A Message from the President
Chief Marty Dailey
Welcome to Chief's Quarterly and thank you for becoming a member of the North Carolina Association of Fire Chiefs. The board of directors and I would like to thank all who attended the Mid Winter Conference this past February. Based on the responses I have received from those who attended, the conference was a great success. Without your participation and support, this conference could not happen. I would like to thank all of our sponsors and vendors who continuously provide funds and support for our conference. They are vitally important to the fire service and great big applause goes out to them.
The executive board continues promoting leadership and education to help you meet your goals and objectives this year. Executive Director Kenneth Mullen and I had the privilege of attending Gateway Nine in Raleigh this past February. It was my first time attending this conference and I feel very confident that the issues discussed are very important to the fire and emergency service. Priority issues discussed were as follows:
Health and Wellness: We all know that good health is important in being able to do our jobs well. It is crucial for all departments to consider establishing wellness programs for their personnel. Daily exercise and proper eating habits are part of a wellness program that will help firefighters live a healthier lifestyle.
Fatality and Injury Task Force: If developed, this group will have the responsibility of reviewing injuries and fatalities and will make recommendations for better education and prevention.
Classes for New Fire Chiefs: Many times when new Chiefs come into office, they are looking for essential information needed to insure that their department is meeting all requirements and benefits for their personnel. As discussed, this class would be designed to give Chiefs information necessary to help make their departments successful.
Gateway Benchmarking and Accomplishments: For this issue, a group would be established to benchmark the accomplishments and successes of all issues Gateway is pursuing.
Credentialing: The purpose of credentialing would be providing information at fire scenes to insure that individuals meet the necessary qualifications and certifications.
Benefits (Parity to Law Enforcement): This Benefits issue is for the purpose of reviewing basic benefits and retirement plans for the fire service and compare them to law enforcements plans. Examples of our goals are to bring parity in the separation allowance and 401K plan. Reminders and Updates Executive Development 2009: The Executive Development program will return this year to the Charlotte Training Academy. Additional information will be available on the website. This program runs one week in September and one week in October. Finally, in conclusion, I would like to share inspirational thoughts to help brighten your day. It is important that we take time out for ourselves and family. With the economic downturn and jobs being lost, it is easy to get frustrated and discouraged. I always look for encouraging words to help me and hopefully give me peace of mind. I hope the following does the same for you: 9 Ways to Find Peace of Mind
1. "Unset" your heart: Let go of trying to control things over which you have no control. Sometimes life doesn't hand us what we want. When we unset our hearts from our needing it all to be a certain way, we can breathe a sigh of relief and open the door to a more powerful way of living.
2. Choose the path of trust: When you understand you have little control of the external world, you then have two choices: you can see yourself as "poor me" victim at the mercy of circumstances or develop the trust that no matter what happens in your life, you will have the inner strength to create something good from it all.
3. Increase your inner sense of power: Cut the negativity in the mind, by saying over and over again: "Whatever happens in my life, I'll handle it."
4. Collect heroes who have learned to "handle it." As you collect heroes, your trust grows and your worry about the future gets smaller.
5. Focus on the learning that can come from any situation in your life: If you can see all situations in life as a way of learning and growing, it helps you let go your need for things to be a certain way. Constantly remind yourself, "I can learn from this."
6. Embrace the thought "It's all happening perfectly." Look for the good in any situation that life hands us.
7. Focus on the blessing: Notice the beauty in life. "No matter what happens tomorrow, I have had this today."
8. Get Involved: "My life has meaning and I will do whatever I can to make this a better world."
9. Create a "wondering" life: Even with difficult situations in our lives, substituting "I wonder" for "I hope" sometimes keeps our hopes from being dashed and opens up the possibility of our learning and growing from whatever happens.
Please remember to always drive safely and don't forget to buckle up. Our number one priority is to be safe and for everyone to return home. Again, thank you for allowing me to serve as your president, and thank you for the service you give to your communities.
