Looking Back

Carlisle —2015

On April 16, 2015, the Carlisle Fire Company was dispatched to a reported school bus accident at the intersection of South Dupont Highway and Fitzgerald’s Road with a dump truck versus three school buses. Rescue 42 found the children of one of the buses had already been evacuated and the othertwo had no children aboard. The drivers of the dump truck and one school bus were transported. - Delaware Fire News photo courtesy of Ryan Knowles; Carlisle PIO On the morning of July 27, 2015, the Selbyville VolunteerFire Company, along with Frankford, Roxana, Bishopville and more, were alerted fora building fire on South DuPont Highway at Pomeroy’s Restaurant and Bar, which eventually destroyed the establishment. - Submitted by Michael Lowe, photo by Barbara Walls

Selbyville —2015

CamdenWyoming — 2015

On October21, 2015, the CamdenWyoming Fire Company was dispatched to a two-carMVAwith possible cardiac arrest on New Burton Road. Crews arrived to find subjects trapped in both vehicles. - Submitted by Sean Byron

DELAWARE STATE FIRE SCHOOL SummerBegins SummerBegins with a Busy with a Busy Weekend at DSFS Weekend at DSFS

The weekend of June 5 and 6, 2021, was a busy one at the Delaware State Fire School. With temperatures in the 90s, classes ran forRapid Intervention with 17 students, Driver Operatorwith 26 students, HazMat Response Skills with 82 students and on Sunday, the Delaware AirGuard attended forAdvanced Fire BehaviorTraining. Lunches were provided by the Carlisle Fire Company Ladies Auxiliary. - Submitted by Michael Lowe

Delaware Weekend at NFA

The brochure for the Delaware Weekend at the National Fire Academy to be held September 25 and 26, 2021, is posted! Four possible classes available. Free to all Delaware responders and $35 for any out-of-state responders.

Deadline to register is noon on August 20, 2021.

For those not going to Firefly or attending Basic or HazMat Response Skills, you have a chance to attend training since UD Football is on a BYE week. Any questions please contact Senior Instructor Vinnie Miller.

DELAWARE STATE FIRE SCHOOL DSFS Holds Annual Fire Camp

Fifteen young adults, aged 13 to 17, attended the Delaware State Fire School’s Fire Camp on June 22 through 24, 2021. Activities included hose handling, fire behavior, vehicle rescue as well as a tourof Dover’s Fire Station. On day two students participated in a boat demonstration and ride provided by Little Creek, Leipsic and Bowers. Once students completed the camp they were referred to theirlocal fire departments to enhance recruitment efforts within theircommunities.

- Submitted by Michael W. Lowe

Theme Announced for 2021 Fire Prevention Week

The National Fire Protection Association has announced this year —2021 —Fire Prevention Week will be observed from October3 to 9. The 2021 theme forFPWwill be “Learn the Sounds of Fire Safety,” which focuses on recognizing the different sounds and alerts that safety devices make when there is a fire orcarbon monoxide hazard. Knowing the unique noises the alarm makes — a beeping sound ora chirping sound —means it is time to take action. Get more information about the 2021 Fire Prevention Week campaign at www.firepreventionweek.org. You’ll find kids’activities, downloadable materials, safety messages, and more to help you start planning yourcommunity events! - Submitted by Michael W. Lowe

Fire Departments Support Home Sprinkler Safety Week

Underthe guidance of the Delaware Fire SprinklerCoalition, fire departments across the state came togetherto spread the word promoting home residential sprinklers during Home SprinklerWeek which ran from May 17 to 23, 2021. - Submitted by Michael W. Lowe

SCEMS Sussex County EMS Hosts Ribbon Cutting New Station 110

Sussex County’s paramedics have a new base of operations in the fight to save lives on the western front. Sussex County officials held a ribbon-cutting ceremony on June 25, 2021, to celebrate the grand opening of the new Medic 110/EMS 200 (Western District Supervisor) station, at the corner of US Route 13 and Swain Road, north of Seaford. Located approximately 2-½ miles from its previous location off Sussex Highway near Blades, the new 5,000square-foot facility provides nearly five times the space of its predecessor, with improved access to serve residences and businesses in western Sussex County. The station also will serve as quarters for a supervisor and training facility for new medics.

