#WeAreSFFR (July, August, September 2022)

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MESSAGE FROM THE CHIEF

"How am I doing?" is a relatively straightforward question that is anything but. A peer recently asked me and my wife, “How do you know if you are doing a good job?” We both immediately reacted with, “You don’t." The essence of our shared response comes from the challenge of garnering quality feedback. This is true at all levels and potentially more so as you progress through an organization. We all strive to succeed. Most notably, I believe we want to be viewed as successful by those closest to us. And regardless of past performance, accomplishments, or rank, it is natural to have some level of reservation or doubt about our own personal performance. And this is why it is so critical to recognize and celebrate the work that is going on around us every day. Often, we believe feedback should happen when there are challenges or failures (See page 2). And while critical feedback is invaluable for growth, positive recognition supports our values and builds individuals. As teammates we can elevate the performance of the entire team simply by saying, “Good job!” A rising tide raises all ships and if we could be so brave as to build up those around us, we too would reap the rewards of positive reinforcement.

Chief Matt McAreavey

I would be remiss if I didn’t share a few highlights for progress around the department. 1) The Public Safety Campus is making tremendous headway. Peska Construction is on track to have the 80-foot training tower capped off by Christmas. One more short year until we will recognize the fruits of over a decade worth of planning. 2) The talent pipeline continues to churn at a breakneck pace. The firefighter candidates for our January 2023 class are progressing through the different stages of entrance testing while we have 30 internal candidates preparing for the FAO and BC testing. It is stressful to take on these opportunities and we applaud those who sign up. Keep up the strong work, SFFR, and take some time to recognize the greatness around you. #WeAreSFFR

FIRE

ADMINISTRATION

For my final offering of 2022, it’s time to tie a bow around my thoughts on "Failure," my final failure of 2022, if you will. Throughout the year, I’ve talked about failure in the fire service, failure at SFFR, and failure as a tool for growth. I’ve asked you to reflect about your experiences with failure, the emotions you associate with failure, and the many benefits that experiencing failure can provide to each of us. To drive this topic home, we’ll finish by identifying specific and actionable opportunities for each of us to incorporate the positive aspects of failure into our lives.

Most of the time, I find my life being cleaved in two: Work and Home so for the purposes of this final installment, we’ll focus on the same two divisions.

HOME

Home, and by extension family, can look very differently for each of us. Whether you fulfill roles as a spouse, a child, a parent, sibling, a friend, or something else I feel we’re all working towards similar goals of being the best we can be. One of the most impactful emotions affecting failure is disappointment; not always our own disappointment, but also the fear that we’ll disappoint others. For better or worse, the people who matter most to us are also most often the people we’re most afraid to disappoint. That seems like a reasonable response, right?

Let’s look at our experience. Whether it be hard-earned tuition paid to the school of life, or even just the hundreds of sitcom episodes that play out this timeless trope, the scene usually plays out something like this: AfraidToDisappoint197: I really want to try to <insert action important to the plot> but I’m afraid of disappointing UnspokenExpecations213.

UnspokenExpectations213: I wish AfraidToDisappoint197

wouldn’t worry so much about <insert action important to the plot>, I wish they knew how proud of them I am, and what really matters to me. These two lines of dialog continue to run parallel but are rarely shared between our two characters dooming them to a cycle of frustration and misperceived disappointment. This mini screenplay simply illustrates the all-too-often exchange

of fear that negatively impacts communication within our most cherished relationships.

What could AfraidToDisappoint197 do differently here? Do you have some thoughts? What if they were simply honest about how they feel, and if UnspokenExpectations213 responded in kind? What lessons are there in this scene for our relationships? Do these lessons have any overlap with work?

WORK

Like home, work means different things to different people. Many of the same dynamics are in play at work and at home. Work can elicit pride and a sense of belonging akin to family ties. This sense of work family is often celebrated in the fire service, and I, for one, am grateful for it. However, that sense of family at work can serve to amplify the potential sense of disappointment in the event of failure. I’ll add that at SFFR, I think we augment the perceived risk of failure with the personal feeling of embarrassment meaning that we compound the risk of failure with an external sense of disappointing others, adding an internal sense of embarrassment (closely related to judgement). I’m most interested in how that fear impacts our feelings of self-worth and our career contributions.