God Bless you all,
Marty. |
Firefighter Burn Injuries
Submitted by Fire Chief Dan Jones
Chapel Hill Fire Department
Hopefully, you already know of this and even more hopefully you will never need this information, but a recent incident where we were not alerted let us know that not everybody across the state is aware of help the Chapel Hill Fire Department can provide if you have a firefighter burned in the line of duty that is transferred to the Burn Center at
Chapel Hill.
If you ever have or know of a firefighter seriously injured or burned who must be transported/transferred to the UNC Hospital trauma center or burn center here in Chapel Hill please notify the Chapel Hill Fire Department (CHFD) as soon as you can. The CHFD in concert with the Chapel Hill Firefighters Association will mobilize immediately to provide support to your Department and the family of the injured firefighter. We have a regular system in place to provide this support.
We will have on-duty personnel meet your injured firefighter (career or volunteer makes no difference to us) at the hospital upon arrival by ambulance or helicopter and stay with them until your department representative or family arrives (longer if needed). We have even helped carry injured firefighters down from the roof landing pad to the emergency/operating room. We make sure your firefighter is never alone. We can make hotel reservations for you, we provide initial food and cold drinks to family and firefighters in the waiting room, we can house a few firefighters overnight the first couple of days in our stations, we can meet family and colleagues outside Chapel Hill and provide guidance into the appropriate locations, we can get parking passes for you, we will help you maintain a 24 hour vigil for seriously injured comrades, we can run errands for you, we provide information about where to stay/eat/rest/shop in Chapel Hill, and we will just sit and provide support if needed. We have a close relationship with the Burn Center staff and even the Chief Trauma Surgeon for UNC is a firefighter on our Department. We will use our connections to assist you or the injured firefighter's family anyway we can.
We have done this about a dozen plus times over the last 9 years and it is an honor for us since we are blessed to have UNC hospital within our jurisdiction. This is a "pay it forward" operation for us because in 2000 we had a Chapel Hill firefighter and his daughter killed and his wife and son seriously injured by a drunk driver while in Orlando on holidays. The Orange County and Osceola County firefighters in Florida took care of us by standing by at the hospital and providing all of the services I mentioned above for us. They even attended the court dates of the drunk driver to represent us since we were so far away. Since we could never repay those guys, we decided to "pay it forward" here in North Carolina.
If you ever need us, use these numbers ASAP, preferably when your firefighter is being prepared for transfer to Chapel Hill so we can be on scene when the injured firefighter arrives.
On-duty Battalion Chief: cell 919-697-5966, office
919-969-2010
Chief Dan Jones: cell 919-697-5976, office 919-968-2783
Deputy Chief Caprice Mellon: cell 919-697-9371, office 919-969-2008
CHFFA L-2580 President Clay London: cell 336-209-2448
Please forward this to other colleagues that may not be aware of what we can do for firefighters injured in the line of duty and sent to UNC Hospital.
|
Fire Chiefs and Firefighters across North Carolina today are all challenged by busy life styles. As a Driver - Operator for the City of Sanford Fire Department and the Fire Chief of Northwest Pocket Volunteer Fire Department in Lee County, I too feel the tugs of trying to find balance between the day to day challenges of the fire service and time for my family. However, in the midst of this personal struggle, I have found two "bright spots" that I must share with you that have become very dear to me... The Firefighters' Burned Children Fund and North Carolina Jaycee Burn Center's "Camp Celebrate".
The Firefighters' Burned Children Fund, Inc. was organized in 1989 by a group of Charlotte Firefighters concerned for the support and recovery of burn patients and to help prevent burn injuries. Firefighters and organizations from across North Carolina have responded to form chapters of the FFBCF for the sole purpose of raising funds to provide this support. Different chapters use a variety of ways to raise funds, with one of the most successful being the collection and sale of aluminum cans. The proceeds earned are used to provide non-medical assistance to burn survivors, and for developing and implementing burn prevention programs.
FFBCF Chapters have provided support to the North Carolina Jaycee Burn Center's "Camp Celebrate" which is hosted by the Burn Center and was the first of its kind anywhere in the United States, as well as other after care programs. Additionally, funds are made available to support Fire and Life Safety efforts in their own areas. It should be the goal of all fire service personnel to reduce burn injuries and fatalities across the state before they occur. The FFBCF annually provides grant funds for the NC Fire Service to create and enhance current fire and life safety education programs in local communities. Grant applications are reviewed by a FFBCF committee and awarded based on creativity and need. Awards are presented during the NC Fire & Life Safety Conference.
