The 461st meeting of the Massachusetts Institute of Fire Department Instructors was hosted by the Newton Fire Department and held at Yerardi's Restaurant, 418 Watertown St., Newton. The program was provided by representatives of Duke Energy which operates the Algonquin Gas Transmission pipelines. This was a very informative overview of the company operations, facilities, and handling of emergencies involving their equipment. The session included a demonstration from their "Gas Box" which dramatically showed the flammability differences between natural gas and propane. Those that attended this excellent presentation all concurred that this drill was both interesting and educational. Following the training portion of the meeting, members indulged in a delicious Italian Buffet luncheon at our "Holiday Gathering". As smoke rose in the distance from a multiple alarm fire at the Newton/Watertown line, nobody left the meal!
BUSINESS MEETING:
President Norman Aubert presided over his last meeting as our President.
The Treasurer’s report was omitted due to Dave being
ill. Member Steve Persson provided a report on the Massachusetts Fire Training
Council. Secretary Edward Morgan then presented a plaque of appreciation
to outgoing President Aubert with thanks on behalf of the organization
for his service as our President during the past two years. A special
note of thanks to Peter Kerrigan and Don Thompson of Duke Energy for their
informative presentation, and to Lynn Sweeney of Duke Energy for coordinating
the meeting. Thanks are also extended to Yerardi's Restaurant of Newton
for providing us their function room for our meeting as well as a superb
lunch.
Natural Gas is generally transported by two types of handling systems:
Low-pressure distribution pipelines, which carry odorized gas to individual
consumers, and high-pressure transmission pipelines, like Algonquin’s which
carry odorized gas cross country to distribution companies. Natural
gas is proclaimed to be the safest and cleanest burning of all fuels. However,
if natural gas pipelines are damaged and the escaping gas is improperly
handled, fires, explosions or asphyxiation can result.
If you smell gas, or see or hear any unusual occurrences such as a
high pitched whistle, blowing dust, dead vegetation, continuous bubbles
in wet or flooded areas, a gaseous, hydrocarbon or "rotten egg" odor, or
fire coming from the ground or burning above the ground, suspect a gas
leak and DO the following;
The Treasurer’s Report:
Checking Balance 12/18/2002 = $1343.08
Checking Balance 12/31/2002 = $1350.08
BILLS PAID
December Newsletter
$105.00 Mike 12/19
November Web Page Owed $
2.00 Mike 12/19
January Newsletter
$105.00 Mike 01/01
December Meals (2)
$ 30.00 Mark 01/01
Plaque / President
$ 59.00 Mike 01/01
TOTAL
$301.00
As of November, 2002, cost of web page is $7.95 per month. It was $5.95. $2.00 owed to Mike / Paid with December.
MIFDI Stickers Cost $750.00
MIFDI Clothing collected $350.00
Collected
$ 39.00
Purchased $286.00
- $711.00
$ 64.00
Owed to Treasurer for mailing $ 17.00
Current Profit $ 47.00
Treasury Balance as of 01/01/2003 = $1231.08
Respectfully submitted 01/01/2003
David M. Jardin
MIFDI Treasurer
Deputy Fire Chief – Stoughton
Thank you to the membership for your support.
OLD BUSINESS:
NEW BUSINESS:
COMMITTEES:
The Historical Committee - consists of Steve Perrson, Ira Hoffman,
and Richard Gomes. Nothing to report.
The Bi-Law Committee - consists of Norm Aubert, C. Randall Sherman, Mort Shurtluff, Chris Kelly, Brian Ash, and John Cummings. Nothing to Report.
Public Relations Committee - consists of Mr. Ira Hoffman and Michael McLeieer. Nothing to report.
MFTC UPDATE: Steve Persson
MFA UPDATE: Norm Aubert, Jr.
JANUARY MEETING:
The first meeting of M.I.F.D.I. for 2003 (#462) will be hosted by the
Sherborn Fire & Rescue Department courtesy of newly appointed Chief
Neil McPherson. We will meet in the training room on the second floor of
the recently renovated fire station located at 22 North Main St. (Rt. 16/27).
The meeting will be the fourth Wednesday, January 22, 2003.
The training program will be provided by Dan Meloche of Better Products
Co. Dan will give a presentation on Ice & Water Rescue.
It has been two years since we heard Dan speak on this topic and it is
that time of the year that we could use the refresher.
After we booked Dan for this meeting, a tragic incident occurred in
Lawrence in which four young children drowned after falling through the
ice. Every community has some body of water so we should all benefit from
this drill.
DIRECTIONS:
Sherborn is only 18 miles S/W from Boston.
From Rt.128 (I-95): Take Exit 21, follow Rt.16 West. At the 3 mile mark in Wellesley, stay in the left lane and continue on Rt.16 for another 5 miles. Turn left where Rt.27 joins Rt. 16 and the fire station will be on the left.