Let’s again look to our experience. With promotion season in full swing, this is a great time to examine how these concerns can stall or even permanently halt meaningful personal achievement and career contributions. As a reminder, I’m always simply sharing my perspective, so it only seems fair that I also share my personal experience with this topic.

Long ago, in a station far, far away, I wasn’t a silver-haired Division Chief. In fact, after reaching one of my first departmental goals FAO in my fifth year, I infamously declared myself a "driver for life." In addition to the comfort that the position afforded me, I was also blessed with spectacular crews at my undisputed favorite station, Central. I couldn’t imagine things being any better, and this comfort continued for nearly a third of my career. The next opportunity for growth that impacted me came only out of an off-handed Central kitchen challenge. I was “sharing my thoughts”

about departmental issues, when now-retired FF Randy Wold challenged me to run for union president. In a scene reminiscent of Michael J. Fox in Back to the Future, I had been called chicken and was now pot-committed.

For nearly the next ten years, I learned so much. But more importantly, I was able to do all the things that I enjoy most helping, fixing, and teaching. Interestingly, this role ran me head on into my next forced evolution. During negotiations working to remove a contractual clause that allowed for the outside hiring of Captains (newer people ask around, I’m certain someone will regale you with tales of the things that once were), I argued myself into a trap. The result was that in exchange for the removal of the clause, I had agreed to sign up for the next Captain’s test to put my money where my mouth was, so to speak. The preparation began.

I vividly remember the oftentimes overwhelming weight to succeed. Often not for the sense of success, or the ability to contribute, but rather to avoid ridicule. Regardless, I invested the time, was successful, and rolled into the next greatest career experience that I enjoyed endlessly. Interestingly, and in the sake of brevity (insert readers’ eyeroll), I now currently enjoy my favorite career opportunity that has easily supplanted all those before it. So how is all this relevant and what did I learn?

I learned that both perspectives external disappointment, and personal embarrassment whether through a home or work lens, don’t play out the way our minds trick us into thinking they will. By that, I mean that at every opportunity I had for success and failure, both my home family and my work family were supportive. One of the most heartening things I’ve witnessed throughout my time at SFFR is our capacity for grace and forgiveness. I have personally experienced and witnessed countless failures. SFFR is far more interested in your response to failure, rather than the failure itself. It speaks directly to our values, and we are a forgiving group, full stop. It’s a gift, really. If you are acquainted with me at all then you know one of my deeply-held family beliefs is ripped straight from the comic books (although it may be paraphrasing a previous work ��) with great power comes great responsibility. This responsibility is where we can bring this year’s focus home with action. I’ll start with our external responsibility. For me to experience and describe SFFR as I have, it means that each of us has a responsibility to build and support, rather than to tear

down and divide. It can start with a single relationship, or it can extend to your crew, your shift, or everyone you encounter, but it must start with each of us. This means we must each share our best. We all have areas that ignite our passions, we simply need to share them. If everyone does something, nobody must do everything. Encourage, teach, challenge, and pull people up with you. SHARE.

Internally, we have a responsibility to balance our comfort with what we owe to each other. A department like SFFR cannot thrive without committed and capable people in every single role. Take the time to build your tribe. Enjoy your work and time away. Reflect on how you can best contribute. Put your plan down on paper so that it has a place to live. Revisit the plan often and make updates a solid mind draws new conclusions when presented with new information. I assure you, new information will present itself to you often. Listen to the voice inside your head if it says things like “I’m not ready yet” that’s okay. Ensure that you also decide for yourself what being ready looks like and develop a concrete plan to get there. I assure you that time goes quickly, and it is always later than you think. I appreciate this time I have with each of you and enjoy the chance to share my often-frenetic thoughts. If you’ve read this far, do yourself a favor. Set aside a few moments to reflect on it. What do you agree with? What do you think is hogwash? Most importantly, why? If you’d like to share your thoughts with me, you know it would make my day. Otherwise, thanks for reading. Go do great things.

One last favor is there a topic you’d like me to focus on in 2023? If so, shoot it over by any of the 73 platforms we have available. So long, for now.

DIVISION CHIEF OF ADMINISTRATION | MIKE GRAMLICK

OPERATIONS

Fall is here and it is time to start thinking about cold and snow. The summer was great but kids are back in school and the harvesting season begins! Along with this time of year comes annual ladder testing and wrapping up hose testing. Ladder testing will take place at Station 12 this year due to training schedules during the week of October 3 through the 7.

