UFRA Straight Tip Fall 2017 Volume 18, issue 4

Fall 2017 / Volume 18, Issue 4

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Utah Fire and Rescue Academy Magazine

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10 DEPARTMENTS

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4 STATE FIRE MARSHAL 5 BATTALION CHIEF

FEATURES

6 FIREFIGHTER MENTAL HEALTH

24 GROWING PAINS, PART I

Running Hot and Driving Safe PTSD and the Rural Volunteer Fire Department

8 FIREFIGHTER LAW

Rope Rescue, NFPA Compliance and Liability

36 DEPARTMENT RECOGNITION

26 WINTER FIRE SCHOOL 2018 28 HIGHER EDUCATION: A CAREER INVESTMENT

12 WILDLAND

34 CONGRATULATIONS, FIRE OFFICER DESIGNATION RECIPIENTS!

14 LEADERSHIP

3 Keys to Motivating Your Crew

16 FIRE TACTICS

“Large and In Charge”: Command Presence

37 CLIMBING THE LADDER 40 ACADEMICS

10 VEHICLE EXTRICATION

Mitigating Wildfire through Fire Adapted Communities

Dugway Fire Department Layton Fire Department

30 WINNING THE BATTLE: LIVE FIRE TRAINING

When the Pump Stops!

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Spring 2018 Semester

ON THE COVER:

34 CLIMBING THE LADDER Provo New Hires/ Orem Promotion

35 LETTER FROM THE UTAH STATE FIREFIGHTERS’ ASSOCIATION 36 FIRE MARKS

Lolo Hotshot at the 2017 Brian Head Fire that burned 71,673 acres, destroyed 13 homes, and forced about 1,500 people to evacuate (see https://www.ksl. com/?sid=45517220&nid=1417). photograph by Ian Webb

18 BACK TO BASICS

Avoiding a Confined Space Tragedy, Part II

20 DEPARTMENT IN FOCUS

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Managing Editor Lori Marshall

Editor Kaitlyn Hedges

Design Phil Ah You

Published by Utah Valley University

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Your Voice at the International Code Council

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22 FIRE PREVENTION

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CONTENTS

Message from UFRA FALL 2017, Volume 18 Issue 4 To Subscribe: To subscribe to the UFRA Straight Tip magazine, or make changes to your current subscription, call 1-888-5487816 or visit www.uvu.edu/ufra/about/ magazine.html. The UFRA Straight Tip is free of charge to all firefighter and emergency service personnel throughout the state of Utah.

UFRA Customer Service Local (801) 863-7700 Toll free 1-888-548-7816 www.uvu.edu/ufra UFRA Straight Tip (ISSN 1932-2356) is published quarterly by Utah Valley University and the Utah Fire & Rescue Academy and distributed throughout the state of Utah. Reproduction without written permission from the publisher is strictly prohibited.

Send inquiries or submissions to: UFRA Straight Tip magazine 3131 Mike Jense Parkway Provo, Utah 84601 Phone 1-888-548-7816 ufrastraighttip@uvu.edu Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in the UFRA Straight Tip are those of the authors and may not be construed as those of the staff or management of the UFRA Straight Tip, Utah Fire & Rescue Academy, or Utah Valley University.

2 | UFRA Straight Tip

I am honored and excited to have the opportunity of being appointed director of the Utah Fire and Rescue Academy. Thank you for the kind words of congratulations, and thank you to the staff of our academy for welcoming me as I begin this new endeavor.

Most of us hope to leave our area of responsibility better than it was when we began. I am certain that our previous director, Hugh Connor, has accomplished this upon completion of his ten years as the leader of UFRA. He is entitled to a well-deserved THANK YOU for his efforts. We congratulate and wish him all the best as he moves into retirement.

Fortunately for me, a lot of the heavy lifting that has made UFRA the quality, distinguished organization that it is has already been accomplished. We already have comprehensive Mission and Vision statements along with established Values that have been the bedrock of the Academy for years. These statements still stand as our guideposts and embody what UFRA is and what we strive for.

Mission Statement

Our mission is to train, certify, and support the Utah fire service at the highest level possible.

Vision Statement

The Utah Fire and Rescue Academy at Utah Valley University will become the premier fire training organization in the nation, using consistent quality assessment and improvement strategies.

Values

• Teamwork We work cooperatively to achieve our goals. We recognize that each member of our team is important and essential to our success.

• Customer Service We are dedicated to meeting the needs of our customers through effective communication, innovation, and constant self-evaluation.

• Accountability We accept our organizational and individual responsibilities. We are accountable for our actions, decisions, and performance.

• Commitment We are committed to the safety of Utah firefighters. We understand providing relevant and quality training and certification services enables fire departments to protect citizens in every Utah community.

• Agility We recognize the ability to adapt in a changing market is a critical component of our success. We will remain aware of these outside

developments, innovations, and demographic changes by responding and adapting with speed and organizational flexibility.

• Transparency Every aspect of our organization operates in a transparent manner. Our operational, financial, and logistical processes are available for review at any time by our stakeholders and oversight boards.

Should you have ideas or concerns or should you want to discuss training opportunities, please feel free to reach out to any of us at the Academy; we would love to hear from you!

When I was a fire chief, our city manager often told his department head team, “You don’t have to be sick to get better.” I love that saying because it denotes continuous improvement. Every organization—whether or not it’s running smoothly—should be striving for continuous improvement. And that is exactly what UFRA aims to do.

Brad Wardle is the new director of UFRA as of August 1, 2017. Brad has 31 years of fire service experience, including over 20 years as chief officer. He served as fire chief for the West Jordan Utah Fire Department and for the City of Mountain View California Fire Department and as the president of the Utah State Fire Chiefs Association. Brad has an AS degree in fire science from UVU and a BS degree in economics and a master of public administration from the University of Utah.

You have my commitment and the commitment of our staff: we will continuously work to achieve our established value statements and pursue areas to improve your Fire and Rescue Academy.

Be Safe, Brad Wardle

New Assistant Director of Training

by Brad Wardle, UFRA Director

We are excited to announce David Owens as the new assistant director of training for Utah Fire and Rescue Academy (UFRA).

Dave began his new assignment on August 1, 2017. For the past 38 years, Dave has been serving in the emergency service and fire management divisions. He joined UFRA in 2009 as an area program manager and has presented excellent leadership and support for the Salt Lake City, Davis, and Weber areas and has served as incident commander for UFRA’s Winter Fire School in 2010, 2011, 2012, 2016, and 2017.

Prior to working for UFRA, Dave was the national director of the NEWMSIS TAC at the University of Utah. He was responsible for nationwide EMS data and reporting (October 2007–2009). From 1979 to 2007, he worked for Ogden City Fire Department and was promoted to deputy chief, responsible for all medical operations in Weber County and Ogden City.

and earned a certificate of Executive Fire Officer from the National Fire Academy.

As a UFRA employee Dave has demonstrated great passion, motivation, and support for the training of volunteer and career firefighters and departments statewide. He has managed and taught statewide training courses, blended learning courses, and regional training events. He has assisted certification programs and supported logistics and quality control.

Dave has shown exceptional service in a supportive role for the emergency service communities, adjunct instructors, testers, and chief officers. He openly communicates with staff and local and state organizations and has provided outstanding programs and events with a high standard of performance.

We are pleased to have David Owens lead, direct, and support the training operations for the Utah Fire and Rescue Academy.

Dave graduated from Utah Valley University with a bachelor’s in public emergency services management (Summa Cum Laude)

Fall 2017 | 3

STATE FIRE MARSHAL

I recently returned from the annual conference of the National Association of State Fire Marshals (NASFM). Each morning of the conference, all the state fire marshals get together for candid discussions about what is happening in their respective state, and we discuss issues and difficulties or in some cases new problems being dealt with right now. These discussions are attended only by state fire marshals and, in some cases, their second in command. This year, 35 states were represented at the conference. We also had a variety of presenters who review materials and talk about what’s new or what may be on the horizon. These are some of the topics discussed this year: 1. Tall wood buildings. These are buildings that are more than seven stories high and made almost entirely of wood.

They are being built now in some limited areas. Apparently, they are becoming more common in parts of Canada. These are not simply 2x4 construction; they are using solid and/or laminated wood sections that are very similar to heavy timber.

Burn testing at the ATF lab shows that these buildings are like heavy timber in that they remain structurally sound even after significant burning and heat have been applied to the structure. These buildings seemed like an interesting concept and may come our way in the future.

2. Buildings for marijuana production. We discussed fire safety in buildings being used for marijuana production, both growing plants as well as processing products. This industry is expanding and currently most of these commercial growers are experimenting with a variety of grow lights, spacing, fertilizers, etc. to see if they can enhance the final products. Utah currently has neighboring states involved in this industry, and Utah has had considerable discussion about the use of marijuana for medical purposes. If Utah ever allows such uses, there are considerable fire and safety issues that will need to be addressed in grow rooms, production processes, chemical use, and large power distribution.

3. AFG grants. NASFM has asked congress to continue funding the AFG grants and has also asked that in the category of “open competition” (which makes up 10% of the amounts distributed), 8% be moved over to augment fire prevention and safety measures, which currently receives 10% of

FROM THE STATE FIRE MARSHAL the total. Current disbursement of funds is broken down like this: 25% to career fire service, 25% to volunteer fire service, 25% to combined career and volunteer fire service, 10% to fire prevention and safety, 10% to “open competition,” 2% to non-affiliated EMS, and 3% to state training academies.

4. Building Risk Matrix. We learned that in the next year or so NASFM is coming out with a Building Risk Matrix, which will be available to assist in developing a risk model for buildings within your jurisdiction with about 20 minutes of input into the program (answering software-generated questions). We talked about pipeline safety, fire scene safety, and protection for fire investigators; discussed issues relating to the Airbnb-type occupancies and how to best address life and fire safety issues on these numerous rentals that are popping up all over; and discussed fireworks, lightning, NFIRS reporting, and various other topics.

Aside from topics discussed at NASFM, you should also know that over the next couple of months our office will be posting an online training course for fire service personnel inspecting food trucks.

We currently have a checklist for the inspection on our web page if you’re interested in knowing what is coming beginning in January of 2018. Additionally, there are several legislative pieces that we’re already following, and I’ll try to address them in the next issue and at winter fire school.

Please let me know how we can assist you in the field and at the State Capitol.

Thanks for all you do, and please be safe out there!

Coy Utah State Fire Marshal Coy D. Porter retired from Provo Fire & Rescue after 30 years of service; he then worked for almost four years as the assistant director of training at UFRA. Porter enjoys his association with the firefighters of Utah in his position as state fire marshal.