The FFBCF is a non-profit organization with currently 13 chapters which include, Buncombe County, Cabarrus County, Charlotte, Gaston County, Kernersville, Landis, Lee County, Lincoln County, Mooresville, Mt. Holly, Person County, Union County and Wake County. Chapter membership is available to any fire service organization that is interested. Membership may be by city or county fire departments, firefighter's association, or other such groups. The willingness to work with other fire departments and firefighters from other areas is critical to our success.
The NC Firefighters' Burned Children Fund, Inc. needs your help. In order to have a positive effect, we need firefighters and fire service personnel from across the state to become actively involved. For those who are interested in forming a new Chapter, Visit www.ffbcf.org and download an application form or contact the State President at dnance@windstram.net. Please complete the chapter application return it to the State Office for approval and soon your chapter can be up and running.
"CAMP CELEBRATE" is a weekend camping experience for children who have experienced the trauma of a burn. It was the first of its kind, starting back in 1982. I have been involved since 1998. The kids love it and many return year after year, some even growing up to come back as camp counselors. It is a unique experience designed to help each camper with their social, emotional, physical and cognitive growth. At camp kids meet other kids just like them and can have fun without being pointed at, picked on, or called names, as I suspect many of them have to deal with each and every day of their lives.
I have seen the camp as large as 100 kids, so you know there is a need for many adult volunteers. Volunteers include firefighters and UNC Staff, and others, who work together to make the event an unforgettable one. Over time, the camp has grown and has had to relocate. This year camp is scheduled for June 5-7 2009 at Camp Kanata in Wake Forest, NC.
Youngsters' ages 7-15 arrive at camp in one of the most amazing ways that any could ever imagine. That's right Fire Chiefs; they ride in on Fire Trucks from all across North Carolina. After meeting at an area mall, they load up and parade down the rode for about a 30 minute ride with lights and sirens, escorted all the way to camp. This has been a tradition that we started a few years ago and has grown more and more each year. Last year we had nearly 40 Fire Trucks from SUV's to Ladders. That's right Fire Chiefs, bring on them trucks! The kids love the ride! And they love the firefighters!
Activities include a mix of "good old-fashioned camp fun" and the opportunity to talk about and build skills for living with burn scars. Teen burn survivors' ages 16-18 years old may be invited to apply for the C.I.T. "Counselor in Training" program. Volunteers serve as counselors, program staff, counselor in training mentors, and logistics assistants. There are daily and weekend-long opportunities available for volunteers and it is a life changing experience for any firefighter.
There are other ways to support Camp Celebrate. Many of the meals are paid for by fire service groups and departments. It has been the tradition for Lee County to cook, prepare and serve lunch on Saturday at the camp. Some chapters pay for meals like the Friday night Pizza Party. The Union County Chapter has paid for the pig-picking on Sunday when the families come and pick up the youngsters and take part in the closing ceremonies. FFBCF Chapters pay for and issue "I Rode the Big Red Truck" t-shirts, which has been a hit for the last 4 years as each kid gets one at registration prior to the parade.
Many activities have been made possible through firefighter support, such as firefighter relay games and inflatable toys. Local pilots provide a program called Young Eagles where the older kids get to go flying. On Saturday night activities conclude with a DJ and dance that has been supported by a FFBCF Chapter. The kids, and the volunteers, just have a great time!
For more information on Camp Celebrate and other Burn Aftercare programs, please contact Anita Fields, Program Manager for Burn Aftercare at the North Carolina Jaycee Burn Center at 919-966-8286, afields@med.unc.edu or visit www.ncjayceeburncenter.org. | |
|
|
|
A Message from the Executive Director
Kenneth G. Mullen
(reprinted from Fall Fire/Rescue Journal)
Moses spent 80 years preparing for a job that would last 40 - A two-to-one ratio of preparation to execution. It's no secret to the members of the fire service that our time in waiting has been drastically reduced over the years. Due to the additional expectations of the public and the expansion of the services we offer, our preparation time is valuable. Does the expectation of the public and the self-imposed expansion of our services reduce our responsibility to prepare our firefighters to face the trials they will encounter in emergency situations? The answer is, "No."