So far through 2022 Call volume is up about 9 percent (925 calls) currently, over 2021 this time last year. The increase highlights are in EMS (10 percent or 550 calls), False Alarms (6 percent or 90 calls), USAR/Hazmat (16 percent or 27 calls) and lift assists remain on pace with a slight increase over 2021 (1 percent or 10 calls) so far in 2022. So far in 2022, SFFR has responded to 11,280 calls. The top three busiest station territories continue to be as follows:

1. Station 1: 2,188

2. Station 5: 2,089

3. Station 6: 1,665 Road construction projects continue to move forward and create response obstacles for SFFR! These major projects are starting to wrap up with improved traffic flow. The major construction projects currently impacting response are as follows:

} West 41st Street and Marion Road.

} South Cliff Avenue and 49th Street.

} South Sycamore Avenue from 41st Street to 26th Street.

} 60th Street North from North Lewis Avenue to North Sycamore Avenue including the bridge tear-out over I-229.

As we continue to work through divisional responsibilities there is one important change to note for personnel. Worker’s compensation and injury reports will be directed through DC Gramlick. Many of the remaining programs and responsibilities will be communicated during the January and February Team Forums.

Some changes in program responsibility have occurred and are as follows:

} USAR Battalion Chief Mike Murphy

} Fire PPE including SCBA Battalion Chief Robert Dykstra

BC Murphy and BC Dykstra are both very experienced in these respective areas and will serve as great team leads for these important SFFR programs. Below is a quick update on facility projects:

• Central locker room washer/dryer location and new flooring

| This project is still in process as facilities works through their long list of citywide projects to complete.

• Carpet replacement planning: Fire HQ, Fire Stations 5 and 9 all are currently on hold with facilities due to other priorities.

• Roof replacement: Station 10 funding is being identified for significant cost increase.

• Roof replacement: Station 1 Pre-Bid meeting is October 17. Work will consist of a temporary solution for winter and full new roof in spring/summer 2023.

• Station 6: new north ingress, egress, and parking lot are complete.

Through the City’s budgeting process and continual meetings related to land acquisition and planning, we have been able to update the City growth planning for SFFR included in the overall City plan. The following updates have been established:

• Station 6 budget and plan for a station rebuild on current site 2027

• Station 13 ADD: East Madison Street & Six Mile Road area (2026 2029)

Mike Murphy

Robert Dykstra

Continued from Page 4

• Station 14 ADD: West 60th Street North and North Career Avenue area (2026–2029)

• Station 15 ADD: East 85th Street and South Cliff Avenue area (TBD)

• Station 16 ADD: West 85th Street and South Sundowner Area (TBD) this location is variable due to boundaries.

• Station 17 ADD: East 72nd Street North and 476th Avenue (I-229 north of) (TBD)

Additional facility notes:

• Station 1 Evaluation of sleeping areas, alerting, and flow TSP under contract for plan.

• Station 6 facility is aged and overcrowded TSP under contract for plan.

• HQ is aged and overcrowded. The TSP review and is completing plan.

• Station 9 is in need of updating TSP under contract and plan will be ready end of 2022.

| Final scoping and planning due mid December and bidding in 1st quarter 2023.

Fire PPE cleaning, repair, and coordination is located at Fire Station 5! Please review AP 120.3 and follow coordination request(s) as indicated through Keaton Peterson.

• Unscheduled gear cleaning takes place at Station 4.

• Contact Keaton Peterson or DC Gramlick with any PPE questions.

• REMINDER TO CHANGE OUT YOUR FIRE PPE WITH CLEAN GEAR AFTER A FIRE!

EMS

EMS calls continue to show our largest increase in calls for service. So far we are experiencing a 10 percent increase in EMS calls over 2021.

In July, REMSA (in coordination with the Reducing Lights and Sirens national project through the National EMS Quality Assurance Association) implemented a response adjustment to the system to try and reduce unnecessary lights and siren responses. The group identified ten medical determinate codes

which historically have been BLS care with non-emergent transport. These ten determinant code account for about 400 calls per year and were a Priority 2 response previous to this implementation. These calls are currently sent as a Priority 3 + FIRE. So far, the system has dispatched 58 calls since mid July and only two of these have resulted in an upgrade to P2 with an emergency transport both cardiac etiology.

