November 2020 Volume 37, Issue 9
Official publication of the Oklahoma State Firefighters Association
EXPANSION UNDERWAY
I N S I D E
Groundbreaking Held October 4 for Phase 1 of Museum Expansion
OSFA Executive Board Members’ Comments............................................................. 5-6 OSFA Executive Director’s Report - Tippy Pierce .......................................................... 7 OSFA Administrative Director’s Report - Sheri Nickel ................................................. 7 ORFA Report - President George Fina ........................................................................... 8 Women’s Auxiliary Report - Courtney Thompson ........................................................ 8 Firefighter Near-Miss Report - Greg Lindsay ............................................................... 10 Museum News - Gene Brown .........................................................................................12 Executive Board Meeting Highlights ............................................................................. 24 Oklahoma Fire Spotlight -- Goldsby FD ....................................................................... 26 In Memoriam .................................................................................................................. 27
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OKLAHOMA STATE STATE FIREFIGHTERS FIREFIGHTERS ASSOCIATION ASSOCIATION OKLAHOMA 2716 N.E. N.E. 50th 50th St. St. 2716 Oklahoma City, City, OK OK 73111 73111 Oklahoma
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2November 2020Oklahoma Firefighter
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klahoma Firefighter November 2020
Volume 37 — Issue 9
Official Publication of the Oklahoma State Firefighters Association
Oklahoma FirefighterNovember 20203 Check out our social media @IFSTA for more information and testimonial content!
Available Now! Leadership for the Wildland Fire Officer Leading in a Dangerous Profession SECOND Edition
2716 N.E. 50th Street Oklahoma City, OK 73111 (405) 424-1452 • 1-800-308-5336 Fax (405) 424-1032 osfa@osfa.info • www.osfa.info Published monthly by and for members of the Oklahoma State Firefighters Association to educate its membership, to improve the fire service, and to enhance the value and dignity of their profession, either paid or volunteer. Editor in Chief (Interim) Tippy Pierce tippy@osfa.info
Managing Editor Penelope Soldan penelopes@osfa.info
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Written to NWCG PMS 310-1
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Chapters 1-5 address leadership tactics for ANY leader in ANY position
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Don’t miss the Addendum – After Action Reports detailing some of the best known wildland fires and what could have gone differently.
ITEM# 36329
Letters to the Editor: Oklahoma Firefighter encourages the
open exchange of ideas, opinions and concerns among members of the fire service community. Letters to the Editor should: concentrate on issues, not personalities; be typed; be signed by the writer and include writer’s telephone number; and be mailed (or emailed) to the Oklahoma State Firefighters Association: 2716 N.E. 50th St., Oklahoma City, OK, 73111 (osfa@osfa.info). Oklahoma Firefighter reserves the right to publish, edit and condense letters according to space limitations and the editor’s judgement. Great care will be taken to ensure the message in the letter is not altered. Anonymous letters will not be published.
Chief Fire & Safety Page 11
OSU FST Page 20
Conrad Fire Equipment Page 17
Pension & Retirement Pages 22-23
FPP Wildland Book Page 3
Phillips Murrah P.C. Page 22
Simply call (405-424-1452) or email the OSFA office (osfa@osfa.info) and request digital editions!
