SUMMER 2021
On April 20, 2021; Local 332 members responded to two highly technical rescue situations in Asheville. In both cases, our members used their expertise to safely and effectively bring an end to the emergencies and provide the best outcome for those involved.
Whether it’s fire, medical or rescue...#YourAVLFirefighters are always ready!
Nearly 75% of drownings involving children happen at home. This sobering statistic is one that is more relevant than ever this summer. As public pools remain closed due to COVID-19, parents are brining the summer water fun home for their family. Big box stores and online retailers report that inflatable and small plastic pools are a hot commodity as people look to stay cool at home this summer.
While a small pool is a great way to beat the heat, fire fighters and emergency medical responders are urging homeowners to practice simple safety rules to avoid a tragedy.
At 0324hrs on April 20, 2021 Raleigh Engine 4 was alerted to respond to an outside fire on Prospector Place. Engine 4 arrived to find a fully involved detached building near a residence, Engine 4 requested the entire box alarm. Engines 4 and 16 worked to put two lines in service from the dispatched address, Engines 15 and 18 circled the block to put a Charlie side line and hydrant in service to keep the residence from catching fire and limiting damage to the detached building. Fourth Battalion held the Command. Great job to all units on scene. Units on the box: E4, E16, E18, E15, L4, L15, R16, B4, B5
STATESVILLE: 704-872-3621 TROUTMAN: 704-528-1799
His name was Ezekiel. I’ll never forget that. He was 7 months old. A beautiful baby, with skin the color of milk chocolate and curly hair that seemed longer than you would expect for a child his age. And at 8 AM on the morning of Christmas Eve 2015, I carried his lifeless body in my arms while I and another firefighter did CPR in tandem, sprinting from the apartment where he lived to an ambulance that was pulling to a stop in the parking lot in front of the building. Ezekiel didn’t make it that day. I had worked incidents such as this before in my 12 years in the fire service that preceded that morning. But this day was different. It was Christmas Eve. I was knee-deep in the middle of a bitter divorce. My own child was 11 months old, and I was missing him terribly. I had made it through past incidents fairly unscathed mentally and psychologically. But as I sat in a Critical Incident Stress Debriefing at the hospital later that day, my head swirling with thoughts of Ezekiel, my heart heavy with the burdens of my broken life outside of work, and the pain of wanting to hold my little boy, I crumbled. The stress of the morning’s call along with the layers of stress from everything else in my life at that moment all came crashing together. As I sat in that room with other firefighters, EMS personnel, and hospital staff who took part in the debriefing, the levee that was holding back the flood inside of me broke and put me on my literal and figurative knees. What I experienced that day was more than just a bad day, it was trauma. Traumas such as these aren’t just some abstract problem or idea, but are true injuries. Just as a physical trauma can leave a wound that needs to be treated, mental/psychological traumas need mending as well. And while a first responder may not be faced with a major traumatic experience every shift, we spend 30 years of our lives facing small traumatic experiences with a regularity that is unknown to those in the general public. Likewise, we spend 30 years traveling back and forth by the spots where these traumas occurred, being reminded all too frequently of the memories that come with these locations. It is not unreasonable to see how these tiny traumas added in with the stress and issues that come with the grind of everyday life can lead to a tipping point. Like a glass that is being filled with water, or building blocks that are being stacked on top of one another, without some sort of emptying or bracing a point is reached where too much is too much. There has to be some sort of release. The glass overflows, the blocks come tumbling down. When it all came crashing down for me, I was fortunate enough to have that debriefing to attend. I was lucky enough to have coworkers, friends, and family who I was able to lean into at that moment and in the days that followed. And by the grace of God I was able to process, to cope with all that was happening inside of me, and I was able to come out on the other side. It wasn’t quick, and it wasn’t without scars, but I was able to heal. But for every first responder who is able to cope and heal from such injuries, countless others do not. Untreated mental/psychological injuries, like a physical trauma, can lead to further injury, complications, or scarring that can be debilitating. All too often those within my
