The 458th meeting of the Massachusetts Institute of Fire Department Instructors was called to order and was hosted by the  Mass Fire Academy, Department of Fire Services on September 18th, 2002, with 21 members present.
 

Peter Lamb was the guest speaker and spoke about the NIOSH  reports on 1/11/2001 in Pennsylvania. . There was 5 areas that were addressed;
1- Accountability.  2- Communication.  3- Lack of communication.  4- Lack of  S.O.P'S.  5- SCBA issues. These are common findings on many of the reports. As you know, we did an exercise on accountability as well. He also mentioned that Norfolk County was conducting a “test course” on accountability and it was presented that ICS and Accountability go together.

The Secretary’s report:  Nothing to report.

The Treasurer’s report

Checking Balance: As of 09-18-2002, $1,148.98
 
Meeting 50/50 Raffle:               $90.00
Winner, Bruce Ricard               $40.00
Dinner for Speaker:                   $10.00
Speaker Returned:                     $10.00  
Deposit from 50/50 Raffle         $50.00
September Newsletter Paid:    $137.04
Plaque Paid:                              $40.00

MIFDI Stickers Cost:              $750.00
Collected:                                $  39.00

MIFDI Clothing Collected:       $350.00
MIFDI Clothing Purchased:      $286.00
Owed to Treasurer for Mailing: $  14.00
Current Profit:                          $  50.00

MEMBERSHIP:
Total Members:           133
Dues Paid Thru 2003;  10
Dues Paid Thru 2002:  78
Dues Paid Thru 2001:  45
                                  Active 44 X $25.00 = $1,100.00
                                   Retired 4 X $12.50 = $    50.00
                                        Total in Arrears = $ 1,150.00
This total in arrears would bring all members current to 12-31-2002.
The new total is actual and not estimated.
 
Respectfully Submitted
David M. Jardin

OLD BUSINESS:

• The casket detail was discussed, voted on and passed.

• The photo section of the website was discussed as were the problems encountered with e-mail.

NEW BUSINESS:
 

• None

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 - Nothing to report.

MFA UPDATE:  Norm Aubert, Jr.

OCTOBER MEETING:
The 459th October meeting of M.I.F.D.I., will be held appropriately enough in Salem Massachusetts, dubbed the "Halloween Capital of America". The meeting will take place on Wednesday October 23rd at the PG&E National Energy Salem Harbor Station, 24 Fort Ave. This meeting is expected to be a fascinating and informative presentation and tour of this massive facility. Due to a recent increase in security, it is imperative that we give a head count of members names prior to our meeting date. Those wishing to attend must notify; Michael McLeieer Ph. 978-346-4731 or e-mail michael.mcleieer@merrimacfire.com or Scott Maker Ph. 978-346-4731 or e-mail scott.maker@merrimacfire.com.  Notification MUST be made by Monday, October 21.

After the recent 9-alarm fire at the power plant in South Boston, there is a new heightened awareness of fires in these types of facilities and the hazards of fire        protection and specialized rescue incidents encountered in these occupancies. You will not want to miss this rare opportunity to tour an operating facility such as this.

Lunch will be "on your own" and recommended that we gather after the meeting at Brothers Deli & Restaurant, 283 Derby St., Downtown Salem a short distance away.

A special note of thanks to Malia Griffin, PG&E Community Relations Representative, and also to Chief Robert Turner and the members of the Salem Fire Department, in particular, Deputy Chief Thomas Brophy for his help with arranging this tour.

DIRECTIONS:
Take Rt.128 North to Rt. 114 East (Exit 25A). Follow Rt.114 aprox 2 miles to Rt.107 towards Beverly. At the 3rd. traffic light, aprox 1/2 mile, turn right on Webb St. Follow Webb St. beyond the 2nd. traffic light and bear left onto Fort Ave. Follow Fort Ave. a short distance to the Salem Fire Prevention Station at 29 Fort Ave. We will assemble for coffee at the fire station between 9 and 10am and walk as a group across the street for our tour at 10am.

Again I was impressed with Mr. Peter Lamb’s presentation on fireground   accountability, it was an eye opener.  It made me think if I was truly accountable for accountability.  This was a scary question. We need to continue to look outside the box for our own good and for our members that we train and nurture and for the communities that we protect.  Lets break down the barriers between agencies, and lets learn to train, work, and live as an integrated response community.

Even though I will be stepping down as your president in January, I want  everyone to know that I will continue to work with the State House along with the State Fire Marshal, the DFS/MFA and anyone else that will listen to me so that MIFDI and the fire service will continue to benefit.  I have watched this organization take on a new life through changes that have been made in the last two years; I know that with the leadership of this organization MIFDI will continue to move forward.  I hope that my vision of hands on training at the DFS/MFA will be a reality for us in the next few months. I’ll continue my thoughts in the December Bulletin.

HOT TOPICS FOR DISCUSSION IN NOVEMBER:
(I will not be attending the October meeting)  “PLENTY OF TIME TO THINK ABOUT IT”

1. Jon Jones update for suggested Statewide Mandatory Training.
2. What to do with members that are past due in their membership dues.
3. DFS/MFA update.
4. MFTC update.
5. Committee updates and suggestions.
6. Location of December Holiday meeting and luncheon.
7. Think about NOMINATIONS for the January 2003 elections.
8. Volunteers to write articles for the bulletin.
9. Future meetings.

TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES:  If you know of any note worthy training courses, please let us know and we will post them on the web and the MIFDI BULLETIN.

8-10 October 2002; Seminar on Terrorism and Explosives, SEMTEX
                                 Hosted by Massport.  At the Logan Hilton
                                 Seminar Registration: (617) 561-1609
1-3 November 2002; Worcester Firefighters Memorial
                                  Safety and Survival Seminar
                                  Phone:  (508) 831-0519
                                 Worcester Firefighters Local 1009
 
REMEMBER TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF YOUR  MASSACHUSETTS FIREFIGHTING ACADEMY AND NATIONAL FIRE ACADEMY FOR PERSONAL ENRICHMENT.

HONORABLE MENTION: To ALL the Hazmat Responders in Massachusetts for the great job you do!

ON CAPITAL HILL:
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:
** Stay ACTIVE; stay INVOLVED with YOUR organization.
** Bring a friend to this October and November meeting.

REMEMBER FALL AND WINTER FIRE GROUND REHAB FOR YOUR MEMBERS.

WHERE ARE THEY NOW?   If you have any old pictures of MIFDI members from years past and wish to share them, we will post them on the website for nostalgia sake.

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.

Norm…

As you may notice as you read through this edition of the bulletin,  there is a pronounced lack of content. As I said in the last edition this is YOUR bulletin, but it isn’t worth the paper it’s printed on if no one offers articles, announcements or, most importantly, criticism! I’ve heard a couple of comments that people liked the new look of the bulletin, and I really appreciate this, but I can’t believe that after such a radical change from the “old look” and format that no one has suggestions that would make it better! What would you like to see in the way of new information? What changes might make it easier to use? Is the size of the print too small or too hard to read?
 
Personally, I would like to know what our members are doing within their departments in terms of unique approaches to training, and share this information in the bulletin so that everyone could benefit from it. Also, if any member has attended a training program they feel was beneficial, let us know. If you’ve read an article and think it might be of interest to someone else, let us know. A lot of what MIFDI is all about is “networking”, and that means sharing information that everyone can use and I think this bulletin is a perfect way of doing that.

So share your ideas and experiences! Together, we can make this the best little newsletter in the fire service community. We have the ability to insert pictures as well as add a few pages if we need to without adding to the postage cost.

I would like to thank everyone that has sent submissions to us so far. This months Instructors Corner article on Code C responses, (page 6),  is very interesting and well written, and was sent to us by Mark Roche.

As always, you can contact us via e-mail at: scott.maker@merrimacfire.com or michael.mcleieer@merrimacfire.com or you can reach either of us by phone at:
(978) 346-4731.

Thanks, and stay safe!

Scott.

"CODE C"
The term "Code C" (Response Caution Signal) became popular during the late 1980's as a way to reduce the risk of accidents for fire apparatus responding to alarms. When the first arriving unit reports "nothing showing", the Fire Alarm Office announces "this is a Code C response" indicating that based upon the information received, a response at reduced speed is in effect for units responding but not yet on scene. Such units shall discontinue use of audible warning devices, reduce speed, and continue to the location keeping alert for further radio reports which could upgrade the response. OK, that sounds easy enough, what other rules to this apply?

During the investigation process, an incident may be upgraded at any time and Fire Alarm shall make an announcement "the Code C is terminated". And one more rule, The Code C shall not be used for high-rise buildings, hospitals, windowless buildings, buildings with underground parking or other specialized structures determined to be hazardous and indicated on the Computerized Aided Dispatch (C.A.D.).

Many communities now follow this procedure but many more do not. And I am not one to question whether its a good idea or it isn't, but we have all at one time on another had a few white knuckle rides and said to yourself afterward, "wow that was close".

It is obvious that the smoke detector, the greatest device ever designed for life safety, has a flaw, it is activated easily by careless workmen, the cleaning lady vacuuming, the person in the shower too long, the inexperienced cook, or the spider building a nest. And every time the alarm activates, we risk not only firefighters but the public in the street as well.

We all should take a serious look at this and try to reduce the risk as much as possible for our members. The important thing is NOT to question the judgment of the first   officer on scene and allow ONLY him/her the decision to call the Code C and not the Dispatch or the Chief Officer still enroute.

As Rick Gomes stated in his eye-opening article on vehicular accidents in the September issue of the M.I.F.D.I. Bulletin, "The leading cause of preventable fire death is from these types of incidents".  This sad reality should be a wake up call for us and that we must protect our members from all unnecessary risks. Stay safe!
 
Captain Mark Roche

Firefighter Paul Barry, Training Coordinator, Walpole Fire Department.

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, 1st V.P.- MIFDI, PO Box 507, Merrimac, MA 01860-0510.  Fax # (978) 346-8430.

Comments: RE: Removal of large patients from buildings. I assume you are referring to medical emergencies. In outlying districts we send an engine with our ALS ambulance to assist. If we know in advance we have a large patient, or if it is a commercial/industrial building, we send an engine automatically. If the 4 or 5 on scene cannot handle the lift, they will call back for another piece. As for equipment, we have used everything available from stretchers to folding cots to multiple long boards to blanket drags. I hope this is what you were getting at. Good luck.

Fire Department: Norton

Rank: Deputy Chief

NOVEMBER:    TBA

DECEMBER:    TBA