Fire News Kentucky, July/August, 2022

KENTUCKY Serving

VOLUME 1, NO. 2

W W W .FIRENE WS .COM

Fire,Serving Rescue & EMS Fire, Rescue & EMS Heroes Heroes Since 1973 Since 1973

JULY/AUGUST 2022

Story on page 8.

- Fire News photo courtesy of Lexington FD

LODD: Louisville’s Sean McAdam Please see page 26.

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Fire News, July/August 2022, Page 3

In this issue...

FF and Civilian Injured in Westwood Blaze The owner of the home and Capt. Josh Evans are transported to the hospital.

See story on page 6

Car. . . Really. . .

Into a Building Madisonville crews handle a car almost totally into an apartment building MVA. See story on page 10

A Service for Kentucky Firefighters and EMS Providers Founded 1973

146 South Country Road, Bellport, NY 11713 FRANK C. TROTTA, Publisher TIM EDWARDS, Chief Operating Officer DENNIS WHITTAM, Editor GARY P. JOYCE, Managing Editor MARIE TROTTA, Vice President, Production/Sales LYNN SEDLER, Art Director

Fire News’ Looking Back Louisville 2021: two rescued at Logan Street blaze.

See story on page 12

Hazard FD River Rescue Loyd County Rescue certifies seven Hazard FD members for swift water rescue duty.

See story on page 20

Company Citation for Lexington Crews Engine 9 and EC 11 of the 1st Platoon awarded for save in January 2021.

See story on page 22

Obituary Louisville’s Sean McAdam See story on page 26

PLUS: Editorial . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . page 4 Training . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . pages 16 & 18 to 20 Industry News . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . page 24

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Page 4, Fire News, July/August 2022

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From the Editor’s Desk Dennis Whittam, Editor

Are You Ready for Something That Can’t Happen?

An AS/MCI (active shooter/mass casualty incident) drill was held at Greenport (NY) High School on June 4, 2022. The drill had been scheduled months prior, but somewhat eerily took place 11 days after the Uvalde, Texas, school shooting in which 19 elementary school students and two teachers were slaughtered. The proximity to that latest AS/MCI is what has prompted this editorial. The drill involved the Southold Police, Suffolk Police, North Fork fire departments and EMS services from Jamesport to Orient, and even several South Fork departments, along with moulaged teenage actors to play victims. By all reports the exercise was a success.

But what makes a successful AS/MCI drill?

According to FEMA’s 2013 white paper, Fire/Emergency Medical Services Department Operational Considerations and Guide for Active Shooter and Mass Casualty Incidents, there are several things that responding agencies need to incorporate into a specific SOP for such an event.

Why formalize reacting to an AS/MCI if your department already has an MCI plan in place?

Because the “AS” part of the exercise makes it, nearly, an entirely different animal.

Some particular areas of focus, become apparent with little thought and are proved out — or have problems made obvious — by an AS/MCI

drill. Some key facets are communication between the parties, including ensuring all parties are not only able to communicate with each other, but use the same terminologies when doing so.

This is unlikely to be a problem between FDs and EMS, but it may become a problem when communicating with law enforcement (LE) who, in most instances, will be first on the scene.

Other areas of concern will become apparent in frequent drills involving all the aforementioned agencies, as well as local hospitals and trauma units. There needs to be a single Incident Command Post for fire, EMS and LE. The goal of any and all SOPs is to plan, prepare and respond in a manner that will save the maximum number of lives possible.

Although in their careers most first responders have encountered some horrific scenarios, the results of a mass shooting of unarmed people — seemingly more often than not children with obviously terminal wounds — will undoubtedly be something first responders will never forget.

Many of the first responders will be long-term casualties of this ongoing slaughter, even if they never spilled a drop of their own blood. As psychology researcher Deborah C. Beidel, Ph.D. of the University of Central Florida, who has studied the impact these slaughters have on first

responders, put it, “There are just some events that are so horrific that no human being should be able to just process that and put it away.”

Add after-action reports and treatments to the long list of things an AS/MCI SOP demands.

A last note … “It’ll never happen here” too often becomes, “Oh my God, how did this happen?”