Paramedic crews from the new Medic 110 station will continue to serve the Seaford and Blades area —the core of the U.S. Route 13 corridor —in the western portion of the county, while units to the north and south will remain in place to cover the Bridgeville-Greenwood and Laurel and Delmar areas, respectively.

The new location, which feeds directly into US Route 13, is more strategically located and helps evenly distribute EMS resources in the county. “We feel that this station is in the best location for us to improve our overall response times to calls, thus providing better service to residents and visitors of the area,” Sussex County Emergency Medical Services Director Robert Murray said. “The station design was based on our east side dual station that serves the Lewes-Rehoboth Beach area and opened in 2017.”

In 2020, crews from Medic 110 responded to nearly than 3300 calls for service, with a typical response time of just over seven minutes. The new $2 million paramedic station —a single-story building designed to blend with the surrounding residential areas —is the fifth free-standing, County-owned facility built exclusively to house EMS crews and units in recent years.

Since 2009, the County has constructed new medic stations near Laurel, Long Neck, Ocean View, and Lewes, shifting from a decades-long model of renting space or co-locating with volunteer fire/EMS companies for quarters. Sussex County plans to transition all its medic stations in the coming years so that each unit is housed independently, giving staff more space for life-saving equipment and better access to communities served, all with the goal of saving taxpayers’dollars and improving response times.

Sussex County EMS has 10 fixed stations, and one seasonal unit. Sussex leaders said the new station, which became operational this spring, represents the County’s continued commitment to public safety. Funding for the station’s design and construction was made possible through the County’s share of realty transfer taxes collected on property sales.

“We are proud to open this facility today, which represents not just an investment in our award-winning paramedic program, but a commitment to the public we serve,” Sussex County Council President Michael H. Vincent said. “We must equip our brave and talented first responders with the tools, training, and facilities they need to deliver life-saving care to patients, and this new station will go a long way in supporting that mission of saving lives.”

Among some of the new station’s features, the building includes two garage bays that will accommodate four emergency vehicles, office/conference space, a kitchen, day room, sleeping quarters and fitness area. Construction was performed by the Whayland Co. of Laurel, Del. George, Miles & Buhr, LLC of Salisbury, Md., and Seaford provided design services.

SCEMS Frank Mayhorn Retires

From SCEMS

Melvin ‘Frank’Mayhorn retired from Sussex County EMS after15 years of service. Frank retired as a Paramedic II, having served as a field training officer(FTO) and as memberof the equipment and fitness committees. He graduated from the Delaware Technical Community College Paramedic Program in 2006 and began working forSCEMS shortly thereafter. Frank and his wife are moving to Florida to enjoy retirement. SCEMS wishes Frank all the best in his retirement. - Submitted by Glenn Marshal

Sussex County EMS Deputy DirectorMark Sheridan Retires

Deputy Director Mark Sheridan is retiring after 27 years of service with Sussex County EMS. Mark started in emergency services in 1986 when he joined the Laurel Fire Department. In 1991 Mark was offered the opportunity to be a member of the third class of students attending the paramedic program conducted by Kent General Hospital. Mark accepted the offer, successfully completed the program, and began his career with Sussex County EMS in 1992.

During his 27-year career with the county Mark has held the positions of Paramedic III, Field Training Officer, Shift Supervisor, Shift Commander, and most recently Deputy Director. When questioned which of these positions he enjoyed most, Mark said Shift Supervisor and Shift Commander had been his favorites. “These were the positions I enjoyed most because it allowed me to be involved with some of the administrative responsibilities, but also afforded me the opportunity to run calls and interact with field personnel. I thoroughly enjoyed seeing the personnel that were assigned to me and occasionally getting the chance to run calls with them.”