Before a sailor goes out to sea he studies the weather because he knows that avoiding a storm is easier than getting out of a storm. We all know our profession is dangerous and events will occur that are beyond our control. Through preparation and studying the storms that others have been through, we utilize lessons learned in an attempt to lessen the impact and potential tragedy when crews encounter extreme conditions.
Someone once said, "Experience is not what happens to a man, it's what a man does with what happens to him". Now, I'm not talking about war stories. Many of you know how I define those as being situationally motivated and factually challenged. However, experiences of others should be used for teaching our firefighters.
Many of our most famous military leaders studied the history of defeated armies as diligently as they did those who were victorious. They read the accounts of the actions and applied strategies and tactics learned to begin a campaign with all the tools available to them to improve their odds. Patton studied Rommel, McArthur studied Hirohito and we should study the information available to us to increase our potential for success.
A few months ago I challenged a group of fire service leaders to take the information they had received in a week long training session and share it with all the members of their department. I fear the practice of storing information neatly on the shelves behind our desk has been replaced with the memory stick or the compact disc. We all know there is more information available now than there has ever been in our history. All this information is great, but are we learning anything?
When I asked the same group of students how many of them had read the Charleston report, only a small number answered affirmatively. It has been said that, "A man who does not read has no advantage over the man who can't read at all". Ask the members of your department who has read the Charleston report. You may be surprised by the small numbers. We learn from the experiences of others, both good and bad, and we should be using these incidents to train our firefighters. I would challenge you to review the report, honestly evaluate your department and apply the lessons learned.
Unfortunately, in our efforts to serve, the area that may become the easiest to overlook is training. In our haste to get everything else done, we must be attentive and not sacrifice the basic skills of the profession or the career development necessary to prepare the next generation for leadership positions.
In the area of basic skills, we should adopt the State of Missouri's motto of "Show Me". It's no secret that the hardest thing for anyone to say is, "'I don't know", especially in the presence of other firefighters. Fire station life tends to make it difficult to show any weakness. Rather than putting a person in this position, set up an environment that requires the team to work together to demonstrate skills and encourages questions and opportunity to improve. In other words, a true learning environment.
"We don't have enough time" has become a popular phrase in our profession. I'm going to get really deep here so hold on; there are only 168 hours in everybody's week, so its not about not having enough time, it's about how we utilize the time we have. I'm afraid we have created an 8 to 5 mentality in a profession that doesn't operate on a time clock.
Abraham Lincoln said, "If I had eight hours to chop down a tree, I'd spend six sharpening my axe." Lincoln knew the value of preparation - whether it was cutting wood, studying law to pass his bar examination or leading the country. He knew that when the time came, he wanted to be ready. His example of preparation should serve as an example to all of us. No matter what we know, or think we know, we need to continue training and studying so when the time comes we will be ready.
While it is not my intent to refer to firefighters as children, we can apply one of Solomon's proverbs regarding training, "Train a child in the way he should go and when he is old he will not turn from it". Reaction is a learned behavior. Firefighters will react and revert to what they learn in a training environment.
We are responsible to teach our firefighters when they enter the profession and develop them as they mature during their careers. We need to keep our standards high and focus on providing them the tools they need to succeed in the profession. Though it is not possible to make time, it is essential that we take the time and utilize every possible opportunity to create a learning environment. |
|
Chief L. Mark McCurry Named Career Fire Chief of the Year
Chief L. Mark McCurry, Fire Chief for the Town of Forest City Fire Department was named Career Fire Chief of the Year for 2009 during the Mid Winter Conference held at Wrightsville Beach, North Carolina on February 7, 2009. Chief McCurry is shown accepting the award with his wife Beverly and his daughter Emily.
Chief McCurry began his career as a firefighter by serving as a volunteer for the Forest City Fire Department. In 1985, Chief McCurry was appointed to the position of fire chief to replace retiring Chief Bob Harrill.
