Friday, November 6, 2015

Weekly Update for Friday, November 6, 2015

Open Shifts: November: Tue 17th 0700-1900. Mon 23rd 0700-1900. December
 December: 1, 2, 3, 7, 9, 31, all 0700-1900. FF/EVO1.

Christmas Holiday Coverage:
24th; 0700-1900 FF/EVO1. 1900-0700 EMT/FF/EVO2.
25th; 0700-1900; 2 vacancies. 1 must be an EMT.  There is no one on-duty on Christmas day.
(Holiday incentive pay applies after 1900 on 12/24.)
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Mike Lord:  After 37 years of service, Mike has resigned. Mike started as a junior in 1978. He came up through the ranks to Deputy Chief. If something was broke, we called on Mike. It has been Mike's hard work and know how that kept our trucks and equipment running for many many years. When we were dealing with a problem, there was always comfort in the works "I've called Mike" or "Mike's here". On the big fires when Mike was in charge of water supply, it was a given we'd have reliable water.  Mike has assured me he's going to stay involved in the  GMFRA and he'll still be available for "technical support".
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Ladder 82: It's in service. Brakes are done and it has a new inspection sticker. The pump is still OOS.  I've asked LT Johnston and Engr Robert to come up with a plan for addressing the several items on the "hit list".
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Last Sunday's Training:  Great job everyone at last Sunday's training. Especially to Captain Hooper for getting it all organized and keeping things moving smoothly. There were 21 of us there. That's better than 50% of the department! Plus the crews from Alfred and Waterboro.  No one got hurt, no equipment was broken. Perfect!  Some really valuable training was done.
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Chili Cook off and Cribbage Tourney: Sunday, November 22 from 1200 to 1600 at the fire station.
Chili Cook off:  Norm has entered the GMFRA in the Chili Cook-off. He needs some help gather the fixin's for his award winning chili.  These are some things he needs;
6 Large cans off Red Kidney Beans
3 cans Black Beans
4 Large cans of Tomato Sauce
2# Stew Meat
4 Packages McCormick Chili Seasoning
If you plan on donating any of these items, please end Norm an E-mail at normandbilodeau@rsu56.edu All items need to be dropped of by Saturday, Nov 21st. Either at the station or Norm's house.
Cribbage: Still in need of Champion cribbage players.
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Coffee Break Training: Professional Development in the Modern Fire Service, Part 3 of 3
Learning Objective: The student will be able to understand the concept and tools of professional development as a lifelong commitment to their own education and safety.
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Emergency Management and Response Information Sharing and Analysis Center
(EMR-ISAC): The EMR-ISAC InfoGram for November 5, 2015 contains the following articles:
1. Impersonation of First Responders and Military
2. Codes Must Account for Classroom Barricades
3. Justice: New Office Focuses on Domestic Terrorism
4. USFA Professional Development Series
Read it here.
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NFA’s Volunteer Incentive Program has vacancies for February 28 – March 4, 2016, classes. Courses included are:
R0810 Leadership and Administration (http://apps.usfa.fema.gov/nfacourses/catalog/details/56)
R0824 Management Strategies for Success (http://apps.usfa.fema.gov/nfacourses/catalog/details/62)
R0827 Fire Protection Systems for Emergency Operations (http://apps.usfa.fema.gov/nfacourses/catalog/details/10270)
R0834 National Fire Incident Reporting System: Program Manager (http://apps.usfa.fema.gov/nfacourses/catalog/details/10646)
R0836 Youth Firesetting Prevention and Intervention (http://apps.usfa.fema.gov/nfacourses/catalog/details/10648)
R0847 Emergency Medical Services Incident Operations (http://apps.usfa.fema.gov/nfacourses/catalog/details/10432)
View information on the VIP and courses at:  http://www.usfa.fema.gov/training/nfa/programs/vip.html.
We are also in an open application period (ending December 15, 2015) for courses offered during the other VIP weeks in 2016--May 29 – June 3 and September 11-16.
If interested apply today as vacancies fill quickly! Don’t miss out on this FREE training at your National Fire Academy. Please share this information with your colleagues and local fire and EMS Departments!
NFA Classes are FREE! Your room is provided, free. Transportation to/fm Emitsburg is free.
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ICE RESCUE AWARENESS COURSE: at West Kennebunk Fire Station.
Date: December 12 Time: 09:00 - 12:00 PM.  This is a classroom-formated training program designed for all First Responders, regardless of their abilities or physical condition.  The course is designed to provide First Responders with the knowledge required to safely and effectively respond to rescue and/or recovery incidents on or through the ice.  This 3-hour program meets/exceeds NFPA 1670 Standard for Technical Rescue and certification is valid for 5 years from the course completion date.  Prior to the course, participants will be assigned pre-requisite reading to be completed prior to the course date.  At the course, each participant will receive a course guidebook and materials.  Upon successful completion, graduates will be provided with a course completion certificate.  Tuition: $35 per person.  (Note: Graduates of the Ice Rescue Awareness course may participate in the practical skills session of an Ice Rescue Technician course within 18 months of their course completion date at a reduced cost of $150 per person).  For information and/or registration, please access the ICE RESCUE AWARENESS course registration page at http://www.lifesaving.com/registration/ice-rescue-awareness-course-december-12-2015, or call 207/967-8614.

I strongly encourage taking this course. We have 5 recreational bodies of water in our area.  ICE WATER RESCUE is a critical skill for us.  Please summit a training request to the Training Officer.
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Events Next week: Tuesday: Juniors 1830, EMS Training 1830. Thursday; Delta Co Officers 0930. Friday: EVO2 Test 0930, Student Interviews 1300. Saturday; 0900 EMS Protocol Class.
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I will be out of town this weekend at Reserves.

Take care,
Chief


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Roger S. Hooper, Fire Chief
Goodwins Mills Fire-Rescue
481 Goodwins Mills Road
Lyman, ME 04002
Office: 207-499-7878
Station: 207-499-2362
Fax: 207-499-2893
www.gmfd.org
rhooper@gmfd.org