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May 2019 Volume 36, Issue 4
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I N S I D E
2019 OSFA Convention Details .......................................................................................4 OSFA Executive Board Members’ Comments ............................................................5-6 OSFA Executive Director’s Report - Steve Lumry ..........................................................7 OSFA Women’s Auxiliary Report -Marti Carpenter ......................................................8 Firefighter Near-Miss Report - Greg Lindsay ............................................................... 10 Museum News - Gene Brown ........................................................................................13 ORFA Report - President Juan Rodriguez ....................................................................15 House Passes Firefighter Bills ............................................................................... 18-19 Chaplain’s Corner - Kim Hayes .....................................................................................19 Executive Board Meeting Highlights ............................................................................ 24 Oklahoma Fire Spotlight -- Ft. Towson FD .................................................................. 26
4November 2020Oklahoma Firefighter
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Oklahoma FirefighterNovember 20205
PresidenT n
Eric Harlow
Guthrie FD
ericharlow200@gmail.com 405-520-2893
Greetings Oklahoma Firefighters! I hope you are all staying healthy and, right now, warm and dry. As I sit here and write this, I can hear sleet and freezing rain hitting my office window. It’s going downhill outside very quickly. We’ve already responded to numerous power line issues and crashes. Always remember to respond safely when you’re rolling in inclement weather. If you don’t make it to the scene safely, you’re not able to help those in need. We continue to see rising numbers of COVID 19 cases in our state as the pandemic continues. Remember to practice social distancing as much as you can and try and wear a mask. Any little thing we can do to help slow the spread will help control our numbers. I know our agency has been running more and more positive patients lately and we all will have to do our part to help whip this thing. On that note, the OSFA Board has decided collectively that you must wear a mask when entering the office and museum facility. We apologize for any inconvenience, but we feel it is the safest for all parties to require this. We have also decided to keep the museum closed until at least January 1, 2021. We also felt this was the safest route to go in order to monitor the current conditions and keep our employees and membership safe. As we experience this first good cold blast of the year, take the time to review your cold weather operating procedures at your department. You can take some small steps in order to prevent a big repair ticket due to cold weather damage. It’s also a good time to work with the public on fire prevention activities in the home. As we enter the cold season, many residents turn to alternative heat sources to warm their home. Getting the message out about using these heating methods safely could help prevent an undue structure fire. I know our department always sees an uptick in residential fires when cold weather hits. Using whatever methods we have available to us in reaching our residents and talking about fire safety may pay off for everyone down the road. I wanted to be the first to tell you about upcoming changes to our Oklahoma Firefighter newspaper. Your OSFA Board is actively exploring some updates to this important benefit of OSFA membership. We are looking to make some modernization changes and look for new and exciting content that our members want to see. Stay tuned for changes as we continue our research on this exciting topic. I’ll keep it short and sweet this month. Until next time, please stay safe and be mindful of your co-workers’ mental health, especially as we enter the holiday season!
2020-21 OSFA Executive Board
PRESIDENT
Eric Harlow • 405-520-2893 ericharlow200@gmail.com 1ST VICE PRESIDENT
Cliff Davidson • 580-554-1886 davidsoncliff@yahoo.com 2ND VICE PRESIDENT
Jim Ed Nimmo • 918-557-8379 jimnimmo7@gmail.com 3RD VICE PRESIDENT
Tony Lopez • 405-739-1343 tlopez@midwestcityok.org PAST PRESIDENT
Mike Kelley • 405-623-4338 mkelley@local157.org
6November 2020Oklahoma Firefighter
2nd vice PresidenT n
Jim Ed Nimmo
Tulsa FD
jimnimmo7@gmail.com • 918-557-8379
3rd vice president n
Tony Lopez
Midwest City FD
tlopez@midwestcityok.org
The leaves are starting to blow into the bay every time the doors go up. It’s that time of year. It is funny to me how the world just has a different feel to it after labor day. The days feel shorter. The
light seems different. By the time anyone reads this, yard day will have switched from mowers and weedeaters to rakes, leaf blowers and trash sacks. All of the folks chasing lawns on their days off will be vaccuming leaves and maybe hanging Christmas lights. It is or will soon be hoodie time at the station; unless you’re cold natured. If that’s the case for you, it’s probably been hoodie time for you since your first day at the firehouse. In Tulsa, the crews at 14’s will be building a fire to help keep the good folks from the US postal service warm -- a long-standing tradition. I’m not sure how the routines change for our volunteers. I suspect it means it is time to switch from pancake breakfasts to chili suppers, but I can’t say that for certain. I know one thing for certain -- wearing bunker gear for an extended period of time becomes tolerable again for all of us. All in all, the holiday season is a special time at the firehouse. I hope you were able to have your own Octoberfest if yours was shut down. I hope your take on the Dad and Mom tax of the kids Halloween candy came in over projections. I hope those of you that want to get to go spend a few days in the woods this November. If you have to work on Thanksgiving, I hope your families are able to make it up so you can have a big feed. And finally, as we ease into December, remember it’s nice when folks stop by from the neighborhood with gifts and good things to eat, but if the person bearing gifts is covered in cat hair, think twice about whether you eat those cookies.
