MAY: Stoughton Fire
JUNE: Barnstable
SEPT: TBA
The 455th meeting of the Massachusetts Institute of Fire Department
Instructors was hosted by the Cambridge Fire Department and held at the
Cambridge VFW on Wednesday, April 24, 2002. Captain Steve Boyle from
the Cambridge Fire Department presented the MFA RAPID INTERVENTION CREW
Impact Series. The following is an overview of the presentation:
BUSINESS MEETING:
The Secretary’s report: There was nothing new to report at this time.
The Treasurer’s report:
Current membership = 123
E-Mail - 30
Regular Mail - 93
Membership Dues Paid Thru
2003 = 3 (all retired members)
2002 = 65 (current)
2001 = 55 ( past due)
Note: check mailing label for dues paid thru
date
Balance as of 4/26/2002 = $1787.21
April newsletters 100 mailed = $255.40 paid
April Deposit $162.50 (100.00 Ad member) Thank You
Respectfully Submitted By
David M. Jardin, MIFDI Treasurer
OLD BUSINESS:
ANY MEMBER WHO IS INTERESTED
IN THE VACANT POSITION OF 2nd VICE PRESIDENT,
Should send their letter of
interest & background to MIFDI President Norman
J. Aubert, Jr.
(e-mail: a220892@aol.com) or
US
Mail: 14 Hidden Way, Chelmsford, MA 01824.
NEW BUSINESS:
· Norm polled members present about crediting the Associate
Member dues from January until their ads appear on the new website (which
has been done as of April 30th). Motion was made & seconded.
All members voted YES. Motion carried.
· There was discussion on having a "Casket Detail" or "Calling Detail" either stand at the casket or at the door for past or present MIFDI members who pass on. It was decided to table the issue and vote on the matter at the June meeting.
· The Annual Clam Bake date was discussed for June. Michael will contact Randy Sherman to confirm a date & the price per person and report back to the membership at the May meeting.
· Norm reported there were $320,000 in cuts to the HAZMAT Budget.
COMMITTEES:
The Historical Committee - consists of Steve Perrson, Ira Hoffman,
and Richard Gomes. No Report
The Bi-Law Committee - consists of Norm Aubert, C. Randall Sherman, Mort Shurtluff, Chris Kelly, Brian Ash, and John Cummings. No Report.
Public Relations Committee - consists of Mr. Ira Hoffman and Michael McLeieer. Michael reported the new website is seeing a lot of activity. Also he requested those members who wish to receive the MIFDI Bulletin or any other announcements from MIFDI via e-mail, to please make sure you keep him informed of e-mail address changes. There have been several e-mail "bounce backs" and it is becoming time consuming to track everyone down if they don't report an e-mail address change. If the e-mail "bounces back" twice, the member / party receiving e-mail will be dropped from the e-mail listing service. Also, if you have your filters set or are blocking outside e-mail, the MIFDI Bulletin won't be delivered. Michael's e-mail address used to send the Bulletin or to report changes to is michael.mcLeieer@merrimacfire.com.
MFA UPDATE: No Report
DFS UPDATE: Norm reported the DFS expansion is looking likely it will fail due to budget cutbacks and post 9/11 financial status.
NEW MEMBERS: Welcome Lieutenant Scott D. Maker with the Merrimac Fire Department.
Minutes respectfully submitted by,
Ed Morgan, MIFDI Secretary
INSTRUCTOR'S CORNER:
by Lt. Brian Ashe, Lowell Fire Department
“TEACHING POLICE OFFICERS ABOUT US”
When firefighters arrive on the scene of a building fire, to the inexperienced eye we resemble an unorganized bunch of guys running around in these weird outfits. We know however, that each of us has a job to do and we just go and do it. There is always the strategy of suppression, but the tactics can seem confusing to someone who is not familiar with our function.
Early on in my career, it became painfully obvious that police officers in my city were completely unaware of how we did our jobs or, more importantly, why we needed to have things done a certain way. I am referring of course to the practice of parking the cruisers directly in front of the house!!!
How many of you have experienced the same thing? Quite a few, I’m sure. Well, I am proud to announce that due to an educational incentive through the Fire and Police Chiefs in Lowell, this particularly annoying problem has been resolved.
My class starts with a video,”Countdown to Disaster” put out by the NFPA. It shows what happens in a controlled burn situation, and explains the nature of fire development very well. The ceiling temperatures that are stated in the video have a very dramatic impact on these officers. They suddenly realize that their uniforms, which are usually made of polyester and cotton, cannot stand up to the temperatures generated by an unrestricted, free burning flaming fire. This information keeps them from rushing headlong into a building and becoming victims themselves.
The next bit of information that I present to them is our standard interior attack procedure. We teach our Engine Company drivers to pull beyond the fire building, leaving room for the incoming Ladder Company. I then explain why we need this procedure to occur. Because of the Ladders access to the front of the building we can ventilate, if necessary, or conduct rescue operations on upper floors. That being said, I then explain that, if their cruiser is in front of the building when we arrive, that cruiser is going to be there for the remainder of the operation due to the fact that we are unable to move the apparatus while it is in a pumping mode. It is very likely that the police officer will get a “recommendation” from his superior officer NOT to do that again because he has just taken himself off the street and cannot perform the duties that he is being paid to do. He is forced to watch us overhaul, pick-up and dismantle the fire scene. Most police officers don’t particularly care for that.