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Fire engine emergency call response typically engages the eyes and ears of all crew members. The captain often helps the engineer navigate the quickest route to the scene while crew members assist in recognizing other response factors. As a battalion chief, you do not have the luxury of a crew to help you navigate your way to the scene. You are required to drive, navigate, absorb call details, and begin developing an action plan simultaneously. Here are several hints that may help you safely make your way to the scene: Don’t turn a wheel until your head is ready. If you find yourself in a deep sleep pattern at 3 a.m. and the “fully involved” call comes in, don’t require your brain to start faster than it can. You’re tangling yourself up in your suspenders, and driving requires far more cognition than getting dressed. Take a breath and a short pause if you need it.

It seems that speed and safety are inversely proportional: the faster you go, the less safe your response will be.

Give them the finger. During daylight hours, you may find yourself making your way through heavy stop and go traffic. As you slowly maneuver your way through this seeming gridlock, some drivers may not notice you until you are face to face and feet away, visible through their windshield or mirrors. Some motorists will go into a lights-and-siren-induced shock. More than occasionally a driver will stare at you with a puzzled look, asking for direction. Oddly effective in this instance is your index finger directing traffic through your windshield.

move through intersections as safe as possible, but that can only happen when they are used appropriately.

Drive defensively and expect irrational movement from other vehicles. Again, the siren and light combo sometimes makes people do stupid things. Keep this in mind, especially at intersections—the most common place emergency apparatus are involved in accidents. Move through a red-light intersection with the utmost caution, only after coming to a complete stop. Warning devices request the right of way; they don’t ensure the right of way. Know that some drivers will inexplicably not see you at all until it’s too late. Worse yet, some may see you approaching in the same direction of travel and will try to race ahead so they won’t be inconvenienced or delayed. Be prepared at all times to take a safe evasive maneuver.

Finally, you are of course bound by your department’s policies. It’s always good to review your organization’s emergency response policies. Look for areas of improvement and compare with current industry best practices. Combined with continued driver training, these policies will help your chances of avoiding emergency response accidents.

Only respond with your lights and siren when responding to a true emergency and you feel shaving seconds off your response time will affect the outcome positively. Lights and siren response will help you make your way through traffic and

Many fire department emergency response accidents are caused by excessive speed. It seems that speed and safety are inversely proportional: the faster you go, the less safe your response will be.

Always consider road conditions, crowds, barriers, and other obstacles that should cause you to go slower. Your warning devices shouldn’t be perceived as speeding safety; they’re not.

Paul Hewitt began his career as an Orem City reserve firefighter in 1987.

After 20 years with the Salt Lake City Fire Department he served as a fire chief in Arizona before his 2011 appointment to fire chief of the Park City Fire District.

Fall 2017 | 5

BATTALION CHIEF

Running Hot and Driving Safe

MENTAL HEALTH

PTSD AND THE RURAL VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT: WHAT IS YOUR GAME PLAN?

by Hersch Wilson

If this hasn’t happened to you as a volunteer fire department officer, it probably will.

It goes something like this. First, there is a high-speed, head-on collision with fatalities. All the dead are teenagers.

There is the dedicated and hard work of extrication of the injured, then the waiting for the Medical Investigators to show up before the deceased can be removed and placed in body bags. You are fiercely proud of your department.

But then, one of the younger guys stops what he is doing and says, “Hey, I think I know these kids . . . I gotta call my girlfriend.”

He walks off.

Another, who said he just couldn’t help with the bodies, is staring off into space.

A few months later, one of the department veterans says to you, “I keep having dreams. . . are we sure they were dead? They just looked like they were sleeping . . .”

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My question to you, the volunteer officer is, what do you do? What is your game plan?

This article is about post-traumatic stress and the small volunteer fire department.

The question is: How as volunteer officers can we help the individuals on our departments cope with the stress of traumatic calls and manage PTSD? PTSD Simply put, post-traumatic stress disorder is a collection of symptoms that can occur after experiencing or witnessing trauma. As firefighters, we often say that we see things that no one should see. But we do see them and there are

consequences. Typical symptoms include intrusive thoughts like flashbacks and nightmares; avoidance behaviors, for example, avoiding discussions of the incident or avoiding the location; and alteration in general mood, with more negative emotions, like anger, lack of trust, and apathy. Severe cases can result in significant depression, alcohol and substance abuse, and suicide.

Clinically, symptoms must last a month or more to be PTSD. (That is cold comfort for the firefighter who is “messed up” after a bad call.)

There is not a lot of data about the impact of PTSD on the volunteer firefighter community. However, according to Mike Healy, the co-founder of the Fire/EMS Helpline, over 80 percent of the calls they receive are PTSD related.

The Rural Volunteer and PTSD After a particularly bad mutual-aid call, a friend of mine who is a career paramedic said that the conversation at the station that evening was, “How do volunteers cope with these calls?”

Check out UFRA's new course offering: First Responder Mental Health Awareness.

Her point was that a career crew went back to their station together and they talked about the call. The city department had infrastructure for these situations: they had a wellness officer, insurance, health benefits, and the union.

But what does the average rural volunteer department have?

Probably very little.

And yet, volunteers are in many ways more at risk for PTSD. When you’re a career firefighter, you show up for your shift and you mentally “get in the game.” There is some psychological protection there.

But for volunteers, especially the small departments who are “on” 24/7, you never know when the pager is going to tone out and what you’re going to find. We often go from “civilian” to dealing with mass casualties in the space of a few minutes.

Finally, the essence of being a volunteer is that we work in our community—we are there for our friends and neighbors. The cardiac arrest call at 1:00 a.m. could well be your neighbors. The DUI crash fatality might be the best friend of your son.

The Game Plan Volunteer fire department officers need to have a game plan for how to handle traumatic incidents and PTSD for our firefighters. This plan should include the following components: 1. Educate, educate!

The most important action we can take is to educate our personnel.

Just as we are trained on infectious diseases we also need to be trained in PTSD—what it is, what the symptoms are, and what help is available. PTSD training needs to be part of our annual curriculum.

The National Volunteer Fire Council (NFVC) has virtual courses on both behavioral health and suicide

prevention that can be used and adapted for any fire department.

2. Serve as a model.

Our task as leaders is to “be the change we want to create.” With PTSD, we need to be open about it, talk about it, and be clear that, like having the flu, there is no stigma attached; it can happen to anyone, including you.

3. Know your people.

As leaders, we need to know our people. How do individuals normally respond in crisis? What does it look like when it’s “not normal”?

When Ellen, the steady, every-call firefighter-EMT stops showing up, do you know why? When Bill, the ebullient guy always with a joke, clams up, is it because he’s just tired or is he playing the moviein-his-mind about extricating the dead mom?

4. Sobriety and Sleep!

Believe it or not, one of the most simple and effective ways we can help is to make sure that firefighters involved in an incident are getting sleep and staying sober.

5. Know your resources.

There are several ways to help, depending on the individuals, the severity of the trauma they’ve experienced, and the symptoms presenting. On our department, we often start with just talking about it among ourselves or talking to firefighters individually.

These sessions are mostly about officers listening, rather than sharing war stories.

If anyone on the department believes it is warranted, the next step is a voluntary critical incident stress debriefing.

It is crucial that it’s voluntary. For some individuals, sitting around and reliving the scene with a group will just make the symptoms worse.

Next, the National Volunteer Fire Council has a 24/7 helpline for firefighters and families of firefighters 1-888-731-FIRE [3473]. They can point you towards a variety of resources to help.

Finally, there are a variety of emerging therapies and clinicians who deal specifically with PTSD. We are not therapists!

But it’s a good idea to have a couple of phone numbers of specialists who can help in a crisis.

A wise ex-chief once lectured our department, “If you want to be 100 percent safe, turn off your pager.” Being a firefighter, even in a small town, carries inherent risks, which we all accept as part of the vocation. On the other hand, as officers, our number one responsibility is to keep our people safe. We focus on physical safety every day: keeping a watchful eye, whether our team is on the highway at midnight or at a wildfire in the midday sun. But we also have a moral imperative to keep our firefighters safe from the effects of emotional trauma. The last thing we want is hear about is one of our own who has quit or retired and is psychologically damaged, maybe using drugs or alcohol or thinking of suicide. I never want to have to ask myself, “Was there anything I could have done?”

It is not a simple thing to be a volunteer fire department officer. But we must never let anything get in the way of our first duty: to keep our folks healthy, physically and mentally, and to make sure they get safely home after every call.

Know the science about PTSD. Have a game plan. Take care of yourself and your department. Be safe!

Hersch Wilson is the medical captain with Hondo Volunteer Fire and Rescue in Santa Fe County, NM. He has been with the department since 1987. In his “other life” he is a writer and a soccer coach. Visit him at Herschwilson.com or on Facebook at Hersch Wilson-Firefighter.

Reprinted with permission from Hersch Wilson. The article can be found online at http://www.nvfc.org/ptsd-and-the-ruralvolunteer-fire-department-what-is-yourgame-plan/. It originally appeared in the NVFC Helpletter.

Fall 2017 | 7

FIREFIGHTER LAW

Rope Rescue, NFPA Compliance and Liability

by Curt Varone

We cannot and should not allow safety concerns to be driven solely by liability concerns.

Are there any cases where a fire department has been held liable because personnel used a piece of rope rescue hardware that was appropriate for the task, but did not meet NFPA 1983? The reason I ask is every tech rescue instructor I have ever had stressed that all our hardware must be NFPA 1983 compliant or we could be sued. In addition our Chiefs insist “we can’t even buy a carabiner unless it has an NFPA stamp on it in case we end up in court!” It seems to me, we are paying extra for nothing more than the NFPA stamp. The same item made by the same manufacturer without the stamp is much cheaper.

Answer: Great question – and as you expected – I have not seen a single case where a fire department or emergency entity was sued (let alone held liable) because they used rescue hardware that was appropriate for the task but non-NFPA compliant. More specifically – if the two items were in fact identical except for the NFPA compliance certification, a jury would likely not even be allowed to know about the difference because it would be irrelevant.

However, we cannot and should not allow safety concerns to be driven solely by liability concerns. I addressed this in a previous article regarding Liability and Bail Out Systems.1 Our focus needs to be on preventing the liability-creating event from occurring, not whether we can be held liable.

A well-trained high-angle rescue professional is certainly capable of deciding on the appropriate equipment for a given operation without significantly jeopardizing safety or increasing liability. The additional expense for NFPA compliant equipment is a function of the fact that the manufacturing process and end products are independently verified by a 3rd party to meet NFPA requirements. Normal climbing equipment is not subject to third party verification. The devices could be identical in every respect… or the non-compliant device could be overrated, mislabeled, defective, or a counterfeit look-alike.

How would you possibly know?

Personally, I have no problem working off non-NFPA compliant equipment that meets industry standards for climbing – like CMC. In fact back when I was a ski patroller I used non-NFPA compliant gear. Of course that was back in the day… but even after NFPA 1983 was issued in 1985, my chair-lift self-evac system was not NFPA compliant. That was a personal question related to my safety. I made the decision and I took the risks.