16 Firefighter Life Safety Initiatives n 1. Define and advocate the need for a cultural change within the fire service relating to safety; incorporating leadership, management, supervision, accountability and personal responsibility. n 2. Enhance the personal and organizational accountability for health and safety throughout the fire service. n 3. Focus greater attention on the integration of risk management with incident management at all levels, including strategic, tactical and planning responsibilities. n 4. All firefighters must be empowered to stop unsafe practices. n 5. Develop and implement national standards for training, qualifications and certification (including regular recertification) that are equally applicable to all firefighters based on the duties they are expected to perform. n 6. Develop and implement national medical and physical fitness standards that are equally applicable to all firefighters, based on the duties they are expected to perform. n 7. Create a national research agenda and data collection system that relates to the initiatives. Firefighter fatality investigations and near miss reports are a giant step in the right direction. n 8. Utilize available technology wherever it can produce higher levels of health and safety. n 9. Thoroughly investigate all firefighter fatalities, injuries and near misses. n 10. Grant programs should support the implementation of safe practices and/or mandate safe practices as an eligibility requirement. n 11. National standards for emergency response policies and procedures should be developed and championed. n 12. National protocols for response to violent incidents should be developed and championed. n 13. Firefighters and their families must have access to counseling and psychological support. n 14. Public education must receive more resources and be championed as a critical fire and life safety program. n 15. Advocacy must be strengthened for the enforcement of codes and the installation of home fire sprinklers. n 16. Safety must be a primary consideration in the design of apparatus and equipment.
For more info, please go to www.everyonegoeshome.com
405-739-1343
Greetings everyone! I hope all are doing well. October was a good month for the Association. We had our groundbreaking event for the museum expansion. The first stage will be a storage building that will be southwest of the main building. When the expansion is complete we will have a beautiful museum we all can be proud of. To help support our expansion, we all should buy a raffle ticket for the side by side UTV. This fundraiser is being sponsored by ORFA. Tickets can be purchased online ($25 for one or $100 for five). I had the privilege of participating in this year’s Statewide Memorial Service as a board member. It was a honor to be able to read the names of our fallen. Although the event was virtual, it was still very moving. A shout-out to the Pipe and Drums and OKC Honor guard. They did a great job, as usual. I hope you are staying safe from the COVID virus. It is mind blowing how our numbers keep going up at a record rate. We had a little scare in our household. My youngest was sent home from college to quarantine after an exposure. Thankfully, she tested negative. Remember to wear your mask when you can’t social distance and wash your hands. If you are having a difficult time during this pandemic, please reach out to someone. There is a lot of help out there to get us through this. It’s amazing that we are already coming up on Thanksgiving. Where has the year gone? I wish everyone a blessed Thanksgiving. If you have questions, please reach out to me. Stay safe and God bless.
past president n
Mike Kelley
Oklahoma City FD
mkelley@local157.org Is anyone besides me sick of political advertising? What frustrates me more than anything is the number of negative ads! Obviously, they work because they keep bombarding us with them ad nauseum. I’ve got an idea. Tell us what you’ve done or will do to make this world a better place. I’ve got an even better idea. Just go out and do it and stop talking about it! That’s what I love about our chosen profession. Firefighters see something that needs to be done and we just do it. Others may call us heroes, but a firefighter usually follows that up with “I’m just doing my job” or “Just doing what I love to do.” I don’t know about you, but that’s what I love about our brotherhood and sisterhood. Hopefully, each one of you has felt that pride and an inclusion in that unique bond that has united people in our profession from the beginning. If you haven’t felt that, then what can you do to promote that bond in your community, department, station or company? You make a difference in the lives of the citizens you serve every day. Do you make a difference in the lives of the people you serve with? It’s easy to get caught up in our own stuff and not appreciate and build upon the bond we should have with those we serve with. Check in on your brother or sister and take the time to listen. Focus on what we have in common and don’t let the negativity of this world ruin the best job in the world! This month, your OSFA broke ground on our museum expansion project. We also held the Statewide Memorial Service to honor those who paved the way for us. While our office and museum are still closed to the public out of an abundance of caution, the staff is there working on your behalf. The Chief’s Winter workshop is scheduled for January 20-22, 2021, in Stillwater. The Volunteer Caucus will be held in Lawton on Feb. 6. Stay safe and God Bless!