Chief McCurry inherited a department that was operating from a renovated mule barn with 3 engines, 1 service truck and 3 fulltime firefighters whose primary responsibility was to dispatch for the police department.
Chief McCurry's was determined to provide the citizens of Forest City with the best fire protection available, beginning with the recognition of the fire department and separation of the service from the police department. Fast forward 20 years and the Forest City Fire Department now resides in a 1.5 million dollar station and employees 14 full time firefighters.
Chief McCurry holds an Associate Degree in Business Administration from Isothermal Community College and he holds a number of State and National certifications.
He is the Past President of the North Carolina State Firemen's Association and he is a member of the North Carolina and International Society of Fire Service Instructors.
Mark is a member of the Fire Baptist Church of Forest City where he serves as a deacon. He serves as a little league softball coach.
Chief McCurry's nomination stated, "His commitment to his department and those that serve with him is unwavering, and his leadership abilities and character make him an honorable choice for this award. During his career with Forest City, he has served with distinction and he has truly dedicated himself to the betterment of the Fire Department and the entire community. He is respected, appreciated, and loved as a husband, father, parishioner and as a man of God."
Congratulations to Chief McCurry, his family and the members of the Town of Forest City Fire Department on this well deserved award.
|
|
Chief Johnny Nicholson Named Volunteer Fire Chief of the Year
The North Carolina Volunteer Fire Chief of the Year for 2009 is Fire Chief Johnny Nicholson of the Balsam-Willets-Ochre Hill Volunteer Fire Department. He has over 27 years of service with the Fire Department and was instrumental in organizing the Department in 1981. He is one of the few Charter Members who remain active in the Department.
Johnny was serving as the Assistant Chief when Chief Jake Parris, Jr. suffered a massive heart attack while responding to an emergency incident. In his capacity as Assistant Chief, Johnny led the department in Chief Parris' absence and worked hard to implement and continue the initiatives started by Chief Parris, Jr. His appoint came after the death of Fire Chief Jake Parris, Jr. He served the department in several line officer positions before being appointed Fire Chief in February 1994.
Under the leadership of Chief Nicholson, the fire department moved into a new fire station in November 2004. This move allowed the department to use their former facility as a sub station to better serve the community. Chief Nicholson spent many days and hours overseeing the project.
Chief Nicholson helped organize the Jackson County emergency Services Planning Committee and served as the fire president of the committee. He continues to serve on the Jackson County Emergency Services First Responder Committee.
Johnny and his family are active members of the Balsam Missionary Baptist Church where he serves on a number of committees. He was ordained as a Deacon in February 1993.
Chief Nicholson's nomination stated "(he) is blessed with great leadership skills and he uses his many talents well to serve his family, church family, friends, co-workers, and the communities in and around the Balsam area. The Balsam-Willets-Ochre Volunteer Fire Department is truly blessed to have Johnny Nicholson as their Fire Chief."
Thanks to Chief Nicholson for his devotion to the North Carolina fire service and congratulations on being named the 2009 Volunteer Fire Chief of the Year.
| |
|
Budget Planning
January 2009
Membership Dues
$25.00
October / November 2009
Executive Development Program
Registration
$450.00
February 2010
Mid Winter Conference
Wrightsville Beach
August 20-22, 2009
Annual Conference
Raleigh |
One Swift Command
Submitted by Chief Deputy Ryan Cole
In North Carolina firefighters have been involved in an epidemic which has escalated to a scale of great proportions. This year North Carolina Fire Service began the year out leading the nation in firefighter fatalities in 2008. This is not just a skeleton that has been hiding in someone's closet that just fell out; it has been building for the past ten years. In the last ten years we have lost 60 firefighters in the line of duty with the majority of deaths occurring from heart attack (57.63%). We should and will start preventing heart attacks with new initiatives to change firefighter's lifestyles, however this will be done over time as most people can't change their lifestyle overnight nor can organizations change cultures in a day.
The one thing we can change immediately with one swift command is firefighter fatalities in motor vehicle crashes. In the past ten years motor vehicle crashes have accounted for the second highest cause of fatalities (27.12%) in North Carolina.
