JULY NEWS:
Officer Selection:
Officers have been selected for Fiscal Year 2010. They are as follows:
Headquarters |
Chief Howard Rice, Jr. - Car 1 |
Assistant Chief Doug Patey - Car 2 |
Deputy Chief Tom Martelle - Car 3 |
Deputy Chief Jay Hallett - Car 4 |
Station 1 - Foreside Station |
Station Captain Mike Coffey - Car 11 |
Rescue 1 Lieutenant Neils Knudsen - Car 12 |
Engine 1 Lieutenant Will Hawkes - Car 13 |
Station 2 - Central Station |
Station Captain Brian Doyle - Car 21 |
Tower 2 Lieutenant Steve Shaw - Car 22 |
Engine 2 Lieutenant Stan Bishop - Car 23 |
Per Diem Lieutenant Linda Roberts - Car 24 |
Ambulance 2 Lieutenant David Cuttler - Car 25 |
Ambulance 4 Lieutenant Paul Goldstein - Car 26 |
Station 4 - Winn Road Station |
Station Captain Dennis Buhelt - Car 41 |
Tank 4 Lieutenant Chris Baker - Car 42 |
Engine 4 Lieutenant Bill Cochran - Car 43 |
Training:
Training for July consisted of classroom presentations on Search and Rescue, Water Supply, Salvage and Overhaul, and Fire Detection Systems. Practical skills training on these subjects plus hose line advancement and ladders were performed as well. Crews went to a vacant building on town-owned land on River Point to accomplish the practical scenarios. EMS training for July was an update on the electronic run report system, Imagetrend as well as a mega-code scenario using a life-like mannequin.
Firefighter Levels I and II:
We currently have 50 members enrolled in a Firefighter Level I and II training course. The course, a nationally recognized Pro-Board training program, focuses on providing the training needed for firefighters to perform at the crew level. The course is approximately 230 hours long and has been in process since March. We are using our 5 in-house nationally certified fire instructors to teach the program. The projected end date of the program is October.
4th of July:
Rescue 1 was used for the Command Post for Fire/Police activities for the 4th of July fireworks display. It was staged at the corner of Route 1 and Andrews Avenue for the event from 1900 hrs until approximately 2200 hours. Ambulance 4 was on stand by on Shoreline Drive during the event as well.
Building Updates:
Work on Station 4 continues in full force. The old chimney was the latest victim to the construction. Without it, there is a ton of space gained on both the first and second floors. Other updates are a new ceiling, fresh new paint on the walls (using the same exact color scheme as Central Station), a shower installed in the bathroom, and soon new flooring and new kitchen cabinets.
Station 3:
Beginning on July 1st Station 3 in the Pleasant Hill area of Falmouth, was temporarily closed. The Engine was moved to Station 1 and the crews were split between Station 4 and Central Station. The Fire Chief and the Town Manager have been asked by the Town Council to prepare a report analyzing the responses to fire calls with the absence of the operating Station. While it is closed, the building will house a spare Engine (former Engine 1) and some other equipement.
New Run Cards:
The Mutual Aid Run Cards have all been updated and are in place at dispatch. There are many changes from previous assignments. The basis for many changes were to bring in the closest mutual aid neighbor to multi-alarm incidents based on the location of the incident. The other major change is the addition of Portland Ladder 4 to reports of fires in the Pleasant Hill neighborhood, now that Station 3 has been closed.
EMS Update:
Beginning on July 1st, Falmouth Fire-EMS has around-the-clock coverage at Central Station. The daytime per diem program that has been in place for the past few years was expanded to 24-hour coverage with a Firefighter / Paramedic. A paramedic-staffed ambulance will now respond very quickly from Central Station at all times, similar to the daytime responses. The call staff will still respond with the staffed ambulance and with the 2nd ambulance if needed for multiple calls.
Rookie Class Completed:
The Spring 2009 Rookie Class has been completed. There are 5 graduates. The graduates and their FF/EMS #'s and station assignments are:
FF# 288 - Jake Audet - Central
FF# 289 - Jason Cooney - Central
FF/EMS# 184 - Meg Curran - Station 1
FF/EMS# 282 - Mike Curran - Central
FF# 489 - Chris Doherty - Station 4
Federal Stimulus Grant -
Falmouth Fire-EMS is applying for an economic stimulus grant to put an addition onto Station 4. This project has been in the long term plans of the department and there is currently $210 million available for such a project. A 20ft by 70ft addition would hose new bunk rooms, new offices, a fitness room, and shower/locker room on the 2nd floor and a vehicle maintenance room, gear locker room, and a mechanical room on the first floor. In addition (pun intended), we would have room for 3 more vehicles, and would be able to put an aerial apparatus in there if needed in the future. Lastly, the design includes an elevator to allow for ADA and public access to the training room.
The proposal is still in its early design stages, but with the grant application period closing very soon, we are putting the proposal together and will present it to the Council Monday night.
The proposal will be an addition to the current facility and, if we are successful, we will build upon the recent updates/changes to the 2nd floor.
Engine 1 -
Thanks to the crew for putting the former Engine 3 into service as Engine 1. The former Engine 1 will be re-named as the Reserve Engine and will be moved up to Pleasant Hill soon. As a reserve engine, it will take the name of the piece it is replacing when put into service. For example, if it sits at Central in place of Engine 2 it will run as 'Engine 2'.
Tank 4 -
Tank 4 recently returned after having its transmission rebuilt.
Accountability System-
We ordered a Tactron Accountability System in late June. We hope to have it in place by September 1st. We will incorporate the training of the new system into our existing FF1 and II training.
9/11 Ceremony -
We have been invited to a brief ceremony to remember September 11th at the Legion on the 11th at noon. All are invited. Dress is class B uniforms. If you can swing by on lunch break come as you are.
EMS Update -
Dr. Betsy Buyers is one of our new Maine Medical Center residents. She is a first year resident that will be working with our program over the next three years. Like the other residents, you will likely see Betsy doing ride time with us over the next month.
FF Adam Winn has received his Basic EMT license. He is the first from the High School EMT class to receive his license. Congratulations to Adam!
We will be having four ride-alongs from the current SMEMS basic program in July. They will be doing ride time over the next month or only when there are vacancies in the schedule.
Clam Fest:
Engine 1 covered for the Town of Yarmouth during the Clam Fest Parade on the 17th and Engine 4 was in the parade this year.
Prevention News:
Falmouth Fire-EMS conducted a free car seat checkup event in conjunction with Falmouth Community Program's Preschool Camp at Lunt School on Wednesday, July 15th. A team of five child passenger safety technicians checked 11 car seats between 10:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. Four of the 11 car seats were correct. The most common errors were the car seat was not installed tight enough in the vehicle and the car seat harness was not tight enough on the child. The monthly Car Seat Inspection Station at Central Station will be on Thursday, August 6, 2:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. If any of our members or members of the public are interested in becoming a car seat technician please contact Suzanne Cook at scook@town.falmouth.me.us.
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