Oklahoma FirefighterNovember 20207
OSFA executive director (interim) n
Tippy Pierce tippy@osfa.info
Moore Retired
OSFA Administrative director n
• 405-424-1452
Well it is November and where has this year gone? It seems like it was just a month ago that the first cases of Coronavirus started back in March. How has our lives changed? I think some things are better and some things are worse, but will we ever be back to normal? I am not sure that this
will be the case. I have almost trained myself to take a mask with me every time I get out of the car. But when I change a vehicle, that is when I end up not having one with me. Oh well, on to the things happening at the OSFA. We have been very busy here at the office. Some new changes that will help productivity are updated internet and phone system. With the internet, we have moved from turtle speed to rabbit speed. The last time the phone system was updated was 2012, and now we can transfer phone calls to a cell phone with a push of a button. We have two new employees in the office, Diane Bain and Madelyn Roth. They have hit the ground running, and both will be taking up committees. Madelyn will be the first person you will speak with on the phone. Diane will answer the phone if Madelyn is taking care of other calls. Sheri, Gene and I have been traveling across this state to help many volunteer fire departments -- Sheri with the grant program doing the FF1 and FF2 classes, and Gene and I by taking bunker gear, radios and air pack to Kenton FD in Cimarron County. Yale Fire Department had its Grand Opening of the new number 1 Fire Station on Oct. 10. I attended along with ORFA 3VP Mike Duncan, and Yale did a fabulous job of building the new station. A few events were held in October. On Oct. 4 was the groundbreaking ceremony for Phase 1 of the Museum Expansion, which will be the 6,100 square foot storage building. The Statewide Memorial Service was held virtually on Oct. 4, but if you missed it, you can still watch it on the OSFA’s Facebook page. I would like to thanks Chris Evans and Trisha Chain for all the work behind making the Memorial Service a great success. The ORFA Golf Tournament was held Oct. 21. Thanks to all who played and helped make it a success. About one-third of the raffle tickets for the Museum Expansion Fundraiser have been bought. I know we still have time before the Guthrie Convention in June 2021 when we give away the Kubota side-by-side, but this is about raising money to help build the Expansion of the Museum Building. Well until next month’s article, be safe and remember to wear your mask and wash your hands. God bless each and every one of you.