• SEND updates are critical for prioritization and re-prioritization of EMS calls in the Sioux Falls EMS system.

• As we continue to see increases in violent crimes involving EMS response,REMEMBER YOUR BALLISTIC PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT (BPE)!

SFFR is proud and excited to announce two SFFR firefighters have been awarded the REMSA grant to further their EMS education/certification!

} Firefighter Alyssa Lyons will be attending the RN-to-Paramedic bridge course at Creighton University. This course is an intense course to take the vast knowledge a critical care RN already possess and transform it into prehospital care on the street.

} Firefighter Fernando Rivera will be attending Paramedic School at the School of EMS through Patient Care Logistic Solutions in Sioux Falls (PCEMS). This course will build on Fernando’s knowledge and experience as an EMT and add in all of the training and information to become a Paramedic.

We are excited this funding is available to our people in order to continue to increase the level of care we provide the community! This funding will continue and is available at any time for application and review. Please reach out to your battalion chief or DC Bukovich for further information.

"Great job" to both Alyssa and Fernando!

Alyssa Lyons

Fernando Rivera

HAZMAT

The new HAZMAT Rescue is soon to be online at Station 4. We will continue to call it Rescue 4 but it will have the HAZMAT specialty attached to it in CAD for appropriate resource dispatching.

US&R

The Heavy Rescue is online at Station 1. The crews have been adapting to Fire Station 1 and working as a seven person team to best serve the needs of the community with a focus on the downtown area.

The US&R team continues to work through equipment assessments and they are now out training team members. The team, in conjunction with SDTF-1, completed a very intense Structural Collapse 1 and 2 (SC1 and SC2) course. Class participants represented their respective agencies well and once again SFFR put on a great class. BC Murphy and the group continue to be at the forefront of US&R response and training in the region.

Agencies represented at the SC1 and 2 class are as follows:

The HAZMAT team has completed equipment assessments and they are now out training team members. Upcoming classes include:

• HAZMAT IC (HMIC) September 18 23.

• Fall HAZMAT Drill with National Guard 82nd CST October 18 20

• RAE Monitor Repair Technician November 8, 9, and 10.

In addition to these courses, we have several team members traveling to other classes, including:

• Swiftwater Boom in Montana.

• Radiological/Nuclear Response Class in Aberdeen.

SFFR continues to plan, update, and improve our HAZMAT capability through training and equipment. A few equipment updates:

• New AP4C is in-service replaced the AP2C.

• New weather station is on order.

• New energetic materials detection equipment in-service.

SFFR is also in final stages to secure funding for improved radiological/nuclear detection/identification and gas detection/ identification monitors. Target year will be 2023 for those monitors.

The crews at Fire Stations 2, 4, and 10 continue to lead the way with hazardous materials and detection for SFFR! Great job!

• Sioux Falls Fire Rescue

• Rapid City Fire Department

• Aberdeen Fire and Rescue

• Watertown Fire and Rescue

• Vermillion Fire and EMS

• Norfolk, NE, Division of Fire

In addition to the courses SFFR hosted this year, we have several team members traveling to other classes, including:

• Rope Rescue Instructor in California

• Open Water Diver

• Dive Rescue 1

The crews at Fire Stations 1, 8, and 12 continue to lead the way with US&R for SFFR! Great job!

WILDLAND

Nationally the year started off very dry and at high risk of wildland fires, including here at home. Our region had a busy spring and early summer, but timely rains late summer have kept the risk lower than predicted.

The wildland outlook for the fall, winter, and spring 2023 will depend on snow pack. Locally they are predicting a colder and snowier than normal winter! Get the shovels, plows, and cold weather gear ready!

SFFR will continue to work with Public Works and Parks and Recreation to identify areas that need prescribed fire for vegetation/noxious weed control. We will try to complete a few areas of concern this fall/winter if weather and conditions support.

Wildland deployment PPE, equipment inventory/coordination, and deployment equipment have been relocated to Station 7 under the coordination of the Station 7 crews. FF Josh Groen has been instrumental in taking the lead on this and has done a great job!