profession who suffer from these issues do so in silence. They are afraid of the stigma that they believe will come from dealing with such a struggle. The fear of being labeled as “weak” looms large in an occupation such as the fire service, and the perception that facing down feelings or emotions makes one weak, and the shame and fear that such a perception causes has been prevalent in our profession for far too long. Along with the fear of what others may think is the fear that dealing with such issues will cause a first responder to lose their job or position, that time away from the job to deal with the toll that it has taken could cost that individual the job itself. So the struggle for so many is kept in the shadows. And in turn, the effects of these struggles manifest within our ranks through such issues as Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, mental and behavioral health issues, alcohol and substance abuse, and worst of all suicide. This has to stop. If a firefighter were to blow out a knee on a call, that injury would be attributed directly to actions taken in the performance of one’s duty and be covered by worker’s compensation law. A mental/ psychological injury that is suffered in the performance of one’s duty should be seen in the same light, and that same firefighter/EMS worker/law enforcement officer who blows out a knee should be eligible for coverage under worker’s compensation law while they seek the treatment that they need to heal from traumas that are not physical in nature. In North Carolina, we do not have such protections for these types of injuries, building a massive hurdle between our first responders and the help that they need in such events. But hopefully, this is on the brink of change. Earlier this week, the North Carolina House of Representatives unanimously passed House Bill 492 which would provide worker’s compensation benefits to North Carolina first responders who suffer from job-related PTSD. This is a massive step forward to those who serve in emergency services within North Carolina, and opens the door to more options and financial security for those suffering from these issues. This bill helps send the signal to North Carolina’s first responders that they are appreciated and valued by the communities that they protect. It sends the signal that our state’s first responders do not have to suffer in silence. It sends the signal that there is no shame in seeking help when faced with the effects of PTSD. And to be blunt, this bill has the capability of saving the lives of individuals who protect our communities when they reach a point where they feel that they have no other options. House Bill 492 now moves to the North Carolina Senate who will take up the bill next week. It is my hope, and the hope of countless other first responders across North Carolina that our Senators see the importance and the dire nature of this issue, and that this bill is passed into law quickly. I pass by the apartment building where Ezekiel died all the time. Sometimes I pass it numerous times during the same shift. While the trauma that I felt that Christmas Eve in 2015 has healed, I never stop remembering the events of that morning. And with 17 years left in my career, there is no way of knowing if or when another event will cause my glass to overflow or my blocks to fall. But it is my hope that if such a day comes, I can rest assured that I and the men and women that I serve with will have the benefits that we so desperately need to make healing easier. If you live in North Carolina, contact your state Senator and ask that they support House Bill 492. Let them know that by doing so they may very well be saving the life of one who protects theirs.
NC Lawmakers Introduce Firefighters Fighting Cancer Act Raleigh, N.C. – State House lawmakers Rep. Destin Hall (R-Caldwell), Rep. John Bell (R- Wayne), Rep. Jason Saine (R-Lincoln), and Rep. Jon Hardister (R- Guilford) have filed HB 535 Firefighters Fighting Cancer Act of 2021 which would provide supplemental insurance for firefighters diagnosed with cancer. This bill would provide a lump sum of $25,000 to $50,000 upon initial cancer diagnosis of an eligible firefighter and annually provide $12,000 for out-of-pocket medical expenses. HB 535 would also include disability benefits for firefighters unable to work due to a cancer diagnosis.
“Firefighters risking their lives and long-term health for us need to be protected if they fall ill. This bill will provide a much-needed layer of security for our brave firefighters and give them some extra peace of mind should they find themselves in a serious health crisis”, said Rep. Destin Hall. Firefighters have a 9 percent higher risk of being diagnosed with cancer and a 14 percent higher risk of dying from cancer than the general U.S. population. “This recognition of the dangers that the men and women who bravely respond to our emergencies each and every day is long overdue. It is my hope we can get this bill signed into law as quickly as they respond on our behalf”, said Rep. Jason Saine.
NC Lawmakers Introduce Firefighters Fighting Cancer Act Currently, North Carolina is the only state without any presumptive cancer coverage. When attempting to receive workman’s compensation, many firefighters diagnosed with cancer are unable to prove their disease resulted from their occupation or are not able to do so quickly, leaving them with less time to deal with their disease. This can leave firefighters diagnosed with cancer in a dire financial situation and render them unable to pursue the best course of care to combat their illness. HB 535 would aid all eligible firefighters who find themselves in such a situation and would help them continue their fight towards recovery. “I am proud to join my colleagues in introducing this much-needed legislation to help expand access to care for N.C. firefighters who have been diagnosed with workrelated cancers. These brave men and women put their lives on the line each and every day in service to their communities. It is past time that we provide them with the care and treatment they need and deserve”, said Rep. John Bell. “We have a responsibility to support those who risk their lives to keep us safe. This is a commonsense policy that will provide critical support for fire fighters when they are in need of assistance,” said Rep. Jon Hardister. If signed into law, HB 535 would become effective January 1, 2022.
