The 463rd meeting of the Massachusetts Institute of Fire Department Instructors was hosted by the Merrimac Fire Department and featured guest speakers from various turn-out gear manufacturers. A big "thank you" goes out to both Chief Ralph Spencer for hosting the meeting and Patrick O’Connor from Northeast Rescue Systems for having the speakers present the latest in innovations in turnout gear outer shells and thermal liners.
BUSINESS MEETING:
President Michael McLeieer opened the business meeting. The following
is a brief overview of the business meeting:
The Secretary’s report: No report as of press
time.
The Treasurer’s Report:
Checking Balance 1/1/2003 = $1,221.08
Checking Balance 2/26/2003 = $2,738.10
Checking Balance 3/1/2003 = $1,998.60
BILLS PAID
March Newsletter
$105.00 Mike 3/1/03
FDIC
$800.00 Mike 3/1/03
TOTAL
$905.00
MIFDI Stickers Cost $750.00
MIFDI Clothing collected $364.00
Collected
$ 45.00
Purchased $322.00
- $705.00
$ 42.00
Owed to Treasurer for mailing $ 22.00
Current Profit $ 20.00
Total Members
= 139
Income Membership
Dues Paid thru 2004 = 03
December $387.50
Dues Paid thru 2003 = 80
January $1100.00
February $ 650.00
Total $2,137.50
Dues Paid thru 2001 = 22 Active 20 X $25.00
= $500.00
Retired 2 X 12.50 = $ 25.00
Total in arrears = $525.00
This total in arrears would bring all members current to 12/31/2002
The total is actual, not estimated.
Treasury Balance as of 03/01/2003 = $1,998.60
Respectfully submitted 03/01/2003
David M. Jardin
MIFDI Treasurer
Deputy Fire Chief—Stoughton
Thank you to the membership for your support.
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.
SCHEDULE:
0900 Coffee and pastry - 0945 Board of directors
1000 Presentation / Business Meeting - 1200 Lunch (available
on-site)
DIRECTIONS:
From Route 128: Take Route 20 west to the intersection
of Route 27 in Wayland. Turn right onto Route 27 and continue until Route
27 makes a right towards Maynard. DO NOT TURN RIGHT! Continue straight
for approximately three (3) miles and the Academy will be on your right.
From Route 495 North: Take Route 85 (exit 25) toward Hudson. At the 1st second traffic light, take a left onto Route 85. Take a right onto Broad Street (first set of lights right next to Tuck's GMC Trucks), at the second set of traffic lights, take a right onto Route 62. Continue straight until Route 62 takes a left towards Stow. DO NOT TURN LEFT! Continue straight for approximately four (4) miles and the Academy will be on your left. There are green signs with gold symbols to help point the way.
From Route 495 South: Take Route 62 (exit 26) into
Hudson Center. Continue halfway around the rotary and continue on Route
62 East. Continue straight until Route 62 turns left towards Stow. DO
NOT TURN LEFT! Continue straight for approximately four (4) miles and
the Academy will be on your left. There are green signs with gold symbols
to help point the way.
It appears due to the lack of documentation during recent inspections at the nightclub both the town and Fire Inspector have been named in lawsuits recently filed in court.
We need to remember that it is vital that we document every training session we conduct and retain those records after the class has concluded in case it is needed for future reference. I am amazed at the number of people involved in training who do not carry personal liability insurance. They expect their employer will cover them in the event something “goes wrong” while on the job, but this is not always the case.
Many personal liability insurance policies cover litigation and the costs associated with being named in a lawsuit, especially if you are named individually in addition to your capacity as a town or city employee.
I’m sure you have heard the saying, “if it wasn’t written down, it didn’t occur”. Documentation & paperwork is necessary to prevent future liability and exposure.
I was glad to see the turnout last month at Merrimac and look forward in seeing many of you at the next meeting hosted on Wednesday, March 26th at the Massachusetts Firefighting Academy. Everett Pierce has arranged for us to see the new mobile rehabilitation unit and will have a presentation on Fire Ground Rehab.
