F auq ui er C oun ty F i r e , R e s cu e & Em e r gen c y M ana gem en t
March 2013 Issue
THE FIRELINE NEWSLETTER F RO M T H E D E S K O F C H I E F
INSIDE THIS ISSUE: Battalion 3 and 1
2
Emergency Management
3
Battalion 2, Preparedness
4
Birthdays, Marshall News
5
Open Air Burning
6
Recruit Graduation
7
Fight Fires. Save Lives.
8
DFREM and VFRA Long Range Planning Retreat on March 9th
Great minds planning for the future of our organizations at the Airlie Center
BILLINGTON Spring is here! I am glad I didn’t say that last week. There is one word for this month: BUSY. The FY 2014 budget process is in full swing and by the end of the month, the County will have a tentative budget for next year (beginning July). On the tailcoat of the budget process, we held an all-day retreat with Fire and Rescue Company Chiefs and officers on Saturday March 9th at the Airlie Center. One of the most important, and unfortunately often unsuccessful, endeavors of planning for departments is to ensure that County leadership is involved in the process from the start. I am grateful that we succeeded in this endeavor.
Deputy County Administrator Katie Heritage and Board of Supervisors Chester Stribling and Chris Granger all participated in the afternoon session of our retreat. Two important elements came as a result of this all day meeting: 1. We have a better idea of the budget process and what we need to do to ensure that we con-
tribute to the process of outlining our needs. 2. We are ready to move forward with our planning process. The work has just begun; prepare to be involved! Planning isn’t writing – it is doing…
FAUQUIER COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF FIRE RESCUE & EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT Phone: 540-422-8800 www.fauquierfirerescue.org Find us on Facebook! Fauquier County Department of Fire, Rescue and Emergency Management Fire Rescue Chief Tom Billington
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I N S I D E B AT TA L I O N 3 Battalion 3 has been exceptionally busy this month! Recent winter weather has increased our call volume and challenged our crews on incident scenes. We have all had to work together to manage some extremely challenging incidents. Many thanks go out to eve-
ryone for their hard work and dedication! We have also been busy continuing to get our Technician II candidates through their training. Congratulations to Technician Wood! He is the first in the Northern Battalion to complete
all of the required training!
Happy birthday to Technician York, and congratulations to newly promoted Lieutenant's McEvilly and Bates!
PROMOTIONS GOING
THE
EXTRA MILE, SERVING ABOVE
AND
BEYOND
Did you know?
Fauquier County Department of Fire, Rescue & Emergency Management and VFRA sends out this monthly newsletter (The FIRELINE) to all its personnel and fellow County workers, every month? The FIRELINE highlights monthly activities, response to calls, accomplishments, awards, honors, happenings and other news! This is put together by Danica Low, Administrative Assistant in DFREM. If you would like to contribute a brief article, announcement, or photo to the FIRELINE, we welcome your submissions! Just email them to danica.low@fauquiercounty.gov
by the last day of each month.
I NSI DE B AT TALIO N 1 The past month has brought a lot of excitement to Battalion 1. First, I would like to congratulate the latest graduates to the field. Keep up the strong work and welcome to those who were assigned to the Medic 1 and Station 10! I would also like to congratulate Technician I Davis on the completion of her Paramedic. She has worked hard over the last 6 months to gain this certifica-
tion and deserves it. We have had a lot of extra staffing lately because of the precepting which has been great. With this extra staffing we have been able to complete many hours of EMS, fire and drivers training. Along with job training, we have also begun to complete some PT. With little over a month until transfers take effect; please take the time to say hi and bye to everyone. Most of Medic 1 is getting transferred out and a new group of guys
and gals is getting their turn at the busiest unit in the county. I am sure that newly promoted Lt. Bates will do as good of a job as Lt. Kidwell did over the last few years. Station 10 will mostly remain the same, with the addition of Technician II Chrismer and Technician I Saunders. Thanks to all that are getting transferred out; I’ll be seeing you soon.
T H E F I R E LI N E N E W S LE T T E R
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C O N G R AT U L A T I O N S , P R O M O T I O N S , AND REASONS TO CELEBRATE ! EFFECTIVE MARCH 2, 2013, THESE PROMOTIONS TOOK EFFECT: Tech II Fred McEvilly to Lieutenant Tech II Jeff Bates to Lieutenant Tech II Mike Gillam to Lieutenant
Congratulations to Mary Hart in her promotion to the position of Lieutenant. She is now overseeing all training processes.
Congratulations to Lt Kidwell and his wife on the birth of their baby boy, Henry Fynn. BC Arft got the chance to stop by the Kidwell household and says all are doing well!
