, right now they are in a storage bag. There are 5 cones per bag. Usage is simple, grab the center piece and pull up. If it is dark outside, there is a small grey button on the bottom of the cone. One push for a steady light, two pushes for a flashing light, and an additional push to turn it off. Replacing the cone, push down on the center piece and assist the sides in collapsing the cone as needed.

Wednesday, November 12, 2008

Just a little update...

The other night at business meeting, there was several items that were covered.
1) New faces: We have brought on 7 new part-time personnel to help fill the daytime shifts. Caleb Marosi is also making a return and is going to be on medic status and helping out after hours when available.
2) New apparatus: The new ambulance is ahead of schedule and could be received the middle of December instead of near the end of the month. 300, 303, and 316 are going for a meeting on 337 and making sure the plans are correct and it should start being constructed very soon and that would be ahead of schedule as well.
3) Reminder: Chief just wanted to pass along a reminder that even though we have done better lately, we still need to have people respond on calls.

One item that had been touched on the week before, Roger Berry has been moved down to an Engineer status due to his move. This was something that Chief had batted around for awhile and had different discussions with people and decided it was best to make that move. Roger IS NOT leaving the department and will continue to work part-time and make training meetings. Roger had been an officer since I have been on and a couple years prior to that...so at if not over 20 years of being an officer. I would like to say thank you for your time, effort, leadership, and strive to make IFD a better department. You will not find a better person to run a fire ground!!

Monday, October 27, 2008

St. Louis collision

Traffic light cameras. While there has been much debate about the use of traffic camera lights, one in St. Louis has provided a very unique view. It actually caught two St. Louis fire vehicles responding to a fire call. The link from KCCI is about 1:30 minutes long and worth a look. Pay close attention to the shot that compares the accident to the fire call. They were not that far away. Now think of the extra damage done because of this accident: Additional units to cover the accident, additional units for the fire, the loss of two majors pieces of apparatus, and equipment lost from the apparatus. Best news from all of this: EVERYONE WAS WEARING THEIR SEATBELTS AND ONLY MINOR INJURIES WERE REPORTED!!!

For just the view of the traffic cam, click on the "Safety Video" below.

For the KCCI story, click on St. Louis Collision above or follow the link:
http://www.kcci.com/video/17762926/?taf=des

Remember our policy, seatbelts are to be worn at ALL times and STOP at red lights and stop signs and look both directions and then cautiously proceed through the intersection.

Wednesday, October 8, 2008

Good old 2nd Division partners




At the business meeting in September, IFD received a plaque from Chief Cross of the Windsor Heights FD. He presented the award as a spokesperson from the contributing organizations that make up the Seat Belt Pledge. Mark was gracious enough to stand with him and have his photo taken. Not to be outdone, Mark's former partner had to have his picture taken before the meeting. What a photogenic duo!!

Tuesday, September 30, 2008

Welcome back!

Been a little while since I blogged last but being on vacation can tend to do that. This past weekend marked the one year anniversary of us getting Teegan. We have been looking back as to what our life was like last year at this time, sleepless nights since his schedule was reversed, crying fits because he grieved for his foster mom, and the joy of having a child of our own. Life was hectic leading up to that time with trying to get her school stuff in line and I was trying to finish off the training schedule for October and making sure things were in line that way. Man what a difference a year makes!

Just a reminder that October is Fire Prevention Month and that Fire Prevention week is quickly approaching. Chuck has scheduled several visits at the schools with the safety house and anyone who can help even if for an hour would be greatly appreciated! Plus Open House is Oct. 9th so make sure you have that on your calendar and help will be needed during the day to get things picked up and set up.

With the start of October also means going into the quarter of the year. Which means EMT skills will need to be done, patient contacts upto date plus getting calls for the last quarter, and time to be looking at making drills if you are running short on training hours. I think Mark posted hours yesterday so take a look and see where you are standing.

Tuesday, September 16, 2008

The Correct Answer is......

The correct answer to the poll question - When deploying the "Finish Load" inside a multi-story dwelling, placement of the "Y" should be where?

On the fire floor.

With the finish load, it is designed to be taken to the fire floor and if the fire is too advanced to use the 1 3/4" line, you disconnect the "Y" and have the 2 1/2" line. Once the fire is knocked down, you can turn off the nozzle of the 2 1/2" line and reconnect the "Y" and utilize the 1 3/4" line.