If my wife and children were trapped somewhere and needed to be rescued – and I had a choice about whether the rescuers would use non-compliant equipment or NFPA compliant equipment – I would choose the NFPA compliant equipment every time. If I was buying rope rescue equipment for my sons – or my firefighters – to use, I would buy NFPA compliant equipment. That choice is not about my safety. There is a level of assurance that goes along with NFPA compliance.

To me it is not a liability issue. We have to stop thinking about things in terms of liability and do things because it is the right thing to do. The fact that there have been no lawsuits over the use of non-NFPA compliant rescue equipment does not mean it is a wise thing to do.

8 | UFRA Straight Tip

Training Program Manager Assignments Please note the updated assignments of our Training Program Managers. Each of the three program managers are assigned to counties based on geographical area. Contact your program manager to request information about any training offered by UFRA.

Chuck Tandy 435-272-7681 Beaver, Garfield, Iron, Kane, Piute, Sevier, Washington, Emery, Grand Wayne, San Juan A double pulley in a 4:1 system.

I am sure you are familiar with municipal purchasing practices, and the low bid mentality. The bigger the department, the more removed the user of the equipment is from the purchasing decision. Ordering non-NFPA compliant equipment through a municipal purchasing process is not like walking into a reputable mountaineering shop and purchasing the equipment myself.

Some pencil-pusher in purchasing is ordering the equipment from a low-bid provider – both of whom have an incentive to provide me with the absolute minimum at the lowest cost. How do I have confidence that what I need is what I am getting?

When my firefighters will be relying on the equipment – I am going to specify that the equipment is NFPA compliant.

It’s not based on fear of liability.

See www.firelawblog.com/2017/01/05/liability-bail-systems.

1

Originally posted by Curt Varone on firelawblog.com on January 11, 2017.

Reprinted with permission.

Raleigh Bunch 801-662-5082 Juab, Millard, Sanpete, Carbon, Uintah, Duchesne, Daggett, Utah, Salt Lake

Kevin Bowman 801-550-5429 Box Elder, Cache, Morgan, Rich, Weber, Summit, Wasatch, Tooele, Davis

Fall 2017 | 9

VEHICLE EXTRICATION

An air chisel can be used to remove roof skin, cut windshield glass, make access points for other tools, and cut hinge pins and bolts. photography

by Russell Young

for a roof flap or total removal; removing the roof metal and headliner using a reciprocation saw or air chisel with a vehicle upright or on its side; and using a cable or chain come-along to pull open the door or to raise the rear of the vehicle. The winch line from a tow truck can be used to stabilize/control vehicle movement, lift, or move as required; you need to work with the wrecker operator to coordinate and implement the desired technique. The key to success is knowing what tools and equipment are available in your organization and planning, practicing, and training with them in a variety of scenarios, because they are your only option during an emergency incident.

Here are some hand tools we should all be familiar with:

EXTRICATION TOOL BOX WHEN THE PUMP STOPS! Rescue equipment can have a mechanical or human failure that renders the device(s) inoperable at any time. Extrication tools and hydraulic pumps are no exception. The question is, have you trained for an equipment failure? Planning, training, and practicing for victim extrication using manual or alternate power source tools (i.e., air tools, battery tools, etc.) is an imperative part of being an effective first responder. Power tools (including pneumatic and hydraulic tools) will inevitably go out of service. You need to be able to function with the tools you have. Hand and alternate power source tools are relatively cheap and provide a necessary back-up option for victim removal if and when the hydraulic tools fail.

When the hydraulic pump motor won’t start or the generator runs out of fuel, you must be able to seamlessly transition to using manual tools to complete the necessary skills to free trapped victim(s). Extrication evolutions using a chain, a come-along, reciprocating saw, jacks, pry bars, and hand tools should be a skill taught in basic extrication classes and individual department training programs. Having the knowledge, skills, and abilities to utilize alternate tools in any type of operation is critical.

Extrication training evolutions should include removing a vehicle door by using a Halligan to access the hinges and by using hand tools, a socket set, or an impact wrench to remove the hinge bolts; using a reciprocating saw to cut the posts 10 | UFRA Straight Tip

•

• •

A Hi-Lift (aka Farm Jack) jack can be used in multiple applications during an extrication incident. This single tool can be used to lift a vehicle, open a door, create an opening between the roof rail and vehicle body, stabilize/ control movement, perform steering column displacement, perform a dash roll, etc.

An air chisel can be used to remove roof skin, cut windshield glass, make access points for other tools, cut hinge pins and bolts, force trunk locks, remove vehicle seats, etc.

A wrench and socket set can be used to remove a variety of bolts and vehicle equipment to gain access to the victim or provide access points for other tools.

When it comes to hand tool skills, can you operate a Hi-Lift jack? In a recent training, I found several responders that had never used this type of jack and needed the basic training of the tool operation before using it on a vehicle. The training ground is the perfect place to find this type of instruction, not during an incident. When was the last time you used an air chisel? Effective use of an air chisel requires practice (yes,

Hand and alternate power source tools are relatively cheap and provide a necessary back-up option for victim removal if and when the hydraulic tools fail.

A Hi-Lift (aka Farm Jack) jack can be used to displace a steering column.

A Hi-Lift jack can be used to secure or create an opening between the roof rail and the vehicle body.

blade angle matters). Are your reciprocating saw skills proficient? Do you have charged batteries or the proper extension cord to operate it? It is imperative that you practice and stay proficient with the use of hand and alternate power source tools that are available in your organization. You never know when your hydraulic tools will have a mechanical failure, won’t operate, or are already deployed on the incident. If you haven’t kept up on your hand/alternate power source tool skills, it’s time get you and your organization back to basics.

Stay Safe…Chief Young

Russell Young is a battalion chief and assistant training officer for the Orem Fire Department, where he is responsible for extrication and ambulance driving operations. He is the chief of the Duchesne Fire Department and has been a paramedic for over 22 years. Young has a BS in emergency services management, is currently completing his MBA, has over 25 years of experience in fire and emergency medical service, and is an instructor and certification tester for UFRA.

Fall 2017 | 11

WILDLAND

Mitigating Wildfire through Fire Adapted Communities The Wasatch Front Fire Adapted Communities Coalition (WFFACC) is made up of a group of citizens, city and county employees, fire departments, and state and federal government partners to promote fire adapted activities throughout the five Wasatch Front counties. This group is part of the national Fire Adapted Communities Learning Network and shares its best practices and success with partners across the US. WFFACC members are leaders in the Wasatch Front who have become fire adapted by motivating landowners to implement mitigation and preparedness activities such as hosting community wildfire education events, participating in wildfire risk reduction projects like Chipper Days, earning Firewise recognition, and updating their community wildfire preparedness plans (CWPP).

Below are the community highlights from members of WFFACC: Community Spotlight: Big Cottonwood Canyon Since 2002, Big Cottonwood Community Council has supported wildfire mitiga-

12 | UFRA Straight Tip

tion efforts for the 10 small mountain communities that are surrounded by Forest Service public land. Along the way, wildfire mitigation projects morphed into three areas: Defensible Space, Building Ordinances, and Address Updates.

At first, Defensible Space was difficult to sell to homeowners. In 2005, Utah Forests, Fire & State Lands conducted some demonstration projects to show that defensible space could be attractive. Since then we have sponsored Chipper Days in August to help homeowners dispose of tree branches and brush. The monetary payoff came in January 2017, when a new state law went in to effect that said the state government will cover the costs of fighting a wildfire if that county has a wildfire mitigation program underway.

That’s us! This past summer, 65 families spent 1,001 hours for Chipper Days. If you multiply those hours by the amount that the state government says a volunteer hour is worth, $24.14 an hour (www.independentsector.org), that amounts to about $48,000 that we offer Salt Lake County in-kind to insure against wildfire expense in the canyon. It is heartening to see that

our Defensible Space project has a ripple effect from our homes to all homes in Salt Lake.

The County’s Building Code was not so accepting of Defensible Space, however.

Known as FCOZ (Foothills and Canyons Overlay Zone), the rules for building in the mountains are very strict. Creating a 30-ft. defensible space around any home was not allowed. We’ve been working to change that. Several years ago, the Unified Fire Authority (UFA) made Defensible Space a part of their standard building requirements, so county planners had to allow it. But they allowed it quietly because the FCOZ ordinance had not been officially changed. Environmental extremists have made some of these reasonable transitions difficult, but we finally have a revised FCOZ that allows for Defensible Space. It should be approved by the summer of 2017.

The Address Project started in 2010 as an effort to help emergency responders find 911 calls. We suggested that homeowners buy address signs that are fireproof, reflective, and at least six inches high. To

Woodland Hills community education day at the LDS Youth Conference.

Department and city employees, Utah fire crews, and local tree companies.

As a result of the community’s hard work and dedication, Woodland Hills was officially recognized as a Firewise USA community in 2014 and has maintained that recognition ever since.

— Brianna Binnebose, Wasatch Front Wildland Urban Interface Coordinator

Woodlands Hills community fuel reduction project with LDS Youth Conference volunteers.

our delight, the County Sign Shop stepped up to help. They offered attractive brown signs with cream-colored numbers for only $10 each. People have welcomed this project, and it has reinforced their support of our community wildfire program. We, in turn, are lucky to have support from Utah Forestry, Fire & State Lands and Salt Lake County.

— Barbara Cameron, Big Cottonwood resident Community Spotlight: Woodland Hills The community of Woodland Hills is located in southern Utah County, with about 1,400 full-time residents living on the eastern bench of the Wasatch Mountains amid dense stands of scrub oak and maple. The residents of this community are very active with fire planning and fuels reduction projects, due largely in part to the Woodland Hills Fire Department and the CWPP committee. This groups meets periodically throughout the year to plan the community Chipper Day, as well as coordinate fuels reduction projects and educational events. In 2014, the commu-

nity hosted the LDS Youth Conference and had over 400 volunteers to help Utah County Fire Department put in a fuel break on the Davis Ranch. Participants viewed a presentation on the importance of the work they were about to do and how they can help their families prepare their own homes for wildfire. As a group, these volunteers helped Woodland Hills raise over $50,000 of in-kind donations.

In preparation for the 2016 and 2017 project seasons, members of the CWPP committee went door to door and personally talked to each resident to discuss the upcoming project of clearing brush within the city’s road easement to improve ingress and egress in the event of an evacuation. This was well received by the community, and as a result, dozens of residents participated in the Firewise Town Hall and Fire Demonstration on Columbus Day. This education and outreach effort proved successful, as residents had nearly 300 piles of vegetation prepared for the fall 2016 and summer 2017 community Chipper Days, where the chipping was done mainly by Woodland Hills Fire

Feeling motivated to have your community begin on the journey of becoming fire adapted? Visit our division website (forestry.utah.gov/index.php/about-us/office-locations) to contact an Area Wildland Urban Interface Coordinator. For more information regarding the national Fire Adapted Communities Learning Network, visit their website (fireadaptednetwork.org) and follow their blog.

Defensible space project in Big Cottonwood.