HICKORY FIRE FIGHTERS LOCAL 2653 MEMBER MATTHEW QUARLES HAS BEEN ELECTED TO SERVE THEIR LOCAL AS THE VICE PRESIDENT FOR A TWO-YEAR TERM. QUARLES WAS THE SECRETARY/TREASURER OF LOCAL 2653 FOR FOUR CONSECUTIVE YEARS SPANNNING FROM 2016-2020. DURING THE MONTHLY BUSINESS MEETING IN MAY, A UNAMIOUS VOTE OF THE MEMBERSHIP ELECTED QUARLES TO THE POSITION.
Local 2653 Vice President Quarles during Fire Safety Activity book distribution at a local elementary school
THE FOLLOWING BUSINESS AND PROFESSIONAL FRIENDS PAY SPECIAL TRIBUTE TO OUR FIREFIGHTERS FOR KEEPING OUR COMMUNITY SAFE DEERFIELD A RETIREMENT COMMUNITY 828-274-1531 DEERFIELDWNC.ORG M & R RV REPAIR & MARINE 1530 16TH STREET NE HICKORY, NC 28601 828-855-1037
LOUISE’S KITCHEN 115 BLACK MOUNTAIN AVE BLACK MOUNTAIN, NC 28711 828-357-5446 JORDAN ENVIRONMENTAL 68 LITTLE HORSE RD WAYNESVILLE, NC 28786 828-734-2612 JAGUAR LAND ROVER ASHEVILLE 496 CARDINAL ROAD MILLS RIVER, NC 28759 828-595-8021 ASHEVILLE AUTO PAINT 49 SOUTHAIDE AVE ASHEVILLLE, NC 28801 828-253-8796 CAROLINA SMILES 4 MARKET STREET #4202 BREVARD, NC 28712 828-884-3702 BRYAN EASLER TOYOTA 1409 SPARTANBURG HWY HENDERSONVILLE, NC 28792 828-693-7251 PIEDMONT PATHOLOGY 1899 TATE BLVD #1105 HICKORY, NC 28602 828-267-3522 H. T. HACKNEY CO. PO BOX 428 NEWTON, NC 28658 828-464-1010
PRICES WELL DRILLING 962 12TH STREET SE HICKORY, NC 28602 828-327-0268
APPALACHIAN TROPICALS 827 CHARLOTTE HWY FAIRVIEW, NC 28730 828-222-2225
ACCU-RITE PO BOX 105 TERRELL, NC 28682 828-478-1299
JONAS L. KARLSSON MD 933 HENDERSONVILLE RD ASHEVILLE, NC 28803 408-813-6541
TOGAR RUGS 562 LONG SHOALS RD ARDEN, NC 28704 828-687-1968
SPEAGLE’S LANDSCAPING & GRADING 8420 REEPSVILLE ROAD LINCOLNTON, NC 28092 828-234-3876
PIEDMONT QUALITY AIR 6113 KING WILKINSON RD DENVER, NC 28037 828-312-9085
OYSTER HOUSE BREWING CO. 625 HAYWWOD ROAD ASHEVILLE, NC 28806 828-777-8866
JAMES AUTO UPHOLSTRY 3787 HENDERSONVILLE, NC RD FLETCHER, NC 28732 828-650-6505
SALUDA HEALING CENTER 43 PEARSON FALLS RD. SALUDA, NC 828-749-3875
CARL WALLS TRUCKING 3071 TRINITY CHURCH ROAD VALE, NC 28168 828-302-1613
INTERNATIONAL CUSHION CO. 6005 W NORTH CAROLINA 10 HICKORY, NC 28602 704-462-1990
RELIABLE FIRE & SAFETY INC.
KELLER WILLIAMS REALTY MOUNTAIN PARTNERS HENDERSONVILLE, NC 28791 828-290-1000
CUSTOM AIR TRAYS CROWN CERAMIC INC.