Tuesday, September 9, 2008

Training

For those of you who missed last nights meeting, and counting heads last night there were quite a few, here are a couple highlights:
1) Unable to have a business meeting because we did not have enough people.
2) Since business meetings tend to run short, Mark had set up a couple extrication scenarios.
3) At the informal meeting, Mark accepted the certificate from the National Fallen Firefighters for our pledge to wear our seatbelts. Please keep up the good work of wearing your seatbelts and making sure those that are in the truck with you are doing the same. It could be their life you are saving!
4) We will need to call a special meeting to introduce some changes to the by-laws. We need to present the changes and then at our next scheduled business meeting, vote on the changes. So please, talk to Chief about these changes and try to make the November business meeting so we can pass the changes.

Friday, August 29, 2008

10 Years Ago - A look back

Not many people would remember what was happening at IFD 10 years ago at the end of August but here is a refresher. Chief Hutt was stepping down to pursue a career with a nozzle company, which at the time seemed kind of silly since he was a "truckie", but he has done well with the transition. Chuck Davey was named the acting fire chief and his first duty as chief was to welcome aboard the 6 new full-time staff. Jory, Chuck, and Brent are all that remain of the original six that was hired. Way to go!!

That concludes our history lesson for today. Have a safe Labor Day weekend and for those that are getting ready for convention - remember to have fun, enjoy the activities, and be safe!!

Sunday, August 17, 2008

Congratulations!

I would just like to take a moment and congratulate Chief on having a successful term as an IFA officer. While I am not all that active with the IFA doings, I do know that they do a lot for the firefighters. He has put a lot of effort into his term and I hope that as his term comes to an end next month, that he feels like he has gotten much accomplished. If you get a chance, tell him thanks for all that he has done!

Thursday, August 14, 2008

Been to the Fair?

So has everyone that has wanted to go the fair had their chance? I personnally don't really care to go, especially with all the crowds. I get enough "fair" just working blocks away from the fairgrounds and the limited runs that we have there.

The poll has closed on the safety vest and we had 7 people say that they had looked over the vests and 1 that had not. If you have not seen it yet, there is an actual SOG out on it now so please review that and be familiar with it.

I heard that we had another fire on Saturday. It sounds like everyone did a good job! Remember to keep yourself hydrated in the warm summer days. My hope is to be able to post some pictures of some of our calls but need to get them and figure out how to post. Work in progress.

Keep up the good work and everyone have a good weekend. Enjoy the fair if you go! There is some cheap parking south of the fairgrounds off of E. 32 and E. 34th streets!!

Wednesday, August 6, 2008

Just a reminder

Couple things to pass along:
1) If you have not yet RSVPed for Chief's golf outing/dinner on Aug. 16th, you need to contact Mrs. Chief no later than Friday. Talking with Chief this afternoon, it sounds like there is a good number of people already signed up but could always use more.
2) The order forms for the new shirts need to be turned in by Friday the 15th. Please get these filled out and turned into Chief. You can order upto $50.00, anything past that you will have to pay the difference. Forms are hanging on the board in the dayroom.
3) As I am typing this, the printer is going with updated SOG's. A couple of these are just spelling corrections, but SOG 3-7 is a new one and 4-1 has been updated. These will be placed in your mailbox yet tonight so look them over and update your SOG book.

If you have not had a chance to look around the blog yet, please do so. Let me know what you think. You can post comments or send me an email. I am going to be looking for additional content so if you come across anything, pass it along and I will try to use it.

Jamie

Wednesday, July 30, 2008

Hello IFD

Ok, let me officially welcome you to my blog. While I am still getting use to the blogging aspect, I have a good teacher who is helping me along.

My goal with doing the blog is much the same as it was with the Yahoo group (which I still use). I would like to try and share the happenings of the department along with safety issues and training materials. I think this will be a good way to keep people informed and try to keep things lite as well. If you have any ideas or suggestions, please pass them on to me.

While I try and get the layout and links established, please enjoy the video clips that are posted.

Jamie

Tuesday, July 29, 2008

Sunday, July 27, 2008

Welcome

I will now be blogging safety news, views, and information on this site.

Jamie

Training clip