Before

After

Fall 2017 | 13

LEADERSHIP

3 Keys to Motivating Your Crew

Intrinsic motivation is what drives firefighters toward excellence rather than mediocrity A couple weeks ago I needed to order something from an online company I had used once or twice before. When I visited the website, I could not remember the password for my account, and when I tried to use the online password retrieval service, I was notified that this service was temporarily not working.

So I called the customer service number on my computer screen. I was immediately connected with a friendly guy 14 | UFRA Straight Tip

named Mike who listened to the problem I was having. While I was on the line, he made sure I was able to reset my password, and confirmed my order.

He gave me good information about changing how my shipping address was listed. As I was completing my order, he said, “I’m going to give you another $5 credit on your order, for your trouble today.”

This was unexpected, since the items I was ordering were already on sale. When I thanked him, he replied, “That’s what I love about this job—this company totally supports us to make our own decisions for customers if we think it’s the right thing to do.”

Finally, intrinsic motivation comes from attaching oneself to higher sense of purpose when working. Firefighters have purpose in abundance in their work—what could be more noble than protecting lives and property?

Motivating factors I admit I was taken aback. I was talking to a faceless person working in a call center on a Sunday morning for what could not be very good wages, and he’s telling me he loves his job?

How can that be?

But sometimes firefighters forget. They get caught up in little annoyances that come with any job and start to treat firefighting as just any job. It can really help with motivation to not only remind firefighters of their larger purpose, but also actively appreciate your crew and coworkers for being part of that effort.

My encounter with Mike reminded me of three principles of motivation I had recently read about in Daniel Pink’s excellent book Drive: The Surprising Truth About What Motivates Us. This book contends that the only substantial, lasting motivation is intrinsic motivation, and that intrinsic motivation is based on three factors: autonomy, mastery and purpose.

Lessons from Mike Intrinsic motivation is important for any job to be done well.

Mike at the call center demonstrated all three elements of this type of motivation.

Intrinsic motivation is that which is derived from internal factors rather than external rewards or punishments. Intrinsic motivation is what makes us do something because we want to, not because we have to.

Autonomy Of course, we are all also driven by external factors. We need money to live. But money alone is not enough to motivate someone to contribute at the highest level possible. In the long run, the most productive, creative and successful people are primarily intrinsically motivated.

How can you foster intrinsic motivation in any work situation?

First consider the importance of autonomy. People do not want to be micromanaged.

They want to feel they have the power to make decisions. They want to feel they are trusted.

Autonomy is possible at any level of the fire department. Even the newest firefighters can be given responsibilities for which they are personally accountable.

People can individualize their work to some degree—for instance, it is not necessary that every firefighter do the station tour in exactly the same way. Empowering people to make decisions is a key way to support intrinsic motivation and commitment to the organization.

Mastery and purpose Mastery is another important aspect of motivation. People want to feel confident in their skills. Good training and a positive learning environment are critical to mastery, but so is leadership.

Are mistakes used as learning opportunities rather than the source of ridicule or shame? Do you positively reinforce best practices? Do firefighters take pride in their skills and seek out new challenges rather than always playing it safe?

He clearly appreciated the autonomy he had to give me a small discount on my order. He handled my problem skillfully and efficiently. And even though an online order may not be very important in the greater scheme of things, getting that order right was important to me, and Mike understood his role in making that happen.

Autonomy, mastery and purpose are critical elements to fostering intrinsic motivation. Anyone on the job can foster these values in others, but company officers have a special responsibility to do so, for the benefit of the individuals they work with and the people they serve.

Linda Willing is a retired career fire officer and currently works with emergency services agencies and other organizations on issues of leadership development, decision making, and diversity management through her company, RealWorld Training and Consulting. She is also an adjunct instructor and curriculum advisor with the National Fire Academy. Linda is the author of On the Line: Women Firefighters Tell Their Stories. She has a bachelor’s degree in American studies, a master’s degree in organization development and is a certified mediator. Linda is a member of the FireRescue1/Fire Chief Editorial Advisory Board.

Originally posted on firerescue1.com on September 9, 2013.

Reprinted with permission.

Fall 2017 | 15

FIRE TACTICS

“Large and In Charge” Command Presence: What Is It & How Do I Develop It? Reflecting on your career, no doubt you saw some leaders in the fire service who demonstrated that one thing that set them apart: command presence. Ours is a profession that deals with having to “take charge” of emergency scenes, and some incident commanders can arrive on scene and just by his or her presence everyone knows they will make “calm out of the chaos.” Images of a John Wayne–type character, Kurt Russell as Wyatt Earp in Tombstone, or George C. Scott in the role of General George S. Patton come to mind when we think of someone who has that effect in a crisis.

In early fire service history, the incident commander (IC) was the person with the “speaking trumpet” shouting orders. We have come to embrace that symbol by placing the trumpets on the collars of officers of our profession. But just placing trumpets on a collar doesn’t give someone command presence.

I often share stories about one of my fire service mentors, retired Deputy Chief Gary Ells of the Tempe Fire Department. Early in my career I viewed Captain Ells (at that time) as the epitome of someone with command presence. Chief Ells, in the way he communicated verbally and non-verbally, “oozed” confidence and charisma. His loyal followers trusted him and his streetsmart, no-nonsense approach to fireground operations. Always humble, Chief Ells would be the first to admit it took time, dedication, and effort to develop his skills, and he would seek to improve every day.

There are several aspects of what command presence is and how one can develop it and grow. Are people born with it? I don’t necessarily believe they are. People of certain personalities may have a higher preponderance of developing command presence, such as a “D” temperament, as described by Dr. Robert Rohm: “decisive, direct, demanding and domineering” are a few of the adjectives that describe this particular temperament.1 Just having that temperament won’t necessarily give one command presence. It may just make someone a loud bully! People with other temperaments may need to work a little harder at developing the necessary skills and traits.

Here are three key areas to develop to enhance command presence:

16 | UFRA Straight Tip

Appearance Do you “look the part” of the person in charge? Are you in proper attire (uniform) or personal protective clothing appropriate for the incident? Are you “standing tall” with confidence, shoulders back, and a firm handshake, looking people in the eye?

How do you carry yourself around others? Do you shuffle or walk with a purpose? Do a “mirror check” before you walk out that door in the morning!

Deputy Chief Gary Ells, photo courtesy of the Tempe Fire Department

Communication Skills The IC with great command presence is the one with a calming, self-controlled, unflappable voice. The person that is effectively communicating orders in a timely fashion with organization and an even tone, giving direction with a purpose, will instill confidence in those on the fireground. This will, in turn, lend itself to a safer operation, as the poise and self-control demonstrated on the fireground will discourage “freelancing” as clear assignments are given.

Alan Axelrod, in his book Patton on Leadership: Strategic Lessons for Corporate Warfare, states: “Act like a leader and speak like a leader. This doesn’t mean shouting your message, but your message must be clear, unmistakable and always delivered

Just having that temperament won’t necessarily give one command presence. It may just make someone a loud bully! with conviction. When issuing instructions, your sentences should be declarative, not exclamatory and not questioning.”

As General Patton said, “Officers must assert themselves by example and voice.”2 However, command presence has to exist beyond the fireground and must be evident in the fire station as well. Around the station and while interacting with your crew or other staff, strive to be the one that masters communication skills. Joining an organization such as Toastmasters will help one develop that skillset and build confidence. Numerous clubs and locations can be found at https://www.toastmasters.org. From a personal standpoint, I thoroughly enjoyed the education and practical experience of verbal communication development while a member.

Actions As stated previously, act like a leader! This involves developing your “street-smart” skillset through experience and deciding to never stop learning. There is truth to the saying “knowledge is power.” Look for opportunities to develop and build your decision-making skills. Search for a mentor that demonstrates command presence and observe what they do and how they act. Spend some time with them, if possible as a “ride along.”

General Patton, photo courtesy U.S. Army Signal Corps, Library of Congress.

Observe them both at the incident scene and in everyday interactions. Watch how they make decisions. People with great command presence are people who can be trusted and have character. Do people know they can trust you? Those with great command presence realize truly great leaders are not afraid to accept responsibility and be held accountable. All of this is part of that “confidence component” that helps one act like a leader.

In the next issue, I will build upon “command presence” as I explore the concept of extremis leadership and the fire service.

“The presence you create is the presence you command.”

–Paul Bamikole _____________________

Dr. Robert Rohm, Positive Personality Profiles: Discover Personality Insights to Understand Yourself and Others (2005), Voyages Press, Jasper, Georgia.

2 Alan Axelrod, Patton on Leadership: Strategic Lessons for Corporate Warfare, Prentice Hall, 1999, Paramus, NJ. 1

Kevin Ward is a 37-year fire service veteran, having been the fire chief for Layton City since 2004. Prior to this appointment, Chief Ward progressed through the ranks from firefighter/paramedic to battalion chief with the Chandler Fire Department in Arizona. He holds several NWCG qualifications, such as ICT3 and Structure Protection Specialist, and is an instructor for the Utah Fire & Rescue Academy.

Chief Ward has been an instructor for UFRA’s Command Training Center since its inception.

Richard Gilliland, Honolulu Fire Department Chief from 1859 to 1862.

Photo courtesy of the Hawaii State Archives.

Fall 2017 | 17

BACK TO BASICS

AVOIDING A CONFINED SPACE TRAGEDY, PART II Part I of this article should have reminded us all how dangerous a confined space incident can be for the rescuer. Confined Space Rescue is a child of the 1990s and unfortunately may have fallen off the training radar in many organizations. This article will deal with the standards and definitions relating to confined space. These drive the response. It should serve as a refresher to many responders and hopefully won’t be new for you or your crew.

Confined Space Standards Two professional consensus documents pertain to confined space entry and emergency response: NFPA 1670—Standard on Operations and Training for Technical Search and Rescue Incidents (2017), Chapter 7, which contains the procedures for Confined Space Search and Rescue, and NFPA 350—Guide for Safe Confined Space Entry and Work (2016), which supplements and provides additional guidance to support NFPA 1670.

NFPA 1670 is a performance-based standard. It tells you “what to do,” not “how to do it.” Conversely, NFPA 350 is a guide, telling the responder “how to do it.” It establishes best practices for responder safety. These documents are necessary due to the ambiguity of the federal OSHA regulation 29CFR 1910.146. The details about safety procedures for both entry and rescue are not found in the OSHA regulation. The NFPA standard and guide for confined spaces provides key guidance on specific requirements and should be the focus of department training, as they are both current publications. Being a new guide, NFPA 350 will be new to most responders and should be reviewed, and associated SOPs should be revised accordingly. Rescue teams and firefighters need to stay up to date on the technical aspects of confined space rescue.

Reclassification Entry—All hazards have been eliminated through engineering controls or design, and the space can be reclassified as a non-permit required space and a confined space entry can be conducted without a permit.