APPARATUS/EQUIPMENT

All of the apparatus movement has created one clear and consistent message being shared by personnel: “our apparatus should be cleaner both inside and out."

Make sure the following actions are taken:

• Thoroughly clean all areas of the apparatus.

o Including inside the cab, compartments, and under the apparatus.

• We have noticed the cab interiors of apparatus and compartments/equipment are in need of some TLC from crews to get them up to cleanliness expectations.

• Take note of items that would help improve our cleaning process and equipment available to crews. WE WANT TO KNOW WHAT WE CAN REASONABLY PROVIDE TO CORRECT THIS

Following is a list of apparatus/equipment-updates:

• New Rescue Engine (Station 8) Rosenbauer chassis delivered (January 2023)

• New wildland/EMS Squad ordered Rosenbauer chassis ordered timeline?

• New wildland body (same as WL-7) Rosenbauer in production

• Night Vision Goggles delivered training in-process (FF Engberg is lead)

• Heavy Tow Vehicle for TC and Special Operations delivered training in-process

• New Draft Commander pump test trailer delivered training in-process

• New 906 (ambulance) ordered waiting on chassis delivery timeline

• New Rescue Engine (Rescue 40) Rosenbauer Proposal at finance for order

• New Engine (Engine 5) Proposal at Finance for review

• New Chief P/U ordered Summer 2023

• New Battalion ordered Summer 2023

• New EVT Truck ordered Summer 2023

All SFFR team members and committees continue to work hard on their focus area to make SFFR even better. Please support any requests for assistance they might have in order to complete projects and gather information.

DIVISION CHIEF OF OPERATIONS | MARK BUKOVICH

PROFESSIONAL STANDARDS AND TRAINING

Operations Training Officer It is my pleasure to welcome Captain Ben Tracy back to the training team as our Operations Training Officer. Ben will be switching to 40-hour in early October and he will hit the ground running. DC Bukovich, BC Marzolf, and TO Tracy will work through the next steps of identifying the location for the operations training station and they will also be working with the shift BCs to identify the crews that will be located at the training station. If you have interest in one of the training station crew positions, please reach out to your BCs to let them know. We want to do our best to set this up for success. As always, if you have questions don’t hesitate to reach out.

Dog Days of Summer transition into the Changing Seasons of Fall! Our portable props continue with their rotations among the stations. The following is the station rotation for the remainder of the fall:

Prop-Schedule

Station 1 Station 2 Station 3 Station 9 Station 10 Station 11 Station 12

Multi-Purpose x x x 3-Oct-22 17-Oct-22 31-Oct-22 14-Nov-22

Ventilation Prop 14-Nov-22 x x x 3-Oct-22 17-Oct-22 31-Oct-22

Elevator Prop 31-Oct-22 14-Nov-22 x x x 3-Oct-22 17-Oct-22

Forcible Entry Door 17-Oct-22 31-Oct-22 14-Nov-22 x x x 3-Oct-22

Drill III is coming! Drill III is coming! And the objectives are:

Skill One Successfully don all PPE and on air in two minutes or less (NFPA 1001).

Skill Two Forcible Entry (This will be completed in full PPE with teams of two forcing entry on the forcible entry simulation prop utilizing available hand tools from your apparatus).

Final Evolution

• Dispatched to a possible structure fire

• Board apparatus

• Forward lay 200 feet of LDH from hydrant located near southwest corner of Governor's house to address point (FireBlast burn simulator)

• Visible fire through exterior window (first story)

• Deploy 200 feet of 1.75 hand line

• Utilize hand line for transitional attack

• Notified of a possible victim with a last known location, will be identified to first arriving unit (will be the only unit on scene) via bystander (second story)

• Set 24 foot extension ladder to division two, known location

• Complete VEIS on division two, known location

• Locate and successfully remove victim via ladder

• Maintain EMS care of patient will be given patient stats via TO

board

transport

Happy training! If you need any assistance from the training center, please reach out. We are glad to help.

Fall and Winter Certification Courses Enrollment for upcoming classes are open within Target Solutions and now is the time to sign up. Not only will it help you organize your training, it will also allow us to organize the training and pre-course assignments for you. Take this opportunity to get signed up and prepared. The following are a few of the upcoming opportunities:

1. Safety Officer will be offered November 14 16. Please reference AP 600.1 in regards to the requirement to obtain this certification prior to the seventh year of service.