A TWIST IN TIME THE COLLIE LAW FIRM PERRY G. WALKER ACCOUNTING CAROLINA UNIFORMS C.R. WILLIAMS & COMPANY MERRIMAN SCHMITT ARCHITECTS VW SPECIALTIES CHARLIE’S TIRE CENTER
COMPLETE CONCRETE
CAROLINA BREATHING SOLUTIONS 755 S. HAYWOOD STREET WAYNESVILLE, NC 28786 828-452-1919 CALDWELL TRUCKING & EXCAVATING 32 JC ROAD WAYNESVILLE, NC 28785 828-734-8033 BUILDINGS R US 2022 SPARTANBURG HWY EAST FLAT ROCK, NC 28726 828-595-9929
THE FOLLOWING BUSINESS AND PROFESSIONAL FRIENDS PAY SPECIAL TRIBUTE TO OUR FIREFIGHTERS FOR KEEPING OUR COMMUNITY SAFE STUDEBAKER CONTROL SOLUTIONS PO BOX 625 LEXINGTON, NC 27293 336-746-9026
LANDURA MANAGEMENT 4623 COUNTRY CLUB RD, WINSTON-SALEM, NC 27104 336-760-8100
BARBAJAL CONSTRUCTION 10715 COBLE ROAD CHARLOTTE, NC 28227 704-361-1103
CAMP CHEERIO PO BOX 6258 HIGH POINT, NC 27262 336-869-0195
218 S MAIN ST, LEXINGTON, NC 27292 336-248-5935
MCMURRAY FABRICS 105 VANN PLACE ABERDEEN, NC 28315 704-732-9613
JD MILLS EXPERT TREE SERVICE 900 E. FAIRFIELD ROAD HIGH POINT, NC 27263 336-431-8162 SALEM LEASING CORP. PO BOX 24788 WINSTON-SALEM NC 27114 800-877-2536 FORSAKEN ART TATTOOS 2652 RANDLEMAN ROAD GREENSBORO, NC 27406 336-451-3796 EARTH’S EDGE INC. 1800 SILAS CREEK PKWY. WINSTON-SALEM, NC 27103 336-727-1663 MCY SIDING 3821 FRAZIER ROAD GREENSBORO, NC 27407 336-382-9075
SHEAR EXCITEMENT AT SOLA SALON 7243 WANDA VISTA LANE PFAFFTOWN, NC 27040 336-283-9375 MOCK ORANGE BIKES 1206 REYNOLDS RD. WINSTON-SALEM, NC 27104 336-722-6678 GRUBBS WOODWORKING 2900 GRIFFITH ROAD WINSTON-SALEM, NC 27103 336-794-0355 CAROL WHEELER DESIGNS 1022 HUTTON LANE HIGH POINT, NC 27265 336-886-7512 SCALES CONSTRUCTION 4663 WALDEN DRIVE WINSTON-SALEM,NC 27106 336-473-4990
WILDER LAW GROUP 3501 MONROE ROAD CHARLOTTE, NC 28205 704-342-2243 DIXIE FENCE BUILDERS 265 OLD MILLER ROAD STATESVILLE, NC 28625 704-657-3579 GRANDMASTER LANDSCAPE & TREE 735 MAIN STREET SW CONCORD, NC 28027 704-782-8227 MASTER METAL FABRICATIONS 2592 HICKORY HWY STATESVILLE, NC 28677 704-872-5070 REFUJEO SUPERMARKET 476 CHURCH STREET N. CONCORD, NC 28025 980-248-1318
WHO DOES YOUR HAIR
911 RESTORATION OF GREENSBORO 7 BATTLEGROUND CT. GREENSBORO, NC 27408 336-580-4037
MARSHALL H. KARRO ATTORNEY CAIN’S ABLE PLUMBING BUNDY BUILT
CERICARE PC 409 N. ESTES DRIVE CHAPEL HILL, NC 27514 336-543-8355 ALLIED ASSOCIATES 4720 KESTER MILL ROAD STE C WINSTON-SALEM, NC 27103 336-971-2394
TEAM PRO AUTO SERVICE SAKURA SPA 3642 E. INDEPENDENCE BLVD. CHARLOTTE, NC 28205 704-531-6400