Sheri Nickel
Orlando FD
sherin@osfa.info
• 405-424-1452
It seems as though 2020 has been a sketchy year for most of us. We have had to undergo a lot of changes in our day-to-day lives while dealing with whatever normal stuff that we are already challenged with. The societal changes have kept us on our toes here at the OSFA. Having events cancelled at the beginning of this mess to adapting to whatever changes that the world is throwing at us has taught us to be more flexible than ever. One good thing that we have been able to do as an organization is upgrade out internet in the building and implement Zoom into our committee meetings, keeping those members who don’t feel comfortable with in-person meetings -- or having learned that Zoom meetings keep them in the office. For myself, I have graded FEMA grants in a virtual format, attended both the Spring and Fall NVFC board meetings via Zoom. And I will be attending the NFPA 1000 Technical Committee meeting virtually in a couple of weeks. While I completely understand the value of virtual meetings, I continue to have mixed feelings them. If any of you are tired calling the OSFA office and getting a ringtone without an answer, that was because we upgraded our phone system here in the building, as well. As with any change, the kinks had to be worked out and, unfortunately, we lost service for a few days. However, we are up and running better than ever. And if you call now, you will be greeted by our new Administrative Assistant, Madelyn Roth. We interviewed Madelyn through a Zoom meeting while she was living in Louisiana preparing to move to Oklahoma. She arrived in Oklahoma on a Sunday and started working in the OSFA office the Wednesday after that. We believe that she is a great asset to our office and we look forward to having her around for a long time. Membership summaries have been sent out and we are pleased to introduce you all to Diane Bain, our new Membership Coordinator. For those of you who attach her name to the Bain fire family, don’t -- there’s no relation. Yes, that’s one of the first things we asked her in her interview. However, Diane’s son is a volunteer firefighter in Blanchard, so we did find a new Bain fire family in Oklahoma. Diane retired from the FAA a couple of years ago and has extensive office experience. She has picked up on the work quickly, and whenever you call in to speak about membership, she is your gal. Again, we feel that she is a great asset and are happy to have her on our team. A special thank you goes to Trisha Chain, our Events and Promotions Coordinator, for stepping up and training the new staff members, being patient and being a team player while we were shorthanded. As we wind up the rest of 2020, we are looking forward to getting back in the groove of things. Whether our faces are covered with masks or we are strategically social distanced at events, we all know that the Fire Service doesn’t get time to rest and the show must go on. Continue to have a servant’s heart and be safe!
OSFA Adds Administrative Assistants to its Front Office Operations The Oklahoma State Firefighters Association welcomed two new staff members to its front office in October. Diane Bain and Madelyn will serve as administrative assistants for the organization. More specifically, Diane will be in charge of membership coordination while Madelyn will handle phone calls and assist with various office duties. To help introduce them to OSFA members, both answered a few questions for this issue of the Oklahoma Firefighter newspaper.
DIANE BAIN Born and raised? Ada, OK. Grew up and graduated from Stratford HS. Education? Attended Draughn’s Business College and Management Concepts with Program Analyst and Project Management degrees. Previous work experience? Worked for the Federal Aviation Administration for 31 years, starting as an Office Administrator and finishing my career there as Training Coordinator for the Aircraft Maintenance and Engineering Department. Any ties to the Oklahoma Fire Service? My son is a volunteer firefighter for the
Blanchard Fire Department What enticed you to interview for the OSFA opening? I appreciate the service that all firefighters provide their communities and was intrigued with the opportunity to serve as the Membership Coordinator for OSFA. What are you looking forward to as a member of the OSFA staff? Providing excellent customer service to our members and working alongside OSFA Staff members at all the various events OSFA is a part of throughout the state. MADELYN ROTH Born and raised? Metairie, Louisiana Education? Some college at Southeastern Louisiana University and
University of Louisiana at Lafayette Previous work experience? Nine years bartending at Texas Roadhouse. Any ties to the Oklahoma Fire Service? None. What enticed you to interview for the OSFA opening? Everything about the job description just felt like the perfect fit. When I decided to move to Oklahoma, I didn’t want to move to a new state and just work for something corporate. I can do that anywhere. I wanted to become a part of the community by trying to find a job somewhere local or family run. And what better way than working for a state association. What are you looking forward to as a member of the OSFA staff? The people. So far, everyone I have met has been so nice and welcoming.
8November 2020Oklahoma Firefighter
Firefighters FirefightersMuseum Museum Expansion ExpansionFundraiser Fundraiser Organized Organizedby byORFA ORFA
n
ORFA REport George Fina Oklahoma City FD Retired
Grand Prize: Kubota RTV‐XG850 1 ticket for $25 or 5 tickets for $100 Tickets can be purchased at: www.osfa.info/gift‐shop/donations/
This is the time of the year when we remember our brothers and sisters who have passed on to a better place. They leave an empty place in our hearts and our ranks. No one can replace them. We read their names and say goodbye with the ringing of the bell. They are never forgotten. Their names are engraved in our hearts and on the walls of the Oklahoma Fallen and Living Firefighters Memorial. This year was a different format but still with reverence as in the past ceremonies. I hope everyone saw it live on Facebook. If not, you can still see the video on OSFA’s Facebook page. I am hoping that we can be normal again next year. We also had the groundbreaking for Phase 1 of the Museum expansion. You can play a part in the Museum Expansion by purchasing a ticket for the ATV side by side raffle. I hope you all voted in the November election. Your vote is our way of telling a politician we are happy or not happy. Stay masked and well! Proud to serve!
