PUBLISHER COLUMBUS, MISSISSIPPI FIRE and RESCUE DEPARTMENT EDITOR-IN-CHIEF FIRE CHIEF KENNETH MOORE EDITOR FIREFIGHTER ANTHONY COLOM DESIGN & LAYOUT FIREFIGHTER ANTHONY COLOM PHOTOGRAPHY FIREFIGHTER ANTHONY COLOM ENGINEER WES MIMS CONTRIBUTING WRITERS FIRE and LIFE SAFETY EDUCATOR / PIO CAROLE SUMMERALL CHIEF OF TRAINING DUANE HUGHES CHAPLAIN ED MAURER STAFF KENNETH MOORE - FIRE CHIEF MARTIN ANDREWS: A-SHIFT BATTALION CHIEF CHRIS HANSEN: B-SHIFT BATTALION CHIEF MARK WARD: C-SHIFT BATTALION CHIEF NEAL AUSTIN: SPECIAL OPERATIONS CHIEF DUANE HUGHES: CHIEF OF TRAINING TODD WEATHERS: FIRE MARSHAL CAROLE SUMMERALL: FIRE & LIFE SAFETY EDUCATOR / PIO LINDA HANSON: ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT Columbus Fire and Rescue Department 205 7th Street S. Columbus, MS 39701 (662) 329-5121 Cover photos by Firefighter Anthony Colom ON THE COVER: Dive Rescue : Lance Godfrey / Overland Search & Rescue: Michael Miller, Kirk Gayle, Tommy Massey, & Anthony Smith This publication may not be reproduced in whole nor in part without the written permission of the publisher. Copyright © 2012, Columbus, Mississippi Fire and Rescue Department.
ENGINEER SUSAN SNAPP: DIVE INSTRUCTOR
Photo by Anthony Colom
CONTENTS FEATURES OVERLAND SEARCH & RESCUE PHOTOS .... PAGE 10 DIVE RESCUE PHOTOS .... PAGE 12
DEPARTMENTS IN THE COMMUNITY Ward 5 councilman, Kabir Karriem’s, Ladies Appreciation Luncheon ..... PAGE 7 Engineer Shannon Murphy ..... PAGE 14-B When To Call A Fire Dept. Chaplain ..... 6-B THE TRAINING SECTION Photos ..... PAGE 9, 11, & 13 AROUND THE STATION Photos .... PAGE 16 & 16-B PROMOTIONS, GRADUATIONS, & OTHER NEWS Photos .... PAGE 11-B FIRE & LIFE SAFETY It’s Time For A Change ! ...PAGE 10-B Youth Firesetting: What You Can Do ..... PAGE 5-B
EDITORIAL CHIEF’S CHAIR: THE HIGHEST DEGREE OF HUMANITY ..... PAGE 6 EDITOR’S NOTE: THAT SOUNDS LIKE FAMILY ..... PAGE 8
SPECIAL 2012 KIDS FIRE ACADEMY Photos ..... PAGE 14 & 15 STAFF SPECIAL Training Every Day ..... PAGE 12-B
EXTRA MARKET STREET FESTIVAL PHOTOS .... PAGE 3-B PRESS CONFERENCE PHOTOS: COLUMBUS RECEIVES CLASS 4 FIRE INSURANCE RATING .... PAGE 5-B RELAY FOR LIFE PHOTOS ...... PAGE 7-B COLUMBUS FIRE AND RESCUE & WARD 2 COUNCILMAN, JOSEPH MICKENS, PAINT EAST COLUMBUS GYM .... PAGE 8-B COLUMBUS FIREFIGHTERS VOLUNTEER AT CAMP RISING SUN ..... PAGE 9-B WORD SEARCH ..... PAGE 13-B COLUMBUS FIREFIGHTERS VISIT MISSISSIPPI BURN CAMP ..... PAGE 15-B
Photo by Engineer Wes Mims
THE HIGHEST DEGREE OF HUMANITY BY CHIEF KENNETH MOORE kmoore@columbusms.org In recognizing the humanity of our fellow beings, we pay ourselves the highest tribute. Thurgood Marshall (Deceased, United States Supreme Court Justice)
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Every day, the members of Columbus Fire & Rescue perform with the highest degree of humanity and recognize the humanity of those that they serve. As they have taken on the mission of all hazards response, they face not only fires but accidents of all manner and description, health crises of all kinds, chemical spills, tornados and hurricanes, entrapments - and, yes, the occasional cat who has gotten too brave or an escaped iguana.