Whenever any person breaks the plane of any confined space, a Pre-Entry Evaluation form should be completed or an Entry Permit should be generated per the regulation. In either case, anytime entry is to be made, a checklist should be completed prior to entry. At no time should a worker(s) decide to enter a confined space, even if it has not been classified as a permit required confined space, without using one of these two checklists. Rescue does not require a confined space permit, although it certainly should be examined, if it exists, upon arrival as part of a rescue size-up. What OSHA essentially wants the entrant to do is ask themselves, “Have I thought of everything?” The bottom line is that if there is ANY doubt about whether the space has a hazardous atmosphere, consider it hazardous and go through the permitting process.

Permit Required Entry—Hazards remain a possibility, so control measures must be taken and a permit must be created with all safety measures and rescue in place.

What Is a Confined Space?

All three parts of the following definition must be present if it is to be considered a Confined Space: The space 1) is large enough for an employee to enter fully and perform assigned work AND 2) has limited means for entry and exit AND 3) is not designed for continuous employee occupancy. If the space meets the definition of a confined space, when do you need a permit to enter? No written entry permit is required to enter a confined space if it does not have any of the following conditions that would require a permit to be generated.

Permit Required Confined Space: Only one of the following conditions needs to be present to require a permit. 1) Is it a confined space? If YES, 2) does it contain now or does it have the potential to contain a hazardous atmosphere? OR 3) does it contain a material that could engulf the entrant? OR 4) does it have an interior configuration or mechanism that might entrap an entrant? OR 5) does it have any other recognizable safety or health hazard? If any of these conditions may exist in a confined space a permit should be generated.

Alternate Procedure Entry—All hazards have been eliminated except for atmospheric hazards, which can be controlled through continuous ventilation and monitoring. Expert decision-making must conclude that entry can be made safely and documented with a permit.

Entry Permits The Entry Permit is nothing more than a checklist so that the requirements of the regulation can assist the employer, workers, and rescuers in establishing a safe work environment within a permit required confined space. The entry permit assists rescu-

OSHA allows for three basic types of entry into a permit required confined space:

18 | UFRA Straight Tip

ers in knowing what has been done in and around the space prior to rescue. It may also indicate what went wrong if the right questions are asked by the rescue team.

The permit identifies the following: 1. The permit space to be entered specifically by designator 2. The purpose of the entry 3. The date and the authorized duration of the entry permit 4. The authorized entrants within the permit space, by name or by such other means as will Typical Confined Space Warning Sign. (Image courtesy of www.etraintoday.com) enable the attendant to determine quickly and accurately, for the duration of the permit, which authoIf the permit is completed correctly and followed, there would rized entrants are inside the permit space be no need for rescue. The final part of this article will deal with 5. The personnel, by name, currently serving as attendants hazards of confined spaces and the specific positions and pro6. The individual, by name, currently serving as entry supercesses that must be implemented to stay safe in a confined space visor, with a space for the signature or initials of the entry entry or rescue environment. supervisor who originally authorized entry 7. The hazards of the permit space to be entered 8. The measures used to isolate the permit space and to eliminate or control permit space hazards before entry Andy Byrnes, EFO, MEd, retired 9. The acceptable entry conditions after 21 years at the Orem Fire 10. The results of initial and periodic tests performed under Department as a special operaparagraph (d)(5) of this section, accompanied by the tions battalion chief. He was also names or initials of the testers and by an indication of a sworn law enforcement officer when the tests were performed for 18 years and paramedic for 16 11. The rescue and emergency services that can be sumyears. He is currently an associate moned and the means (such as the equipment to use and professor at Utah Valley Univerthe numbers to call) for summoning those services sity’s (UVU) Emergency Services Department in 12. The communication procedures used by authorized Provo, Utah. Andy is the director of the Firefighter entrants and attendants to maintain contact during the Recruit Candidate Academy Program at UVU. Andy entry—and the backup communication method is a graduate of the National Fire Academy’s Executive 13. Equipment, such as personal protective equipment, Fire Officer Program. He holds an associate’s degree testing equipment, communications equipment, alarm in fire science, a bachelor’s degree in public emersystems, and rescue equipment, to be provided for comgency services management, and a master’s degree in pliance with this section instructional technology from Utah State University.

14. Any other necessary information, given the circumstances of the particular confined space, in order to ensure employee safety 15. Any additional permits, such as for hot work, that have been issued to authorize work in the permit space

Fall 2017 | 19

DEPARTMENT IN FOCUS

MURRAY FIRE DEPARTMENT

by Deputy Chief Jon Harris

as their Fire Station #1. The sign for the county station is still visible on the BMW dealership at 4725 South State Street.

The Murray City Fire Department (MCFD) was officially established back in 1906 as a volunteer fire department.

Murray City paid the Seagrave Company $1,600 for two hose carts, one 100-gallon chemical engine, one hook ladder, and one hand truck. In addition, various firefighting tools were bought, including 1,500 feet of firefighting hose bought at .84 cents per foot. With this equipment, and the help of 26 volunteers, MCFD was up and running out of a nearby stable.

Soon thereafter, construction began for a fire station south of City Hall. The cost was a little under $3,000. The main part of this building still stands today at the end of a strip mall on 4901 South State Street in an antique shop called Cobwebs. In 1957, Salt Lake County Fire Department moved their headquarters to 3760 South Main Street. The next year, MCFD moved into the abandoned station and used the station

In 1964, MCFD ended its 100% volunteer status and hired Wendell Coombs and Ray Limberg as its first two career staff.

In 1974, MCFD left the county building and moved into an old mechanics shop on Poplar Street with the hope that a new station would be built within a couple of years. It took longer than expected, but in 1979 the fire department completed what is now known as Fire Station 81 on 40 East 4800 South. Over the next several decades, the number of paid staff increased as the number of volunteers dwindled. In 1978, a part-time firefighter program helped complement staffing until 1998 when the department went completely full time.

Today the department has 62 full-time personnel, 1 half-time deputy fire marshal, and 1 half-time administrative assistant.

MCFD has an ISO (Insurance Service Office) rating of 3.

MCFD is often recognized by our yellow apparatus. How did this happen? In 1970, a NFPA representative brought a yellow

“MCFD Circa 1906” – The earliest known picture of our department, circa 1906.

20 | UFRA Straight Tip

fire engine by the station. One night the firefighters compared the ability to see a red engine to the yellow engine while looking down State Street. The firefighters were sold on the visibility of the yellow.

Later that year, the first yellow apparatus was purchased, a GMC squirt. All fire apparatus have been yellow ever since.

One of our biggest challenges at MCFD has been the growth in responses. In the last four years alone, the call volume has increased over 20%. In 2016, MCFD had 6,506 runs. This year we are likely to run 7,000. Usually around 75% of our calls are medical related. We need to determine the most efficient method to respond as well as how many new staff we need to add.

MCFD delivers a variety of services to our citizens. MCFD has personnel trained in special operations such as swiftwater, hazardous materials, confined space, rope rescue, structural collapse, wildland, and active shooter incidents. In addition, all MCFD engines, trucks, and ambulances have paramedics and provide advanced life support.

MCFD is committed to being an active contributor to the community. The department prides itself on spending quality time teaching in the schools and providing station tours. Every August, in conjunction with our police department, we hold a Health and Safety Fair to teach the community about a variety of safety issues.

MCFD is actively involved with many fundraising activities such as the Muscular Dystrophy Association, the Breast Cancer Foundation, the Boys and Girls Club, Burn Camp, the American Lung Association, and the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation. CERT (Community Emergency Response Team) classes are taught regularly. We also have an active cadet program

Dr

5585 S

Wilson Ave

5600 S

5600

5600 S

S

800 W

5750

5750 S

State St

590 W

5900 S

Mu Sta

850 E

725 E

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Listing of Ranks 1 chief 1 deputy chief 1 assistant chief/fire marshal 3 battalion chiefs 9 captains 2 deputy fire marshals (1 part time) 9 engineers 36 paramedics/firefighters 2 administrative assistants (1 part time)

6230 S 6240 S

6230 S

6280 S 400 E

State St

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515 E

380 W

520 E

Cedar St

Fires of Significance 1924—Murray Eagle Newspaper Plant 1961—Granite Furniture Fire 1974—Applegate Fire 1980—Cottonwood Medical Plaza 1982—Purcell Tire Company 1987—Don Blair 1990—Heritage Corporation 1993—The Allied Fire

2000—Robertson Brothers 2015—Nelson Fish Food Factory Park

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ne

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6100 S

Clear St

where young men and women are able to work at the fire station and learn about what it takes to be a firefighter.

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tic

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es

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Belview Ave

115 E

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aj

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Main St

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M

Murray Fire Department Station 84

350 W

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Murray Fire Department Station 83

5700 S

S

300 W

Tripp Ln

675 E

State St

5650 S

“Station 83” – Fire Station 83 (completed in 2009) located at 484 West 5900 South. In front of the station is our 2009 Pierce 95’ Tower.

APPARATUS: Station 81 1999 Ford Explorer............... Reserve Response Vehicle 2001 Pierce Pumper............. Reserve 1500 GPM Pumper w/water 2005 MMD............................ 100 kw Portable Diesel Generator

Portable Generator 2006 Chevrolet Mobile Special Ops / Mobile

Command Vehicle Command Center 2008 Ford F-450 ................... Ground Ambulance 2013 Dodge 5500.................. Type 6 Wild Land Brush Unit 2016 Pierce Pumper............. 1500 GPM Pumper w/water Station 82 2002 Enclosed Trailer........... Haz Mat / Special Ops 2005 Pierce Pumper............. 1500 GPM Pumper w/water

2005 Ford F-550 Truck........ Haz Mat Tow Vehicle / Air Cascade 2015 Dodge Horton 4500.... Ground Ambulance Station 83 1989 Chevrolet One Ton..... Grass Truck / Snow Plow 1990 Ford One Ton Van...... Special Ops Vehicle 1997 Smeal 75’ Ladder......... 1500 GPM Ladder w/water 2008 Ford F-450.................... Ground Ambulance 2009 Pierce Mid-Mount Platform 1500 GPM Tower w/water Station 84 2003 Ford F-350.................... Reserve Ambulance 2008 Ford F-450.................... Reserve Ambulance 2013 Ford F-350.................... B/C-81 Command Vehicle

“2016 Pierce Engine” – Our most recent engine purchase, a 2016 Pierce 1500 GPM Pumper.

Fall 2017 | 21

FIRE PREVENTION

YOUR VOICE AT THE INTERNATIONAL CODE COUNCIL

by Scott Adams, Retired Assistant Chief/District Fire Marshal Park City Fire District and Rob Neale, Vice President, National Fire Service Activities International Code Council

If you’ve ever attended a building or fire code development hearing, you can relate to the adage about sausage making “unpleasant truths about it emerge that make it much less appealing.”

As important as these codes are to protect the public and firefighters—as well as increase on-scene operational effectiveness—the code development process can seem daunting to the uninitiated. Conflicting public testimony, rapid-fire voting, and the legalese of code language complicate the process and often require expert interpretation to ensure the final product is what the proponent wanted.