Be prepared for the thing that’ll never happen.

And the only way to do so is to train for it.

- Gary P. Joyce Managing Editor Gary P. Joyce is filling in for Editor Dennis Whittam this month. Joyce is a decorated three-tour Viet Nam combat veteran.

Page 6, Fire News, July/August 2022

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Elizabethtown FFs Save Pets Elizabethtown Shift 2 firefighters responded to a structure fire at a home on Kentucky Drive recently.

The residents were safely out of the home when crews arrived, but there were animals inside that firefighters were able to evacuate safely, as well.

- Photo courtesy of Elizabethtown FD

Henderson Mobile Home The Henderson Fire Department responded for a mobile home fire in the 800 block of Washington Street recently. No injuries were reported. The cause of the fire was under investigation by officials.

- Photo courtesy of Henderson FD

Fire Alarms Save Another Life

FF, Civ. Injured at Westwood Fire

on April 21, 2022, at 0303, Louisville Fire Department crews were dispatched to a three-story structure fire on West Main Street. Fire companies arrived within three minutes to find heavy fire coming from a three-story dwelling, with homes located close to the east and west. One occupant (alerted by working smoke detectors) had safely escaped prior to the arrival of fire crews.

- Photo courtesy of Louisville Division of Fire

At 2016 on April 23, 2022, crews responded for a structure fire on New Buckley Road in Westwood at 2016. The owner was treated and transported to Kings Daughters Medical Center for burns on her hands, legs and hip. Captain Josh Evans was injured when he fell through the floor and was transported for a knee injury to Kings Daughters Medical Center. - Submitted by Brent Webster, Fire Chief

Page 8, Fire News, July/August 2022

Cover Story

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Lexington 2-Alarm Church Fire Lexington fire crews were dispatched to the 300 block of Georgetown Place for the report of smoke and flames in a structure. Upon arrival, crews found advanced fire conditions in a large, threestory church. Due to the advanced nature of the fire, unstable building conditions, and nearby exposures, fire crews initiated a defensive fire attack.

The incident commander called for a second alarm for additional firefighters to the scene. Over 60 firefighters worked to extinguish this fire, which took around 90 minutes to bring under control. Fire crews remained on scene throughout the night monitoring the scene and putting out hot spots. No injuries or hospital transports were reported as a result of this fire. The origin and cause of the fire were under investigation.

- Photos courtesy of Lexington FD

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Fire News, July/August 2022, Page 9

1 Injured at Louisville House Fire

Louisville Fire Department crews were dispatched to the 2700 block of Howard Street on multiple reports of a fire in a vacant structure. Fire crews arrived on scene in two minutes to find heavy smoke and fire coming from a single-story dwelling. Firefighters quickly made entry, searched the home and removed one adult occupant, while working to extinguish the blaze. Outside crews deployed exposure lines to protect

neighboring property. It took 30 firefighters approximately 12 minutes to bring the fire under control. The individual rescued was transported to a local hospital by LMEMS. The incident caused significant damage throughout the structure. Neighboring property was not damaged.

LFD Arson Investigators worked to determine the cause.

- Photo courtesy of Louisville Division of Fire

Page 10, Fire News, July/August 2022

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Car into Building … Really into It!

On June 4, 2022, the Madisonville Fire Department received an alarm from Central Dispatch for a vehicle versus apartment building MVA at the intersection of Noel and Pride Avenues. Fire crews found Madisonville Police units on scene and an SUV sitting completely inside of an apartment on Pride Avenue. Battalion 1 made entry through a window to check for potential injured occupants. The driver of the SUV was the only occupant of the vehicle and was able to get out of the vehicle and apartment on his own. The occupants of the apartment were upstairs asleep when the accident happened and were able to exit. One of the occupants were taken to Baptist Health by Medical Center Ambulance Service. Fire crew turned the gas off to the structure and assessed the structural integrity of the building. Fire crews remained on-scene until the vehicle was removed from the structure by a wrecker service.

- Photos courtesy of John S. Dunning, Fire Chief, MFD

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Fire News, July/August 2022, Page 11

Patches

Clay City Fire Department.