Some of the time, the scene they respond to was caused by the act of being human. Perhaps a lapse in attention or a mistake in judgment - a glance too long away from the road or a bottle of medicine no one thought a child would notice. In the blink of an eye, someone's world has changed and Columbus Fire & Rescue is there to do everything their training and ability can do to turn the tide. All of the time, those human beings who make up CFR have given everything they have to give in making themselves the best responders they can be. In our high tech world of all hazards response, the training never ceases. Be assured, that training stretches the endurance of the human body and the capacity of the human mind. 24 hours, and often 48 hours or more, they are away from their beloved families and the comforts of home. Personal challenges, the humanity of their personal lives, must often wait as they safeguard and rescue the lives and property of others. Special occasions pass, illnesses come and go, grieving is put on hold - vast parts of life are missed. Asked why they do it, and the answer will always be the same even if the words used are a little different. In the end, we are all human and everyone needs help now and then.
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Fire Chief Kenneth Moore Mayor Robert Smith Mrs. Helen Karriem
Photo by Engineer Wes Mims
THAT NDS SOU Y L I M A F E K I L BY FIREFIGHTER ANTHONY COLOM
acolom@columbusms.org I’ve been with Columbus Fire and Rescue since October 23, 1995. In the almost 17 years that I’ve been a firefighter, I’ve seen others in our department marry; have children; divorce; have those children graduate from high school, college, and then marry; have grandchildren born; lose loved ones; retire, and even have children that I’ve watched grow up, come to work here.
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Many of you who’ve worked many years with the same company or business have experienced this also. The difference is you haven’t lived with your co-workers. In the fire service, one who retires with at least 25 years of service will probably spend about 1/3 of his or her life living with other firefighters. Our department has a 24/48 policy (24 hours on duty, and 48 hours off). So these people can become as close to you as any family member. On our off days we fish, attend church and sporting events, and even work second jobs together. Depending on where a firefighter is stationed, he or she could be sitting at a table for breakfast, lunch, and dinner with 2 to 9 other firefighters, and sleeping in the same room as well. He or she trains and fights fire with this same group every 3 days for 25 to 30 years.
We talk like family. We laugh like family. We argue like family. We work like family. We love one another like family. We pray like family; therefore, we live like family.
After watching grown men cry at their own retirement party, I’m pretty sure it’s because they’re leaving people that they’ve loved for 25 or more years; people who’ve shared in experiencing many of their best and worst times.
That sounds like family, huh ?
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SMOKE ALARMS SAVE LIVES
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Photos by Anthony Colom
DRIVER and FIREFIGHTER TRAINING Photos by Anthony Colom
DIVE RESCUE Photos by Anthony Colom
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ROPE RESCUE Photos by Anthony Colom
SMOKE ALARMS SAVE LIVES
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academy 2012 kidsfire
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columbus boys & girls club Photos by Anthony Colom
SMOKE ALARMS SAVE LIVES
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1. Engineer Alan Walker, Captain Mike Gibson, & Engineer Shannon Murphy 2. Sparky 3. Engineer Ray Whitson 4. Firefighter Jason Pool 5. Engineer Lamarcus Phillips 6. Engineer Brooks Pope 7. Captain Mike Chandler 8. Captain Bobby Barksdale 9. Firefighter Michael Miller 10. Battalion Chief Martin Andrews 11. Captain Jr. Lancaster 12. Battalion Chief Mark Ward & Chief of Training Duane Hughes (All photos by Anthony Colom except #2)