I also touch briefly on the Incident Command System in my class. I found that the officers in our area were not familiar with the system, however your area may be different. It is merely a familiarization with the system and it’s structure and terminology, and I don’t spend a lot of time on it.
One of the things I do emphasize is Haz-Mat Procedures.
The story I relate is a hypothetical one, but it achieves it’s purpose. I tell a story about a man who owns a successful trucking company, has a wife and children, nice home, and a pretty good life except for the fact that he has a gambling problem.( You can insert anything from drugs to mistresses)
He is about to lose the business when someone offers him a large sum of money to transport illegal and or hazardous materials to a certain location. The question you pose to the class is, “ Do you think the owner will accept the money and transport the materials?” and “How do you know that the placard is correct?” I then go into the dangers of Haz-Mat and make recommendations as to how they should respond.
I know this is all pretty basic stuff for most of us, but keep in mind that the Police Academies do not offer this information to their recruits. It is up to us to help educate them and to keep them from becoming victims themselves.
Note: If anyone would like a copy of the outline for this
Class please contact me.
MAY MIFDI MEETING:
Tuesday, May 28th, 2002 (Please note the NEW
DAY for this meeting only) and hosted by the Stoughton Fire
Department. The meeting will be held at the new Stoughton Fire Training
Center, Fire Headquarters, 1550 Central Street, Stoughton, MA.
The program will be presented by Captain Don Jasmin from the Stoughton
Fire Department. Title of the presentation: ROSE STREET INCIDENT - Lessons
Learned - A case study (FF Melendy LOD).
FROM THE DESK OF THE PRESIDENT:
Each year more than 100 firefighters die in the line of duty and another
100,000 are injured. This alarming fact translates into one firefighter
death every three days and 8000 firefighter injuries every month.
If a firefighter dies while combating a blaze, the death will be caused
by extreme physical and emotional stress of performing firefighter tactics
on the incident scene. The NFPA statistics state that more firefighters
are killed in the line of duty die performing routine firefighting tactics,
not daring rescues; but routine tasks. If a firefighter is not killed
but instead seriously injured, the injury could leave the “JAKE” off the
job due to not being able to perform firefighter duties. L.O.D. death
statistics have shown that there was more than one event that took place
that resulted in taking the firefighter’s life. Because of these staggering
numbers, the fire service has realized that protection of life is the highest
priority of firefighting, and this MUST include the lives of the firefighters
as well as those we protect and serve every day.
We as training officers, and first line supervisors, must instill the importance to all members to think and act in a safety minded way. We must strive in delivering and challenge our members through company level drills that get away from simulate and terminate. We need not to say; you will do it and like it, but rather sell the idea or method for firefighter survival. The basics can not be overlooked, also, we must insure that the basic firefighting fundamentals are being met by our membership. We must encourage members to attend the Mass Firefighting academy or National Fire Academy so that firefighters can maintain and enrich their skills. We must listen to those who have information to share so that others may live. Let’s not let any firefighter’s death go in vein, we must learn from lessons learned. Please try to make a commitment to attend the May meeting in Stoughton. The presenter, Captain Don Jasmine, is a fellow Academy instructor, and I have much respect for, and you will too after the presentation. I’ve been told that we can get a tour of their new station and training center after the meeting.
MAKE PHONE CALLS IN SUPPORT OF THE DFS/MFA EXPANSION AND EQUIPMENT PROJECT UPGRADE. AGAIN, THE BILL NUMBER IS #4603, AND THE LINE ITEM NUMBER IS 8000-9012. DON’T LET THIS CAPITOL BUDGET FAIL.
SIDE NOTES:
Make sure to visit, and tell a friend, about the MIFDI dominion website at MIFDI.ORG, or log on to the DFS/MFA or FSP link. As usual, if there is anything that the officers and board of directors can do to make “OUR” organization better, please let us know!!! Please be safe and may Saint Florian always be there to guide you safely. See you in Stoughton on the 28th.
Norm…
CLIMB HIGHER.
“Keep on climbing”, says the Captain,
“Up through the smoke and smell”;
“Keep on climbing”, says the Captain,
“I think I heard someone yell!’
“Keep on climbing”, says the Captain
“Alive or dead
Nor ours to tell.”
“Keep on climbing”, calls the Captain
“Forget about your pain!”
“Keep on climbing”, shouts the Captain,
“We have a few more floors to gain”;
“Keep on climbing”, yells the Captain
“We will
Bring them down again!”
“Keep on climbing”, cries the Captain
“If I can so can you”
“Keep on climbing”, orders the Captain
“Right now’
I need your best from you!”
“Keep on climbing”, screams the Captain
“Forget about those sounds!”
“It’s just some girders twisting
And some concrete falling down”;
“Keep on climbing”, whispers the Captain
“Climb right up to the light!’
“Right up to the sunshine,
“No smoke to smell,
“No fire to fight!”
“Keep on climbing”, sings the Captain
“That Angel’s hand will lead the way!’
“Rest boys”, sighs the Captain
“You did your job today!”
“Keep on climbing”, prays the Captain
“Eyes raised, headed for the top.”
“And when you’re tired
And feel like quitting,
Remember them,
They didn’t stop!’
Fire Chief Jim McGregor (Department Unknown) September 2001
DRILL SCHEDULE
MAY:
Stoughton Fire
JUNE:
Barnstable
SEPT:
TBA