- Submitted by Major Lisa Johnson

Hazard Tractor-Trailer MVA

The Hazard Fire Department responded to South Kentucky Highway 15, at the entrance to Hardee’s, for an overturned tractor trailer.

- Photo courtesy of Hazard FD

Page 12, Fire News, July/August 2022

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Looking Back Louisville - 2021

On August 6, 2021, at 0536, Louisville Fire Department crews were dispatched to a structure fire on Logan Street. Companies arrived within three minutes to find heavy fire coming from a vacant two-story dwelling, with an occupied exposure building located to the south.

Firefighters rescued two adult occupants.

- Fire News photos courtesy Louisville Division of Fire

Page 16, Fire News, July/August 2022

Henderson Water Rescue Drills

Henderson Fire Department crews drilled on water rescue operations recently.

- Photos courtesy of Henderson FD

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Page 18, Fire News, July/August 2022

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Madisonville Extrication Training Madisonville firefighters held vehicle extrication drills, at the Mark Boaz Regional Training Center recently.

- Photos courtesy of Madisonville FD

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Fire News, July/August 2022, Page 19

Water Supply Class On May 12, 2022, the Westwood Volunteer Fire Department attended a water supply class on using the rear intake of their 2022 Freightliner Rosenbauer, 1500-gpm, 1800-gallon Pumper/ Tanker. The rear intake is a six-inch low level strainer with 2800-gallon fold-a-tank.

- Submitted by Brent Webster, Fire Chief

Helicopter Training for Clay City Junior firefighters from the Clay City Fire Department training with a helicopter prop.

- Submitted by Major Lisa J. Johnson

Page 20, Fire News, July/August 2022

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Pump Training in Madisonville

Madisonville firefighters take advantage of the nice weather to get in some pump-training.

- Photos courtesy of Madisonville FD

Peer Support Training Recently, the Henderson Fire Department and Local 2290 hosted the IAFF Peer Support Training.

Training is delivered by two IAFF master peer support instructors.

This training was a two-day, 16hour, in-person program. After completing the training, members have the necessary knowledge and skills to provide support to their peers, have a basic understanding of common behavioral health issues affecting the fire service, can serve as a bridge to community resources or behavioral health treatment when indicated, and are able to build or enhance peer support programs.

This class was attended by the Henderson Fire Department, Henderson 911, Evansville Fire Department, Owensboro Fire Department, and Henderson HR. - Photos courtesy of Henderson FD

7 New Team Members for Water Rescue Team

Recently, seven of the Hazard Fire Department’s personnel attended a moving water rescue technician course taught by the Floyd County Rescue Squad. All members successfully completed the course. This has added seven more technicians to the Hazard staff, for a total of 12 members on the water rescue team. Pictured, rear row: Joshua Smith, Braeden Ritchie, Jason Combs and Barrett Smith. Front row: Brandon Smith, Doug Beverly, and Rayven Ritchie.

- Photo courtesy of Hazard FD

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Fire News, July/August 2022, Page 21

Lexington’s Combat Challenge Team Scores!

Teaching the Children Fire Safety

Lexington’s Firefighter Combat Challenge Team has returned home from Indianapolis following this past weekend’s competition, and all 10 team members were sporting medals!

Placing first in the Female Relay Team event: Firefighters Sarah McGill, Chelsie Brown, Michelle Spanyer and Erin Lucas.

Placing second in the Team event: Captain John Gerardi, Lieutenant Doug Thompson, Firefighters Josh Spalding, Nathan Bardeen and Andrew Cook.

Placing first in the Over 50 Relay Team event: Firefighter John Barnott (competed with four members from other departments) Placing seconnd in the Female Individual event: Firefighter Sarah McGill.

Placing 8th in the Individual Overall event: Captain John Gerardi.

- Photo courtesy of Lexington FD

Members from Engine 18 and the Fire Prevention Bureau spent time this week teaching students at Frayser Elementary School about fire safety, firefighting gear and equipment, and one of the most important safety tools for your home, smoke alarms!

Remember, home owners in the Urban Services District can contact Metro 311 to request a free smoke alarm to be installed in your home.