HENDRICK LEXUS 6031 E. INDEPENDENCE BLVD. CHARLOTTE, NC 28212 704-568-4122 BRECKNER INDUSTRIES 3500 BIGGERS ROAD CONCORD, NC 28025 704-699-6743 FRUITFUL CATERING 270 COPPERFIELD BLVD NE #204 CONCORD, NC 28025 704-467-3062
THE FOLLOWING BUSINESS AND PROFESSIONAL FRIENDS PAY SPECIAL TRIBUTE TO OUR FIREFIGHTERS FOR KEEPING OUR COMMUNITY SAFE RATCHET’S GARAGE 2425 STATESVILLE HWY. BUILDING B MOORESVILLE, NC 28115 704-495-9320
CAROLINA AUDIO MASTERS 529-B N. POLK STREET PINEVILLE, NC 28134 704-889-5995
WAYNE HUCKEL ARBITRATOR 438 QUEENS ROAD CHARLOTTE, NC 28207 704-333-00731
FIRST PEDIATRIC CARE CTR. 2644 COURT DRIVE GASTONIA, NC 28054 704-823-1698
TURBO EXCHANGE INC. 501 PITTS SCHOOL ROAD #A CONCORD, NC 28027 704-721-6661
GUS SCHAD ASSOCIATES 304 SOUTH 2ND STREET ALBEMARLE, NC 28001 704-982-5000
CMA INSURANCE 6474MCNEIL PLACE 6475KANNAPOLIS, NC 2808 704-795-4550
KEEVER PHARMACY 1814 E. MAIN STREET LINCOLNTON, NC 28092 704-735-9072
STROUP’S JEWELERS 315 E. MAIN STREET LINCOLNTON, NC 28092 704-735-7112
UNIVERSAL RUBBER PRODUCTS 7780 FOREST OAK DRIVE DENVER, NC 28037 704-483-1249
WAYNE HUCKEL-ADR SERVICES 438 QUEENS ROAD CHARLOTTE, NC 28207 704-333-0073
RAYMER-KEPNER FUNERAL HOME 1690 OLD STATESVILLE RD HUNTERSVILLE, NC 29078 704-892-9669
DIRECT POWER INC. 113 BLACK SNAKE ROAD STANLEY, NC 28164 704-263-5953
MCLEOD CORP. 19701 W. CATAWBA AVE #G CAORNELIUS, NC 28031 704-896-5552
AZTECA MEXICAN RESTAURANT 1863 W. FRANKLIN BLVD GASTONIA, NC 28052 704-866-7574
BADCOCK HOME FURNITURE 4146 TIMBERWOOD DRIVE GASTONIA, NC 28056 704-862-6022
LAW OFFICE OF RICHARD M. KOCH 3220 PROSPERITY CHURCH RD #201 CHARLOTTE, NC 28269 704-503-5700
BRENDA MARTIN COUNCELING 127 N. GREEN STREET STATESVILLE, NC 28677 704-873-7816
COUNTRY CLASSIC INTERIORS 223 HIDDEN POND LANE CHINA GROVE, NC 29023 704-857-1820
FORKLIFT PRO INC. 9081 INDUSTRIAL DRIVE PINEVILLE, NC 28134 704-716-3636
RACE CITY ROOFING 202 CORNELIUS RD. MOORESVILLE, NC 28117 704-663-1550
KEY DENTAL PROSTHETICS 4764 N. HIGHWAY 16 DENVER, NC 28037 704-489-9978
PARK MANUFACTURING PO BOX 12866 GASTONIA, NC 28052 704-869-6128
QUALITY FASTNERS 2016 JENKINS DAIRY RD. GASTONIA, NC 28053 704-865-8562
JC PAINTING AND REMODELING 468 UNION STREET S. CONCORD, NC 28025 704-652-8586
JF HEAT TREATING 489 AIRPORTROAD GASTONIA, NC 28056 704-864-0998
FOREST LAWN WEST FUNERAL AND CREMATION 4601 FREEDOM DRIVE CHARLOTTE, NC 28208
CRAMERTON CHRISTIAN ACADEMY 426 WOODLAWN AVE. CRAMERTON, NC 28032 704-824-2840
PWS INTERNATIONAL 2900 HORACAHON LANE CHARLOTTE, NC 28208 704 588-3013
COCHRANE REPAIR SERVICE PARAGON SERVICES GROUP
D & H MARKETING GROUP