The MIFDI website www.mifdi.org continues to increase the number of visitors who view it each month. By the time of this publication it should reach the 5,000 mark and remains the best source for networking and exchanging training ideas with all of our members and other interested parties.
Remember, 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
Lewis was appointed to the Brookline Fire Department on October 18, 1965, promoted to lieutenant on February 14, 1983, and retired July 22, 1997 after 32 years of service.
The officers and members of MIFDI offer our sincere condolences to his
wife Ellen and his two sons, Newton Firefighter James Herbert, and Stephen
Herbert. May he rest in peace.
March 30, 2003, Connecticut Fire Photographers Asso. Flea Market & Photo Show 10am - 2pm, Somers Fire Dept., Rt.190, Somers Conn.
March 31 - April 5, 2003, F.D.I.C.
(Fire Department Instructors Conference),
Indianapolis, Indiana. For info contact; www.fireengineering.com
May 2, 2003, Massachusetts Firefighting Academy Recruit Class #157 Gradaution Ceremony will be held at the M.F.A. Fire Station at 1:30pm.
May 18-21, 2003, FDNY 9-11 Memorial
Golf Outing, Myrtle Beach, SC.
For info contact www.fdnygolf.com
June 11-14, 2003, IAFF Emergency
Medical Services Conference
Hollywood, Florida. For info contact www.IAFF.org
June 14, 2003, MAFFA 26th Annual
Fire Parade, Show, & Flea Market
Edgewater Office Park, Wakefield, Mass.
June 20-21-22, 2003, New England
Fire/Rescue/EMS 2003
Eastern States Exposition, West Springfield, Mass.
For info contact www.newenglandfirechiefs.org
October 5-9, 2003, IAFF Redmond
Symposium, fire service health & safety event.
San Francisco, California. For info contact www.IAFF.org
For all of you Training Officers that also have the responsibility of Safety Officer and/or oversee your departments "fireground rehab", the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Department of Fire Services recently announced the availability of an Incident Rehab Unit that went in service on February 1, 2003.
The "new" unit is a former M.B.T.A. transit bus that was converted to serve in this type of operation. The vehicle is equipped with both heating and air conditioning to accommodate the extreme New England environments.
The Rehab Unit's mission when deployed, is to support the I.C. and the local command structure with resources to provide proper rehab at any fire service incident, anywhere in the Commonwealth. The unit is not to be considered as a canteen service, the unit does however carry liquids necessary to help hydrate firefighters. It is important to note that the local EMS provider is a key component to proper fireground rehab with both EMS staff and transport unit to work with the DFS staff from the Rehab Unit to monitor and provide the necessary medical support.
The following is a partial list of equipment carried on the unit:
The DFS Rehab Unit is available 24/7 and requested through the Communications
Department of the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency (MEMA) at
508-820-2000. The following information
should be provided: Department name, Contact name, Contact phone, Location
of incident, Specific details or directions. When a need for the Rehab
Unit is determined, travel time from the DFS in Stow should be considered.
Special thanks to State Fire Marshal Stephen D. Coan and the Department
of Fire Services through the cooperation of the Fire Chief's Association
of Massachusetts for providing this important service to the communities
of the Commonwealth.
Deputy Chief Michael Grigorakos - Waltham Fire Department
Captain Robert Mills - Woburn 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, pose your own question
or submit an article for publication in the MIFDI bulletin, but have no
internet capabilities, you may do so in writing to: Michael McLeieer,
President - MIFDI, PO Box 507, Merrimac, MA 01860-0510.
Fax # (877) 327-4353. Faxing or e-mailing of articles is preferred.
Please e-mail articles in MS Word format to michael.mcLeieer@merrimacfire.com
MARCH: Department of Fire Services / Massachusetts Firefighting Academy - Stow, MA
APRIL: Greenwood Fire Apparatus - North Attleborough, MA
MAY: Billerica Fire Department Central Station - Billerica, MA
JUNE: Barnstable County Fire Academy - Annual Clam Boil
JULY/AUGUST: Enjoy the Summer!!
SEPTEMBER: Department of Fire Services / Massachusetts Firefighting Academy - Stow, MA