- Photo courtesy of Louisville Division of Fire

Page 22, Fire News, July/August 2022

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Company Citation to Engine 9 and EC11, 1st Platoon A Company Citation is given to a company that has performed an action of unusual character, competence and initiative in an emergency or non-emergency situation, which substantially contributed to an improved positive outcome. We would like to recognize Lexington’s Engine 9 and EC11, 1st Platoon.

On the morning of January 21, 2021, crews were dispatched to the report of a possible structure fire at 2800 block of Ryan Circle. On arrival, E9 reported nothing showing from a two-story multi-residential building, but as they got closer they observed smoke pushing from underneath the door of one of the apartments. They forced the door and found heavy smoke within, and upgraded the response to a working structure fire and prepared to make entry.

The crew of E9 was familiar with this particular building and this particular resident, having made runs here in the past. While Firefighter Josh Day, the driver of E9, was stretching a line to the building, Captain Warren and Firefighter Spaulding entered the apartment and performed a quick search. They located an unconscious victim behind a bathroom door and quickly removed the patient and handed off the patient to EC11 and quickly went back to work to extinguish the fire with the help of E21.

EC11 started rescue breathing for the patient and began administering a Cyanokit en route to the hospital. The patient had remarkably improved before they arrived at the hospital.

Crews later learned that the patient was intubated upon arrival at ery. The quick work in locating the victim by E9, coupled with the the hospital, and after receiving three hyperbaric oxygen treatments, excellent care she received from EC11, undoubtedly provided this was able to be extubated and later discharged, having made a full recov- patient with the best chance of survival. - Courtesy of Lexington FD

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Fire News, July/August 2022, Page 23

Successful Golf Fundraiser in Lexington Recently, the Lexington Fire Department held its annual LFD/FOF Golf Scramble.

Attendees had perfect weather and a great time with everyone. It is always a pleasure to see all of the familiar faces and the new participants each year. Special shout out to Gibson Bay Golf Course for graciously hosting the event again. Thanks to the generosity of the players and sponsors for another record setting year! The money raised at this event benefits the Public Education/Community Services Office to help with outreach in the community.

- Photos courtesy of Lexington FD

Page 24, Fire News, July/August 2022

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FOR HE’S A JOLLY GOOD FELLOW… FIREHOUSE SYSTEMS AND THE PANTHER COMPRESSOR

To say I am proud of my father, Fred Gandolfo, would not offer him the justice he deserved. To say I am amazed by my father, would be more fitting, because sometimes we can’t find the right words, we can only feel them. From childhood to this day, I’ve had the opportunity to watch my father pick up any broken object and be able to fix any problem in his personal life or business life; to troubleshoot it and, if any need isn’t met he'd find a way to meet it, especially if solving the problem meant he got to fabricate something.

After several years of development, I watched him build what the entire industry knows today as THE CAT. Little did I know then, The CAT would fuel an entire market change. Having my father’s love of the industry and safety of his client base as the driving force behind his design, leads to high quality, safe, efficient equipment. The CAT was only the beginning.

After the success of The CAT, my father began to design and produce a new line of Breathing Air Compressors — Panther Compressors. Of course, he offered standardized style systems, as always going above any other compressor manufacturer on the market, offering custom solutions to your need, space, and budget.

Recognizing two needs in the industry, my father put the pencil back on the paper and got to sketching out an idea. He wanted to offer a Breathing Air Compressor Trailer

Unit, one that a fire department would actually use. One that would safely operate on scene, one that would operate to its full potential without losing “steam,” one that would be safe for the long-term health of the operator. He needed to find a way to offer an economically friendly, efficient, easy to tow, safe to operate equipment in the middle of a world in the midst of an ecological and economic crisis.

With that … I repeat, to say I am proud of my dad, is not enough…nonetheless…We are very proud to introduce the world’s first battery powered breathing air compressor trailer.

Made especially for you by my dad, Fred Gandolfo … the Panther ECO. The Panther ECO provides eight hours of run time at full load, emits no diesel or fumes and, most importantly, no thermal runaway!

The Panther ECO is available in 10- 15- or 20-horsepower versions.

Already have a breathing air trailer? We can upgrade your current system to the Panther ECO, feel free to ask us for your options/!