From the Mass Pike (I-90): Take Exit 13 to Rt.30 East. Turn right at first traffic light onto Speen Street. Follow Speen St. aprox 3 miles to Coolidge Street. Turn left on Coolidge St. to end. Thats Rt.27. Turn right on Rt.27, follow aprox 1/2 mile and the fire station will be on left.
From Rt.9: Follow Rt. 27 South the entire way, for aprox 4.4 miles. Fire station will be on left.
From I-495: Take Exit 19 to Rt.109 West. Travel a short distance
to Rt.16 East. Stay on Rt.16 the entire distance for aprox 10 miles to
the Sherborn F.D. on the right.
We have a lot of members with specialties that can and should be utilized. We will also be looking for members to fill the upcoming vacancies on the Board of Directors during the January meeting at Sherborn Fire & Rescue Department.
I would like to take this opportunity to personally say thank you to Past President Norm Aubert for his leadership & continued dedication to MIFDI during the past two years.
Both Scott & I will be unable to attend the January meeting as we will be away attending an Arson / Juvenile Firesetter conference. However, I know that Mark, Dave & Ed will continue this very informational & timely meeting on Ice & Water Rescue.
The MIFDI website, http://www.mifdi.org, continues to increase in the number of visitors who view it each month. It remains the best source for networking and exchanging training ideas with all of our members and beyond.
This is your organization. Please let the Officers or Board of Directors know if there is anything we can do for you.
Stay safe.
Michael McLeieer
February 8, 2003, Lt. Paul Bernard
Scholarship Fund Conference at Bristol Community College, 777 Elsbree St.,
Fall River. Guest speaker FDNY B.C. John Salka.
Topics include; World Trade Center Program, & "Get Out Alive".
For more info contact; www.bernardscholarship.org
February 13-15, 2003, SPAAMFAA 2003
Winter Conference, Richmond, VA.
For more info contact; www.odhfs.org
February 18-20, 2003, Firehouse
World Exposition & Conference, San Diego, CA.
For more Info contact; www.firehouseworld.com
On December 1, 1958, the ‘Our Lady of the Angels School’ fire occurred in Chicago. I had only been a firefighter for 9 days. I was on housewatch at Malden’s Engine Company 4 firehouse, when the news flashed on TV. (the only TV set in the house was in the watchroom) I rapped the pole with my keys and called up to the Lieutenant and two other firefighters. Everyone came down to the patrol room to watch the live TV coverage… 92 dead little children sitting at their desks and 3 nuns… all Our Lady’s Angels now.
That cold day, now over 44 years ago, has never left my memory. How could this happen in the second largest city in the United States? Then I realized that our 25 schools in Malden, both Public and Parochial, were no different than those in Chicago.
In the weeks that followed, all schools were inspected and re-inspected. This was followed by upgraded fire alarm systems being installed and all school boxes, (900 series), were master connected into the city fire alarm system.
During my 36 year career with the MFD, I have inspected every school in the city, both as a firefighter, and later as a company officer, many times. I never went easy on any code or safety violation in a school. In fact, I was rigid in my enforcement. No slack here! Ninety-two little angels went with me on every school inspection.
Malden had its share of school fires, some large, some small, some accidental, some deliberately set. To my memory, we have never lost a life in a school fire.
I can’t praise the school “fire-drills” enough. Many children have exited a school for what they thought was just another routine fire-drill, only to later learn that the school was really on fire. A high degree of cooperation exists between the School Administration and the Fire Department.
By Mass State law, all school buildings MUST be inspected at least four times a year. Custodians are trained in the use of portable fire extinguishers and alarm systems. Principals attend safety meetings with teachers and so forth. Much fire safety regulation and enforcement resulted from the Chicago School fire on that cold December day.
We hope and pray that it will never happen again!
Captain Greg Habgood - Merrimac Fire Department
MIFDI
Attn: David Jardin,
Treasurer
It's time to renew your dues.
52 Willow Street
Stoughton, MA
02072-1027
*Dues are $25.00 per year for Active Members -
*$100.00 per year for Associate members (which includes a 1/4 page of advertising in the MIFDI Bulletin and on the MIFDI website).
*Retired members
dues are $12.50 for one calendar year (January 1 through December 31).
This forum is an extension of the Guest
Book on the MIFDI Web-site, and provides our members a way to ask
questions and get answers about problems encountered in the Fire and EMS
service. If you would like to reply to a question or pose your own question
but have no internet capabilities, you may do so in writing to: Michael
McLeieer, President - MIFDI, PO Box 507, Merrimac, MA 01860-0510.
Fax # (978) 346-8430. Faxing or e-mailing of articles is preferred.
JANUARY: Sherborn Fire Department
FEBRUARY: Billerica Fire Department
March: Massachusetts Firefighting Academy / Dept. of Fire Services - Stow, MA