2. Fire Officer II Certification Course will be offered December 12 through December 16.

3. Tactical Chemistry will be offered January 9 through January 13, 2023.

PSC Update It’s hard to believe we are at one year down and one year to go of the two-year construction timeline for the Public Safety Campus. A lot has happened over the last year and there is a lot left to do. It’s amazing to see the changing landscape at the construction site on a weekly, if not daily, basis. We are quickly moving from a broad overview picture of the campus to the intricate details of its inner workings. As things progress we will continue to share updates as much as possible.

We Are Sioux Falls Fire Rescue #WeAreSFFR

DIVISION CHIEF OF PROFESSIONAL STANDARDS AND TRAINING | Steve Fessler

SERVICE ANNIVERSARIES

1 year (October 18)

Dennis Clark

10 years (October 22)

Dean Lanier

15 years (October 22)

Sara Caven

10 years (November 13)

Mitchell Boysen

10 years (December 17)

Keaton Peterson

FIRE PREVENTION

On July 13, Fire Inspector Tyler Tjeerdsma passed his NICET LEVEL III exam. Level III is for technicians who can work independently with standards, plans, and specifications to produce complete plans for typical/standard systems for approval. There are some folks who have been in the fire alarm business that have had great difficulty passing this exam. It is quite an accomplishment for someone who has to focus on several different disciplines in Fire Prevention to pass this specialized exam and gain certification. Please congratulate Tyler when you see him.

School is back in full swing and Captain Cox, Inspector Tjeerdsma, Inspector Fey, Inspector Alberico, along with Avera, are delivering grade school fire safety education to students.

SFFR Prevention Staff with help from T3 B and C shift delivered RA fire safety training to USF and Augustana University in August.

Fire Inspector Mike Schmidt and Fire Inspector Bob Small attended the Health Connect Fair on September 24 providing fire safety information.

Operations and Fire Prevention are wrapping up their surveys and inspections of businesses in Sioux Falls. Thank you for all of your work so far.

BATTALION CHIEF/ENFORCEMENT AND INVESTIGATION | MIKE TOP

PROMOTION

Captain Jon Alvey

NOVEMBER

DECEMBER

Koopman

Koopman

Koopman

Koopman

TRAVEL 7/1-9/30/2022

Captain Rachel Van Beek, Fire Fighter Chris Lohan and Andrew Biggs traveled to Missoula, MT to attend Swiftwater Spill Response Technician Class July 10th-15th.

Division Chief Michael Koopman traveled to Independence, Mo., to attend the Int’l Association of Fire Chief’s annual conference July 12 15.

EMS Educator Amy Marsh traveled to Louisville, Ky., to attend the NAEMSE Conference August 1 7.

Captains Greg Lacey and Rocky Foster traveled to Missoula, Mont., to attend Swiftwater Spill Response Technician Class August 14 19.

Fire Fighter Eric Dieren traveled to Alpharetta, Ga., to attend ROHVA training August 14 19.

Battalion Chief Jason Marzolf traveled to Aberdeen, S.D., to attend the State Hazmat Task Force Meeting August 31.

Battalion Chief Mike Top, Fire Inspectors Tyler Tjeerdsma, Mike Schmidt and Barry Maag traveled to Chamberlain, S.D., to attend the DSIAAI conference September 7 8.

Captain James Rahm traveled to Emmitsburg, Md., to attend NFA classes September 10 24.

FAO Mark Olson and Fire Fighter Natalie Van Whye traveled to Missoula, Mont., to attend Swiftwater Spill Response Technician Class September 11 16.

Emergency Manager Regan Smith traveled to Huron, S.D., to attend and give a presentation at the South Dakota Emergency Management Conference September 14 15.

Captain Darryn Deck and FAO Brad Vosburg traveled to Huron to present SDTF-1 at the South Dakota Emergency Management Conference September 15.

Division Chief Steve Fessler traveled to Sioux City, Iowa, for Fire Strategic Planning September 23.

Captain Ian Stark and Fire Fighter Chris Lohan traveled to Camp Ripley, Minn., to attend Tactical EMS School September 24 30.

Scheels Event

Crew Training

2002 Fall Class Celebrates 20 Years.

2017 Fall Class Celebrates 5 Years.