Fortunately, an alternative exists for those who would rather dip their toes in the code development process rather than dive in head first: the International Code Council Fire Service Membership Council (FSMC). Registration for the FSMC is free to any International Code Council (ICC) member, and anyone can participate in the work it accomplishes.

The FSMC provides a great training ground for anyone who wants to learn more about the code development process.

matters, code adoption issues, and other matters the council deems appropriate. While the technical work on code changes is performed by other committees, many emerging issues and trends are heard first at the 400+-member FSMC as a sounding board for further action.

Each membership council is led by an 18-member governing committee that sets the council agenda for the year. Normally, seats on the governing committee are elected, but the FSMC Governing Committee is unique because 14 of the positions are appointed by the International Association of Fire Chiefs and the National Association of State Fire Marshals. These appointments ensure the FSMC will have strong fire service representation that represents leading organizations. This year’s governing committee chairman is Scott Adams, retired deputy chief and district fire marshal from Park City.

The FSMC works closely with its partner group, the Building Official Membership Council (BOMC), to ensure cooperative relationships and good communications among the principals.

Both councils have permanent liaisons to the other, so matters of joint interest are shared.

Membership Councils In addition to the FSMC, the ICC has membership councils titled Emerging Leaders, Building Officials, Sustainability, ICC Global, and PMG (Plumbing, Mechanical, and Gas).

These membership councils are free to join for ICC members interested in any or all of the councils that might represent their interests.

The membership councils have three main purposes: they serve as advocates for concerns and issues that are of interest to their discipline; they assist the ICC in increasing participation in the ICC code development process; and they advise the ICC on programs and policies, legislative 22 | UFRA Straight Tip

Limited access complicates firefighting and rescue operations. Circumstances like these are discussed at the Fire Service Membership Council to explore solutions and alternatives.

Emerging Issues Over the last two years, the FSMC and BOMC have been particularly active promoting important federal legislation related to fire protection and life safety. The groups were successful at getting the full ICC Board of Directors to write to Congress to support the Fire Sprinkler Incentive Act, the Nicholas and Zachary Burt Carbon Monoxide Poisoning Prevention Act, and the Campus Fire Safety Act of 2017. Working with a coalition of The Center for Campus Fire Safety, Campus Firewatch, and CampusFireSafety.com, the FSMC collaborated to support the Kerry Rose Fire Sprinkler Notification Act. The bill requires colleges and universities that maintain on-campus student housing to notify students whether the housing is equipped with fire safety systems, including sprinklers.

The Fire Service Membership Council succeeded in getting the ICC Board of Directors to support improved carbon monoxide detection and awareness in residential properties.

The FSMC was instrumental is the development and presentation of the ICC’s new Innovation in Code Administration Award. The award was created to recognize those communities that provide creative leadership in addressing fire and building code challenges. The City of St. Paul, Minnesota, Department of Safety and Inspections received the inaugural award for its rental dwelling unit improvement program.

In 2016, the FSMC polled its membership to identify issues of importance. Not surprisingly, the leading responses included requests for more training. In response, one of the FSMC work groups this year conducted a national training needs assessment to see what specific areas needed improvement. The work group has collected the data and is analyzing the results.

At one recent meeting, Fire Chief Steven Lohr from Hagerstown, Maryland, presented a provocative program on combustible construction, building height and area, fire apparatus access, and fire sprinkler protection in multi-family dwellings. His FSMC presentation provided real-world examples on how code changes might be needed to improve firefighter access to podium buildings that include wood frame construction on top of fire resistive parking garages or retail space.

One of 2017’s major efforts is to promote ICC certification exams for commercial fire alarm and sprinkler plan reviewer and inspectors. The exams are intended for code officials to be able to verify their competency that new and existing fire protection systems meet the requirements of the building or fire codes and standards.

Participation While ICC membership is required to be a “formal” member of any of the membership councils, the work of the membership councils is open to anyone who is interested. The FSMC, for example, has a training and education work group that includes a federal fire protection contractor who is not an ICC member.

increasing council membership, identifying fire protection and code training and education needs, and watching out for new and emerging issues that might affect fire protection and life safety, especially those that might develop into proposed code changes.

The FSMC meets face to face twice yearly at the ICC Committee Action Hearings and Annual Business Meeting. The governing committee conducts monthly teleconferences to track progress and discuss upcoming issues. All meetings and conference calls are open to the public.

Summary The ICC membership councils provide an opportunity to influence ICC policy, national fire safety issues for the public and firefighters, and emerging issues that affect code officials and first responders. Why not join today and have your voice heard as well?

Getting Involved If you are an ICC member, registration to join the Fire Service Membership Council is free and easy.

Go to the ICC home page at www.iccsafe.org and select the dropdown menu labelled “Membership.” At the right-hand side of the pop-up menu, select “Councils.” When it appears, click on the red Fire Service Membership Council logo, and you will see current fire news and issues. About two-thirds down the page, click on “Enroll Now” and follow the instructions. You will have to log in with your email address and password.

If you are not an ICC member but would like to participate, the FSMC Governing Committee holds regular conference calls on the third Thursday of every month at 1:30 p.m. Eastern time.

The call-in number is 1.800.910.8278, and the access number is 8432131 followed by the # sign.

Other FSMC work groups focus on collecting information for the FSMC web page and writing articles for trade journals, Fall 2017 | 23

Growing Pains, Part I Wasatch County Fire/EMS

by Ernie Giles, Wasatch County Fire Chief

This article is the first in a series of articles addressing the growth of cities as it relates to the fire service. The series will be highlighting Wasatch County Fire/EMS in particular and the changes they have made to deal with increased population growth in their response area.

I am proud to call myself a resident of Wasatch County, and I find great pride in knowing I am part of one of the best and fastest-growing counties in the U.S. Wasatch County was recently ranked as the nation’s seventh fastest-growing county, with a growth rate of 4.95 percent between 2014 and 2015.1 I have a great deal of respect for the residents and visitors of this great county and serve proudly as the Wasatch County fire chief.

Growth and Public Safety Demands Since my appointment as fire chief in 2003, I have seen significant changes in the growth of the area and understand what is required to provide fire and EMS protection. The district provides fire protection services to nearly 29,000 full-time and part-time residents. It also encompasses over 1,200 square miles and contains a diverse mix of residential land, commercial land, agricultural land, light industrial land, a municipal airport, forest lands, and wildland interface. Additionally, Wasatch County offers some of the most incredible year-round recreation, which attracts visitors from the entire country. Our incredible recreation opportunities alone will nearly double the daytime population at many times throughout the year.

EMS will raise the bar in overall customer service, meaning our members will increase interaction between the community, local business, and visitors. Fire and EMS personnel will increase their response capabilities through state-of-the-art training and preparation. Volunteer committees will be formed to help identify gaps in response coverage, response times, staffing, training, equipping, fire prevention, public education, and funding sources.

Experts in fire/EMS and emergency management will assist with long-range planning to address the need for upgrading or constructing new facilities and purchasing new fire apparatus and EMS response vehicles. Wasatch County Fire/EMS will work with the community and other fire departments to find best solutions that support growth and provide excellent fire/EMS protection.

In conclusion, over the course of the next few months, I will provide information regarding our progress in researching and implementing solutions in The Wasatch Wave and here in the Straight Tip magazine. You can also follow our progress at wasatchcountyfire.com and on Facebook. Moving forward, we will take a closer look at Wasatch County Fire/EMS and the direction we must go to be our best in meeting challenges and to increase response needs. I will share with you our current and long-range vision and our plans to meet the goals and objectives for our fire district. I hope that Wasatch Fire’s experiences will help provide a guide to other communities and departments who hope to successfully boost their own fire and EMS response in similarly growing areas. _______________

Jacobsen, Morgan. “Census: Epicenter of Utah population growth shifting to Utah County.” Deseret News, published March 23, 2016, and updated May 26, 2017.

1

As the county grows, the demand on public safety has grown exponentially. The 911 calls (fire, EMS, hazmat, and other) continue to rise, placing a heavy demand on our limited resources (see WCFD Call Volume chart). Residents and visitors expect excellent service, and it is my goal that we exceed their expectations.

In response to the changes in growth, I have begun taking steps to proactively address both current and future needs. Addressing these needs, especially planning for the future, will require involvement from the entire community.

Solutions Wasatch County Fire District will conduct research into historical data, trends, and environmental projections that will assist in finding the most cost effective and highly proficient emergency management solutions. Members of Wasatch County Fire/ 24 | UFRA Straight Tip

Spouses Class:

Understanding Your Firefighter and Your Relationship Being a Firefighter Spouse is a "job" in and of itself– and not an easy one!

The stress a firefighter brings home takes a heavy toll on family relationships.

Firefighter relationships take a unique approach and understanding to be successful.

Come learn about: • • • •

Stresses that commonly exist within a firefighter relationship Common versus alarming behaviors in firefighters Strategies to make sure you’re taking care of yourself as a spouse Ways spouses can support their firefighter and their unique relationship

The firefighter spouses class is a free offering during Winter Fire School with no registration needed. Simply come and learn about ways to take care of yourself and your firefighter when the stresses of the fire service creep into relationships.

Saturday, January 20, 2018, 1-3

pm

Holiday Inn Express

1808 W Crosby Way East of the Dixie Convention Center The spouses class can be requested at any time by contacting the UFRA program manager in your area (see pg. 9).

Fall 2017 | 25

Winter Fire School

2018

MARK YOUR CALANDARS FOR

JANUARY 19 – 20, 2018 At the Dixie Convention Center St. George, Utah REGISTRATION OPENS ONLINE November 1st at 8 a.m.