When asked what he had liked best overall about working as a paramedic for Sussex County, Mark said, “I always liked running calls and interacting with the different fire and EMS agencies. I really enjoyed having the opportunity to teach new EMTs while I was assigned to one of the medic units.”

Mark was asked if he had a message for the paramedics of Sussex County what would that be? In response he stated with a smile, “If you can dream it, you can achieve it. After a long absence I returned to school and completed a bachelor’s degree along with a master’s degree while earning a 4.0 GPA.

Though Mark is retiring from Sussex County EMS, he recently accepted a position as Director of Emergency Services for Caroline County, Maryland. Sussex County EMS thanks Mark E. Sheridan for his dedication and wishes him well in his future endeavors. - Submitted by Matt Farlow

Robert Mauch Promoted to Deputy Director

Sussex County EMS is announced that Robert (‘Rob’) Mauch has been promoted to position of Deputy Director. Rob joined SCEMS in 2000 where he has served as Field Training Officer(FTO), Education Coordinator, District Supervisor, and most recently served as Managerof Quality and Standards. He was a memberof the JEMS Games team that won SCEMS first gold medal. Rob graduated from the emergency health services program at the University of Maryland-Baltimore County and worked for Coshocton County EMS in Ohio priorto joining SCEMS. Rob has a Bachelorof Science in Emergency Health Services and is a certified flight paramedic (FP-C). SCEMS congratulates Robert on his promotion and wishes him the best of luck in his new position. - Submitted by Glenn Marshall

Elsmere Training Weekend

On the weekend of June 26, 2021, several members, careerstaff, and part time staff headed to the Delaware State Fire SchoolDoverDivision fortheirannual Elsmere Training Weekend. This yearwe extended an invite to Cranston Heights. We had a total of five crews participating and ran several scenarios to test skills. Incidents were dispatched ranging from a simple medical emergency to a high-rise structure fire with a subject trapped, and everything in between. All crews performed very well throughout the weekend and everyone gained and passed on some knowledge. We would like to thank all the instructors and aides from the DSFS who helped us get everything ready and run smoothly. We would also like to thank past-Chief George Giles, President Kathy Aiken and Suzanne Tally from the Ladies Auxiliary forcooking lunch on Saturday, as well as Joe Moran for providing dinnerSaturday night. And a special thank you to Engine 14 from Singerly Fire Company and Squad 10 from Upper Chi Fire Company forproviding coverage to ourdistrict while we were away forthe weekend.

TRAINING

- Story by Mark Facciolo; submitted by Frank Maule

Carlisle Receives Rescue Chute

Carlisle received a Grain Bin Rescue Chute from Nationwide Insurance and National Center forAgricultural Safety of Iowa. Several surrounding companies participated in training forthis new equipment.

- Photos by Chaplain Andy Stevens; submitted by Ryan Knowles

Joint Training

TRAINING

FASTBoard Practice

The members and officers trained on theirnew FASTBoard rescue board, used mainly forRIT, but having a tremendous amount of otheruses. Assistant Chief Kent Glasco trained the members on its use. The next training session will be going up and down stairs in an old house used forRITtraining. Members will also practice using the FASTBoard’s lifting bridle and the laddertruck to lift the board through a hole in the floor.

- Submitted by Chief Terry Jester

PWC Rescue Training

Rehoboth Beach members trained on PWC (personal watercraft) rescue techniques on July 9, 10 and 11, 2021, at Station 2 and Red Mill Pond. Butch Hendrick, a leading expert in WaterRescue Operations around the world from LGS Systems of New York, conducted the training with ourgroup. Agreat job was done by all who participated in the training with much information being shared. This is the start of the development of a group of RBVFC members to utilize the PWCs forrescue on ourwaterways. - Submitted by Chuck Snyder