Remember: Go green…choose Panther Compressors.

- Liz Gandolfo For more info contact Fred or Liz Gandolfo at 631-661-7515; or Fred at Fred@coastalfiresystems.com or at Liz@coastalfiresystems.com

NATIONAL FIRE SERVICE RESEARCH AGENDA REPORT RELEASED Researchers and fire service practitioners met virtually last year for the 4th National Fire Service Research Agenda Symposium resulting in the National Fire Service Research Agenda Report with nearly 300 recommendations. Symposium participants worked in three facilitated working groups to create recommendations to have the most significant impact on firefighter health and safety. The facilitators then submitted the recommendations as worksheets to an expert jury of researchers and fire service representatives. After review, the jury was able to modify and move recommendations to other domains as needed. The report includes the finalized recommendations and the working groups’ original worksheets. The National Fallen Firefighters Foundation (NFFF) hosted the National Fire Service Research Agenda Symposium, and UL’s Fire Safety Research Institute (FSRI) was the exclusive sponsor.

NFFF Chairman of the Board of Directors Troy Markel said, “Our commitment to create a fire service national research agenda is embedded in the 16 Firefighter Life Safety Initiatives through Initiative 7. But even more critical than that, is our commitment to take a multidisciplinary approach to firefighter health and safety by providing the opportunity for researchers and fire service representatives to map out the future needs of the fire service.”

Steve Kerber, Executive Director of FSRI, added, “The research conducted today is without a doubt making a difference in the health and safety of our nation’s firefighters and communities across the

country. It is promising to read these recommendations created with the input of firefighters and envision what the future of fire service research can be.”

The report features the working group recommendations based on their domains topical area. The planning committee determined the three domains to be: • Domain #1: Hiring/Retention/ Advancement included recommendations on recruitment, effective leadership, diversity/equity /inclusion/belonging, and hiring, promotion, and retention.

• Domain #2: Effective operations included recommendations related to training, tactics, tools, equipment, apparatus, personal protective equipment, and community risk reduction.

• Domain #3: Health and safety included recommendations related to wellness, understudied populations, cardiovascular health, cancer, mental health, metabolic health, reproductive health, occupational medical evaluations, fatigue, injury prevention/assessment, violence prevention/risk assessment, and work environment.

The 4th National Fire Service Research Agenda Report can be downloaded here: http://www.everyonegoeshome.com/wp-content/uploads/ sites/2/2022/01/research-agenda-symposium-4-report.pdf For more information on the National Fire Service Research Agenda, please contact John Tippett, Director of Fire Service Programs, jtippett@firehero.org.

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Honoring the Fallen “Carry the Load” honors the sacrifices made by our nation’s heroes. They support military, veterans, first responders and their families through a continuum of care and services. Louisville Truck 1/Engine 2 and Engine 4 met the Midwest Relay Team as they passed through Louisville recently. The relay is 3,800 miles long. It started in Minneapolis and culminated in Dallas on Memorial Day Weekend. The Relay Team walked in honor of fallen Louisville Fire Department Firefighter Sean McAdam.

- Photos courtesy of Louisville Division of Fire

Fire News, July/August 2022, Page 25

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Obituary

Louisville’s Sean McAdam With heavy hearts and tremendous sorrow, we mourn the tragic death of Louisville Fire Department Firefighter Sean McAdam who died from a medical emergency in the line of duty on May 11, 2022.

Sean joined the LFD family in March 2002, spending his entire career assigned to specialty rescue companies. Sean was assigned to Engine 2/Truck 1 in downtown Louisville for most of his career, and recently transferred to Quint 7 in the Louisville Highlands. Firefighter McAdam received numerous awards for courage and bravery through-

out his career, including the Division-s Medal of Valor, and three Unit Citations.

This is a terribly sad time for the Louisville Division of Fire. Please keep Sean’s family and all whose lives have been touched by Sean in your thoughts and prayers during this difficult time. The Division expresses our deepest condolences to the McAdam family and Sean’s many friends.

- Photos courtesy of Louisville Division of Fire

Page 28, Fire News, July/August 2022

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