Of the 16 firefighter fatalities, only one was wearing a seatbelt. Firefighter fatalities in motor vehicles have remained steady until 2006 when we saw a major increase. Nearly half of the motor vehicle fatalities in the last ten years have occurred in the past two years.
With some knowledge of the problem, a few questions come to mind:
-
While managing a working fire if you gave the order to ventilate the structure to protect the firefighters inside would the crews perform the order?
-
While managing a working fire would you allow firefighters to enter a burning structure without SCBA?
I will assume your answer for the first question would be yes and an explanation would be that the crews follow orders; especially when it makes a safer working environment. I will also assume that your answer to the second question would be absolutely not because it endangers their lives, violates regulations and would likely result in some form of liability. Yes, I know what the word assume means, however, for the sake of discussion we will use the answers provided. If these are the right answers, and if you ordered firefighters to wear their seatbelts they would be safer. If you allow firefighters to commit an unsafe act, and violate a law which endangers their lives how much liability do you bear when they are injured or killed? Even if we remove the liability what decisions or non-decisions can you live with?
The North Carolina Fire Service Seatbelt Challenge was kicked off in August 2008 at the annual NCSFA/NCAFC conference. The seatbelt challenge is completed when 100% of your members sign the pledge form stating they will always wear seatbelts while in apparatus or POV's responding to or returning from alarms. Currently, there are 125 departments who have taken the pledge to make sure everyone is committed to wearing their seatbelt, with their names posted on the national web site. The challenge not only challenges each department, but it also challenges each region, as the region with the most departments will be recognized and awarded by the sponsor VFIS of NC at the 2009 NCSFA/NCAFC conference in August.
If you have obtained 100% you are to be commended, however, our work isn't done yet, because 9% of the 1400 fire departments isn't enough. The fire service of North Carolina applauds you for your commitment for making a difference in your department, but we need you to make a greater difference. If each of the current committed departments assist another 4 departments to commit, 25% of the fire departments in North Carolina will be safer. If you have not made the commitment yet, give that order and make your firefighters safer by having them commit to wearing their seat belt using the form on the NCAFC web page then fax it in and send an e-mail to get your department name added to the national web site. Together we can deliver the swift command to stop this epidemic.
To participate in the seatbelt pledge, the instructions, and form can be downloaded from the NCAFC website by clicking here. Remember you must e-mail balta@trainingdivision.com fter faxing your form in to get your department posted. If you have faxed your form in and e-mailed your department information and your department is not posted e-mail me at rcole@skylandfire.com and I will make sure your information is posted. The deadline for the regional competition is July 1, 2008. Thanks to NCAFC, NCSFA, NCOSFM, VSWCF, NCSFRI, Each Region and VFIS of NC for sponsorship and dedication to a safer fire service in North Carolina. |
Fire / Rescue Department Address & Fire Chief Information
(A Reminder)
by Lauren Thompson
Office of the State Fire Marshal
The Department of Insurance, Office of State Fire Marshal makes every effort to maintain current department and Fire/Rescue Chief information. If our records are not current, the fire/rescue department may not receive pertinent information in regards to grant opportunities, firefighter certifications, fire district rating schedules, special schools, etc.
If your department has a change in the Chiefs position, a department mailing address or a change in the department's email address, the following information is needed by OSFM and should be provided on the fire/rescue department letterhead:
1) Department name, county, department complete mailing address, (the department's physical location, not the chiefs personal address) phone and fax number, and department email address
2) Fire/Rescue Chief's name, day and evening phone numbers, and the Chief's email address
This information should be mailed to the NC Department of Insurance, Office of State Fire Marshal, 1202 Mail Service Center, Raleigh, NC 27609-1202. Also provide to the NC State Firemen's Association, 323 W. Jones Street, Suite 401, Raleigh, NC 27603; the NC Fire & Rescue Worker's Pension Fund, State Treasurer's Office, 325 N. Salisbury Street, Raleigh, NC 27603, Attention: Rhonda Steven; and the North Carolina Association of Fire Chiefs, P. O. Box 7893, Rocky Mount, NC 27804. | |
|
|
|