E M E R G E N C Y P R E PA R E D N E S S : T O R N A D O E S During the past two years, 62 tornadoes hit Virginia, killing 10 people and injuring more than 200. Some 210 homes were destroyed, and more than 1,050 were damaged, and nearly every part of the state has been affected. It’s critically important to know what to do when a tornado warning is issued. Thanks to all who participated in the
Statewide tornado drill this month. If you weren’t able to participate in this drill, please choose another time or date to do so – every home, business, (fire station!), organization and school can hold a tornado drill – and the most important thing is to prepare by practicing! Information on how to
hold a drill is available at www.ReadyVirginia.gov.
Put a drill on your calendar today!
I N S I D E S TO RY H E A D L I N E The Commonwealth’s 4 p.m. Burning Law goes into effect Feb. 15, 2013 – the start of spring fire season in Virginia. This law prohibits burning before 4 p.m. each day (Feb. 15 – April 30) if the fire is in, or within 300 feet of, woodland, brushland or fields containing dry grass or other flammable materials. A violation of this law is a Class 3 misdemeanor punishable by up to a $500 fine. In addition to the criminal violation, those who allow a fire to escape are liable for the cost of suppressing the fire as well as any damage caused to others’ property. Burning of leaves, yard waste or trash continues to be the major cause of wildfires in Virginia. These "debris" fires can easily escape unless proper precaution is taken. Take a look at the poster on the next page to be reminded of our safety guidelines when burning debris.
Did You Know? In 2011, Most tornadoes occurred during April, but were also recorded in March, May, August, September, October and November.
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I N S I D E B AT TA L I O N 2
Tractor Trailer Roll-Over Incident
The month of March is quickly approaching and warmer weather is just around the corner. The Southern Battalion continues to be busy and is seeing an increase in fires. We have seen everything from Tractor Fires, to Commercial Building Fires and so much more. We welcomed our new Technicians to the field this month as well; Technician Twomey, Techni-
cian Burnthorn, Technician Graham, and Technician Willis as they begin their precepting and Driver release packets. Please take a moment when you see these new Technicians to say hello.
We end this month on a slightly somber note, thinking of February anniversaries – in 2012 when Firefighter Joshua Weissman from Alexandria Fire and Rescue, and Zachary Whitecre from Gore Volunteer Fire and Rescue, lost their lives in the line of duty.
Photos of Battalion 2 in action are below.
“It's hard to beat a person who never gives up.” - Babe Ruth
S E V E R E W E A T H E R P R E PA R E D N E S S W E E K National Severe Weather Preparedness Week is March 3-9, 2013. During National Severe Weather Preparedness Week, the Federal Emergency Management Agency
(FEMA) and the what to do before National Oceanic and severe weather strikes. Atmosphere More information on Administration (NOAA) tornadoes and severe emphasize the need for thunderstorms is individuals, families, available at businesses, organizawww.weather.gov and tions and nonprofits to www.ready.gov/severeweather. prepare emergency plans, and to know
March 2013
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HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU! Lynne Clegg 3/3 Stephanie York 3/8 Jeffrey Bates 3/9 Charles Myers 3/11 George Keefer 3/23 Ward Ponn 3/31
I just want to express gratitude. What a great team of career and volunteer members of Fauquier County's fire and rescue system, emergency management our law enforcement and dispatch partners, general services and other county employees that were here with us working together on our spring snow storm. Great job all! Sincerely, Thomas M. Billington, MBA Fire Rescue Chief Accredited Chief Fire Officer Designee
Recently, volunteers from Marshall Volunteer
Rescue Squad and Marshall Volunteer Fire Department gathered at MVRS for a training on the newest addition to the department, a Lucas 2 device. Becky Michaelangelo, from Physio Control, came by to teach us how to deploy the device quickly and efficiently. Working together, everyone had the chance to practice getting the device in place and performing compressions. In the few weeks that the Lucas 2 has been on the ambulance, it has already been used twice during emergency calls. Feel free to stop by Marshall Rescue to take a look at the Lucas 2! If you have any questions or would like the chance to train, contact AC Martin at emschick9@gmail.com.
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March 2013
March 2013
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SECOND TO NONE!
Jeffrey Burgess Kelly Burnthorn Elliott Foster Terry Graham Clifton Krieg, Jr. Jeremiah Leonard Brendan Miller Charles Myers Jessica Saunders Thomas Shiflett Christopher Twomey Robert Willis James Wyne Stephanie York
Thank you, Lt. Baker for your stellar leadership to our recruits!
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March 2013