Visit our website for more details and the complete list of classes: https://tinyurl.com/wfs2018 26 | UFRA Straight Tip

Winter Fire School 2018 Classes Capabilities & Limitations of Structural Firefighting Ensemble..................................................... Tyler Dennison & L.N. Curtis Arson Detection for First Responders.............................. Todd Hohbein & SMFO ★ Motives & Profiling of an Arsonist.................................... Todd Hohbein & SMFO Basic Apparatus Maintenance......................................... Bob Allen & AES Hands–on Fire Investigation............................................ Mike Young & Ch. Joe Bach Fire Dynamics for Structural Fire Fighting......................... Dan Madrzykowski Incident Command for Volunteer Departments.................. Dr. Rod Hammer ★ Report on the Charlottesville Church Shooting.................. Ch. Don Lundy (Ret.) New Concepts for Rapid Intervention Crews..................... Ch. Jared Sholly Ice Rescue Awareness & Operations................................ Bo Tippets Engaging the Public........................................................ Ch. Jeremy Craft Habits of Highly Effective Incident Commanders............... Ch. Kevin Ward & Ch. Paul Sullivan Advanced ICS 1-400....................................................... Joe Bistryski ★ Sand Table Demonstration.............................................. Dan Cather Basic Fire Company Inspections...................................... Ch. Scott Adams & Ch. Scott Spencer Juvenile Firesetter Program............................................. Troy Mills & Annette Matherly First Responder Mental Health Awareness........................ Jordon Peterson ★ Mental Resiliency for Firefighters..................................... Joy Stearns Instructor I..................................................................... UFRA Cadre Emergency Apparatus Driving Simulator........................... UFRA Cadre Mobile Command Training Center.................................... UFRA Cadre ★★ PPE/SCBA/Search & Rescue.......................................... UFRA Cadre Rope Rescue................................................................. Leroy Harbach & CMC ★ Hydraulics for Engineers................................................. Ch. Jason Earl Forcible Entry................................................................ UFRA Cadre Live Fire (Initial Fire Attack).............................................. UFRA Cadre Live Fire (Flashover)........................................................ UFRA Cadre Ventilation Tactics.......................................................... UFRA Cadre Basic Extrication............................................................ Jeff Gates & L.N. Curtis Advanced Extrication...................................................... Jeff Gates & L.N. Curtis Spouses Only: Understanding your Firefighter & Your Relationship (no registration needed)..... TBA ★

★ ★★

New Class Offering Back by Popular Demand All classes subject to change

Fall 2017 | 27

Higher Education: A Career Investment Ask any successful fire chief about higher education, and he or she will most likely say that higher education is a valuable and necessary component for a successful career in today’s fire service. Numerous articles and research over the years both support and emphasize the importance of higher education in the fire service. Retired Chief Jim Broman affirmed that “higher education is a valuable and necessary component for successfully leading today’s fire service. You must combine it with your training, experience and self-development to produce a wellrounded skills set.” In 2014, Eastern Kentucky University (EKU) conducted a national survey asking fire chiefs if they felt higher education was important to their advancement in the fire service; 98% said that yes, it was important.

Increased Income Potential For the past 20 years I have been involved with emergency services training and education at the associate, bachelor, and graduate levels. I have seen the impact of attaining higher levels of education in terms of increased responsibility, pay, and promotional opportunities. U.S. Census Bureau 2016 data from CPS Annual Social and Economic Supplement survey show that for individuals who work full time, mean annual income for those with a master’s degree was $16,667 higher than those with a bachelor’s. A comparison of LaborInsight BurningGlass job advertisement data for the last 12 months (Mar. 2016–Feb. 2017) shows that the average advertised annual salary for job postings in Protective Services requiring a bachelor’s degree is $57,263, while the average for a master’s degree in this field is $70,162 per year. Based on this data, we estimate that educational attainment of a master’s degree within the public services will potentially increase annual income of students between $13–17,000 over bachelor’s degree holders.

Now Is the Time to Start The earlier you earn your advanced degree, the greater impact it can have over your career. However, it is never too late to start working on your next degree. I have worked with many who have earned an advanced degree later in their career. Some chiefs decided to earn their degree to help set the example for others as well as to help pave the way for requiring the degree for the position down the road. Some decided to go back to school to fulfill a dream of earning a degree after not being able to afford tuition, not having the time, and/or not having a support system.

Many I have worked with note that they are pleasantly surprised at how their experience and training over the years is validated by the course work while they are also exposed to new ideas and perspective that challenge traditional and long-held beliefs.

28 | UFRA Straight Tip

My Advice The best advice I have for anyone considering earning an advance degree is to get enrolled into a program and take at least one course a semester. You can find the money for at least one course a semester; often scholarships, grants, and loans are available to help. You can also find the time for at least one course a semester; don’t forget to leverage shift work—while others are watching TV or playing games or scrolling through online newsfeeds, you can develop a habit of completing school work first. Taking one course a semester also helps you to understand the commitment, helps establish a routine, and helps give you confidence that you can do it. In some cases, you might find that you can handle two courses a semester. Many students I have advised over the years have reported back that this advice was essential to completing a degree.

UVU's Master of Public Service Our newest degree, the master of public service (MPS), has generated a lot of interest. The MPS is offered 100% online, providing maximum flexibility to fit a degree into even the most demanding schedules. Simply put, you can work on the degree when and where your schedule will allow. The program is part time and uses a cohort method. Students accepted into a cohort will take two courses together each semester over a two-year period. Our faculty are qualified both professionally and academically, proving a sound educational experience with an applied perspective. The result is that we received over 100 applicants for the inaugural Fall 2017 MPS cohort.

Consider investing in your career by earning your master of public service degree. For additional information about the degree and how to apply, visit the MPS webpage at uvu.edu/mps.

Dr. Tom Sturtevant is an associate dean in the College of Aviation and Public Services and has over 30 years of experience with a unique blend of emergency response and educational program development and administration. Dr. Sturtevant is a first-generation college graduate, a published author, a certified fire protection specialist, and a member of the Institution of Fire Engineers, and has assessed several foreign emergency response training and certification programs.

WINNING THE BATTLE LIVE FIRE TRAINING

by Deputy Chief Rick Rasmussen, South Ogden FD, and Captain Bret Bronson, South Ogden FD

limited, door control, visualization of thermal layering by staying low, and limiting the air movement within the structure.

Preparing the Structure The fire prop was constructed out of a 500-gallon propane tank endcap. A stainless-steel washing machine drum was placed inside the endcap. Excelsior and kiln dried lumber were burned in the drum until it was full of hot coals. It took multiple experiments to get the right heat and smoke conditions. We found that pine boughs or evergreen bushes placed on the hot coals produced the most smoke.

Each burn room had an emergency exit. Many hours of preparation went into fine-tuning the design and operation of the emergency exits. Emergency exit doors had to be strong enough to withstand multiple demonstrations. Pulleys, ropes, counterweights, and heavy bungee cords allowed the doors to open quickly and not slam to the ground. A wooden dowel was pinned through the door and into the jamb, holding the emergency exit door closed. In an emergency, firefighters were instructed to hit the emergency exit door with their shoulder Door control, ventilation limited.

Live Fire training: challenging, yet not impossible. Live Fire training, according to NFPA 1403 Section 1.2.2, “is intended to provide the safest and best experience possible under both realistic and controlled circumstances.� Yes, Live Fire training is a challenge, but the importance of making trainings like these happen is paramount. With some effort, other fire departments can make similar trainings not only happen but be a strength to the entire department. Here is a summary of how we set up a recent Live Fire Training, where ingenuity, perseverance, teamwork, and a sense of urgency were the keys to making the training a success.

Training Priorities The training included attendees from South Ogden Fire Department, Riverdale Fire Department, Roy Fire Department, and Weber Fire District. We conducted 40 live burn scenarios, with emphasis on Incident Command, arrival reports, unit assignments, accountability, establishment of interior division, RIC (rapid intervention crew), utility control, reporting benchmarks, CAAN (conditions, air, actions, needs) reports, primary and secondary search, search patterns, mayday protocol, ventilation 30 | UFRA Straight Tip

Wooden dowel is broken and emergency exit opens.

While the structure was not actually set on fire, we considered this to be Live Fire training because the fire prop filled the structure with dense smoke and the room the fire prop was burning in had an average temperature of around 250°F. to break the dowel. The door would then rapidly lower to a safe area outside the structure. Hardy cement board was screwed to the ceiling directly over the burn prop to minimize the heat and fire transfer into the attic. There was no actual burning of the structure, so asbestos and lead abatement were not an issue. The only burning or live fire was contained to a fire prop that made it appear that a room of contents was on fire. No flame was transferred to any part of the structure. A thermocouple was lowered into the burn room at ceiling level approximately six feet away from the burn prop. The average temperature at the ceiling was 300°F, and the average ambient temperature was 250°F. Safety and Briefings The instructor and the safety officer conducted pre-burn planning and safety briefings before every training session. Objectives of each evolution were discussed. Assignments for safety officer, incident commander, and company assignment were designated before each evolution. All firefighters walked through the entire structure, so they were familiar with the layout and the emergency exits. A qualified safety officer stayed inside the burn room with a charged hose line during each evolution.

as possible. The trainings went from basic to advanced. The dynamics conditions and the actions of interior crews are more realistic in an actual residential structure with 1,000 square feet of living area vs. burn towers or other simulated trainings.

Interior crews were challenged with numerous scenarios and changing conditions. Each platoon had two full days of training.

Smoke and heat conditions increased progressively throughout the day. In the latter stages of the training, the smoke was so dense that the only visibility was within inches of the floor. A “Rescue Randy” training prop was moved about the structure for search and rescue teams. Firefighters were expected to maintain crew integrity and a sense of location within the structure. Door control was given a high priority; however, maintaining communications and crew integrity was a challenge. Radio communications were frequently an issue. Despite equipment malfunction, noise, inattentiveness, or inability to comprehend, crews had to adapt and overcome communication problems. Crews actively reaffirmed CAAN reports as the scenario progressed.

Any mayday declaration was considered a legitimate emergency, unless the mayday was part of the scenario and discussed at the safety briefing.

At the end of the training, we had a little fun. Firefighters in full turnouts and SCBAs roasted marshmallows inside the structure while it was still full of smoke—a great way to end a cold, wet training day.

Live Fire training presents many difficulties and can be challenging. But with some effort, training similar to this recent training can be set up. The benefits of these types of training are critical to keeping our personnel well trained and safe.

Rotating the IC for each evolution gave officers as well as firefighters an opportunity to take command. Possibly the best result of having firefighters act as the IC was that it taught them to anticipate the feedback the IC needs. Command training makes them better firefighters. Firefighters improve at communication, CAAN reports, and completing benchmarks (all clear, fire control, and loss stop). They also realize the importance of having an increased awareness of their surroundings and their location within the structure.

Training Scenarios Live Fire training in a residential structure is priceless. While the structure was not actually set on fire, we considered this to be Live Fire training because the fire prop filled the structure with dense smoke and the room the fire prop was burning in had an average temperature of around 250°F. While abiding by NFPA 1403 standards, we attempted to make the home as realistic

Interior crew exiting the emergency door and ramp to a safe location. photography by Rick Rasmussen

Fall 2017 | 31

32 | UFRA Straight Tip

Fall 2017 | 33

Congratulations, Fire Officer Designation Recipients The Utah Commission on the Fire Officer Designation Program is proud to recognize the following individuals who earned the Supervising Fire Officer Designation: These individuals have set themselves apart by demonstrating achievements in the Utah Fire Officer Designation Program’s (UFODP) four categories: training, certification, education, and experience. The UFODP evaluates a candidate’s experiences in each of these categories to measure a candidate’s capability.

The UFODP can be used by new firefighters to map out a path for career advancement and by fire departments to help define promotional qualifications.

Aaron Hottel, Tooele Army Depot Fire Department

Blake Edwards, West Jordan Fire Department didates receiving this designation do not need to be fire officers already. In fact, more and more departments are requiring designations from programs such as this in order to apply for the officer rank.

It is important to note that this program addresses two audiences of applicants: •

For applicants who are not fire officers, the UFODP is a fire officer development program. Can-

Jessie McKenna, West Jordan Fire Department •

For applicants who are current fire officers, the designation gives an opportunity to be recognized and to compile documentation of all achievements in preparation for further promotion.

More information about the program can be found at: http://www.uvu.edu/ufra/ resource_center/fodp.html.

The next deadline for applications is December 31, 2017.

Climbing the Ladder Provo New Hires:

Firefighter/paramedic Leland Slaughter 34 | UFRA Straight Tip

Firefighter/paramedic Jared Watts

Orem Promotion: The Orem Fire Department is pleased to announce the promotion of Jason Earl to deputy fire chief. For the past 22 years, Chief Earl has served in many positions in the Orem Fire Department, including firefighter/paramedic, engineer, captain, and battalion chief. He has served in many roles and responsibilities of leadership, which have been a great benefit to our firefighters and our community.

Letter from the Utah State Firefighters’ Association Fellow Firefighters, I would like to start by introducing myself. For 42 years I have lived in Tropic, Utah, which is in the valley of Bryce Canyon National Park. I have been a member of Tropic Volunteer Fire Department and the Utah State Firefighters’ Association for just over 20 years. I am married to my amazing wife, Lesa, and we have 5 children: my daughter, Elisabeth, and then four sons, Zennon, Max, John, and Mason, whom I love dearly.

I also want you to know how much I love the fire service and my fire family! When I was sworn in as president of the Utah State Firefighters’ Association (USFA), my heart swelled with pride and joy. I am so excited to serve as your president.

There are a few things I would like to accomplish during my term as president, one of which is to help this association grow. To do that, we need your help. People are always asking, what does the USFA do for me? Well, we represent you on Capitol Hill through our law and legislative representative there. We have a representative on the Standards and Training Council. We send two representatives to the National Volunteer Fire Council, and they serve on multiple committees. We have a representative on the Fire Prevention Board. We have an amazing working relationship with the Utah State Fire Marshal’s Office and the fire marshal, Coy Porter. We work with the Utah Fire and Rescue Academy. Finally, from the moneys raised through the firefighter license plates, which is an initiative started by the USFA, hundreds of thousands of dollars have been given out in grants to departments across the state.

That being said, all of the official functions of the USFA pales in comparison to the friendships and relationships I have made with men and woman of the fire service throughout the state. The brother and sister hood is second to none.

This is where we answer the question, what can you do to help others through the association? We need you to attend our convention on June 13–16, 2018, in Price, Utah. During this past year’s convention held in Richfield, the training on Friday was amazing—they had more cars to cut up than we could have cut up in a week.

Battalion Chief Brady George from SLC Fire taught the S.L.I.C.E.R.S class, and he did a phenomenal job. There were other classes, but those are the two I took. You fire chiefs out there: I know budgets are tight, but when comparing fire convention and fire school, they are apples and oranges. Your departments need both. If you can send only three or four members to convention, then rotate through your departments. To you individuals reading this, YOU NEED THE FIREFIGHTERS’ ASSOCIATION. I’m telling you: the association has given me more than I can ever give back.

For more information on the Utah State Firefighters’ Association or the fire convention, visit our website: www.fireassociation.com.

Sincerely, Mike Ahlstrom President, Utah State Firefighters’ Association

Fall 2017 | 35

RETIREMENTS:

Chief Scott Adams has retired from the Park City Fire District. Chief Adams graduated from the University of Maryland with a bachelor of science degree in fire protection engineering. He is responsible for the fire prevention bureau and serves as the district fire marshal. The fire prevention bureau is responsible for reviewing, inspecting, and performing acceptance tests for all fire sprinkler systems, fire alarm systems, specialized engineered fire protection and detection systems, smoke control systems, and detailed water supply analysis, and providing interpretations to fire and building code questions for local code authorities and design professionals.

Chief Adams’ previous work experience includes serving as the chief fire protection engineer for the Utah State Fire Marshal’s Office, a firefighter/EMT for the South Salt Lake City Fire Department, and a consulting engineer for Rolf Jensen & Associates, Inc., a fire protection engineering and building code consulting firm.

Chief Adams is currently serving as chairman for the International Code Council and for the Fire Service Governing Committee and as a past president of the International Fire Marshal’s Association. He serves as a Technical Committee Member on the NFPA-1 Fire Code, NFPA-101 Life Safety Assembly Occupancy Committee, and the NFPA Fire Test Committee. Chief Adams is certified as a Fire Code Inspector II in the International Fire Code and certified as a Building Code Plans Examiner in the International Building Code.

Department Recognition

UFRA Director Hugh Connor retired on July 31, 2017. Hugh worked for the Orem Fire Department for 28 years before coming to UFRA in 2005. Hugh wants to thank the UFRA staff for their friendship and absolute commitment to UFRA’s mission of training and certification. Hugh and his wife, Karen, plan on splitting their time between their properties in Midway and Washington, Utah, and Sun Valley, Idaho, along with traveling the world.

As for Hugh's replacement, Brad Wardle, Hugh stated, “I can’t think of anyone who is more qualified to take UFRA to the next level. Brad is highly experienced, educated, and is without a doubt the most legislatively and politically savvy fire official in Utah.”

Dugway Fire Department

Dugway Fire Department was selected as the U.S. Army Installation Management Command “Best Small Fire Department” for 2016.

Deputy Chief Michael Cameron was selected as the 2016 Civilian Fire Officer of the Year by the Army and Installation Management Command Dugway Fire Department currently employees 40 civilian firefighters that staff two engines, one ladder truck, and cross staff an ARFF apparatus daily in support of the army’s mission.

Deputy Chief Michael Cameron 36 | UFRA Straight Tip

Climbing the Ladder

Layton Fire Department

Layton Fire Department is happy to welcome the following new full-time personnel:

Dustin Tiner

Brian Cunningham

Landon Wharton

Wes LeFevre

Shiloh Crawmer

Patrick Cook

Mikell Baron

Brandon Supinger

Fall 2017 | 37

EARN YOUR EMERGENCY SERVICES SPRING 2018 SEMESTER

ES FACE-TO-FACE & ONLINE CLASS ES 1150 Community Emergency Preparedness Now is the time to begin working on your emergency services degree or finish the degree you have been working on.

Why Should I Earn a College Degree?

• • •

Personal improvement Preparation for promotion Expand career opportunities

What Degrees are Offered?

Certificates • Firefighter Recruit Candidate • Paramedic • Aviation Fire Officer

Associate of Science Emergency Services Associate of Applied Science Emergency Services • Fire Officer • Emergency Care • Wildland Fire Management • Aviation Fire Officer Bachelor of Science Emergency Services Administration • Emergency Care • Emergency Management (offered 100% online)

How Do I Enroll?

• •

Apply for admissions by going to: http://www.uvu.edu/admissions/ If you have attended another college or university, request an official transcript be sent to: UVU Admissions Office 800 West University Parkway MS 106 Orem, Utah 84058-5999

What Will It Cost?

• For official UVU tuition/fee amounts go to:

http://www.uvu.edu/tuition/docs/tuition-fees1617.pdf • Some courses have “course fees” in addition to tuition.

For more information regarding admissions and registration, call 801-863-7798 or 888-548-7816 to schedule a phone or office appointment with an Emergency Services Administration Academic Advisor.

40 | UFRA Straight Tip

ESFF FACE-TO-FACE CLASSES ESFF 1000 Intro to Emergency Services & Ability Testing ESFF 1360 Recruit Candidate Academy Internship ESFF 250A Firefighter RCA I ESFF 250B Firefighter RCA II ESFF 281R Emergency Services Internship ESFF ONLINE CLASSES ESFF 1000 Intro to Emergency Services & Ability Testing ESFF 1120 Principles of Fire & ES Safety & Survival ESFF 2100 The Desire to Serve UFRA-SPONSORED CLASSES WITH UVU CREDIT AVAILABLE ESFO 2030 Fire Inspector I ESFO 2100 Fire Officer I Supervisor Leader ESEC FACE-TO-FACE CLASSES ESEC 114A Emergency Medical Tech Basic – Part I ESEC 114B Emergency Medical Tech Basic – Part II ESEC 114C Emergency Medical Tech Basic – Part III ESEC 3060 Emergency Medical Tech Advanced ESEC 3110 Paramedic I ESEC 3120 Paramedic Lab ESEC 3130 Paramedic II ESEC 3140 Paramedic III ESEC 4110 Paramedic IV ESEC 4120 Paramedic Clinical Concepts ESMG ONLINE CLASSES ESMG 310G Introduction to Homeland Security ESMG 3150 Public Program Administration ESMG 3200 Health Safety Program Management ESMG 3250 Managing Emergency Medical Services ESMG 3300 Master Planning for Public ES ESMG 3350 Analytical Research Approaches to Public ES ESMG 3600 Psychology of Emergency Services ESMG 4150 Humanitarian Relief and Disaster Relief ESMG 4200 Disaster Response and the Public ESMG 4400 Legal Considerations for the EM ESMG 425G Crisis and Disaster Management

DEGREE AT UVU SPRING 2018 SEMESTER ESMG ONLINE CLASSES Continued

ESMG 445G Human Factors Emergency Management ESMG 4500 Customer Service & Marketing for ES ESMG 4550 Principles of Disaster and Emergency Mgmt ESMG 4600 Public Administration Emergency Mgmt ESMG 4650 Emergency Services Capstone ESMG 481R Emergency Services Internship ESMG 489R Special Topics in Emergency Services ESMG 491R Topics in Cardiology and Medical Trends ESMG 492R Topics in Trauma and Pharmacology ESMG 493R Topics in Medical Litigation ESWF FACE-TO-FACE CLASS ESWF 1400 Wildland Firefighting Fundamentals

Please check http://www.uvu.edu/esa for current and updated course listings.

RECRUIT CANDIDATE ACADEMY (RCA) By application only. For more information visit http://www.uvu.edu/esa/rca/ or make an appointment with an academic advisor by calling the Student Center at 801-863-7798.

On-the-job internships are available for all RCA graduates.

Application deadlines: June 1st for Fall Semester and October 1st for Spring Semester.

PARAMEDIC By application only. For more information visit http://www.uvu.edu/esa/paramedic/index.html or call 801-863-7798 or 888-548-7816.

Enroll early! Please note that courses are subject to cancellation due to low enrollment.

Fall 2017 | 41

Nonprofit Organization U.S. POSTAGE

Nonprofit Organization U.S. POSTAGE

Utah Valley University

Utah Valley University

PAID

VALLEY UNIVERSITY

UTAH FIRE AND RESCUE ACADEMY . MS 193

. MS 193 R E A N D R E800 S C UW. E UNIVERSITY A C A D E M Y PARKWAY, OREM, UT 84058-6703

U N I V E R S I T Y P A R K W AY, O R E M , U T 8 4 0 5 8 - 5 9 9 9

CHANGE SERVICE REQUESTED

RESS SERVICE REQUESTED

PAID