PRESIDENT George Fina, OKC gomsoc38@gmail.com 1ST VICE PRESIDENT A.K. “Yogi” Cole, Tulsa ycole@ipa.net 2ND VICE PRESIDENT James Fullingim, Norman nfdchief@hotmail.com 3RD VICE PRESIDENT Mike Duncan, Dewey mduncan51@aol.com PAST PRESIDENT Tippy Pierce, Moore fftip@swbell.net
Drawing for the Kubota ATV side-by-side will be held the Saturday of the 2021 OSFA Convention (dates to be decided). Drawing will be held the Saturday of the 2021 OSFA Convention Winner will not have to be present to win. Deadline to enter is the Sunday before the 2021 OSFA Convention. Sales are online only (dates to be decided). Winner will not have to be present to win. Deadline to enter is the Sunday before the 2021 OSFA Convention. Sales are online only. n n
Women’s Auxiliary Report Courtney Thompson Jr Board Member
What a quick month October was! I hope everyone had a great Halloween and got some great candy! You should have enjoyed the warm weather while it lasted, because it seems fall is definitely here now. We had a couple of really special events in October One was the Firefighters Statewide Memorial Service. It was a beautiful service to honor our incredible firefighters of Oklahoma. The OSFA is always accepting donations for the memorial on their website. Also in October was the ground breaking for our new museum expansion. The museum will start by adding a parking lot and storage building. The expansion will have several phases, and once over, the museum will have a complete overhaul. What an incredible opportunity we have! We will see you next time!
educational Advisory report Rodney Foster
Shawnee FD
Educational Advisory Committee
PRESIDENT Michele Cole momachel@aol.com VICE PRESIDENT Ashley Corbett ashleyc814@att.net SECRETARY/TREASURER Kendra Engle kedamo10@yahoo.com
JR BD MEMBER Courtney Thompson courtneythompson524@gmail.com PAST PRESIDENT Susan Walker sw233821@gmail.com
Things have been a bit odd this year in the Educational Advisory Board meetings. We have been dealing with a Global Pandemic. We were heartbroken last year when we had to cancel the OSFA State Fire School, but we are shooting to make it happen next spring. So mark your calendars for May 13-16, 2021. We are looking at many options for the school. This task is not taken lightly by members of the board. We have a passion to bring you the best opportunity to train the Oklahoma Firefighters. Please be patient as the school may look a bit different. We are working diligently to create a great weekend. We are considering multiple sites to host classes. The hub will be Tulsa, but we are identifying sites in and around Tulsa to host different events. Please check out the OSU FST website as enrollment should be available around Feb. 1, 2021. We hope that the changes will create more classes that will fit the needs of your fire department. The board has been working very hard in the last few months. The group is dedicated to make the upcoming fire school outstanding. Please be safe and have a great Thanksgiving. 2021 cannot get here soon enough.
Oklahoma FirefighterNovember 20209
Question & Answers Oklahoma Firefighter asked last issue’s readers this question: “What’s the weirdest thing you’ve eaten?” Here is what they said: w Tony Lopez, Midwest City: A live minnow on a bet. w Randy Rose, Ret. Okahoma City: It would have to be boiled Octopus on a stick! Yummy! w Darren Alexander, Cedar Country: Hands down, escargot. On my first cruise ship experience, I tried it and actually liked it. Now, caviar ... different story. w Tom Marcum, Mooreland: An unknown meat dish in a remote village in Belize on a missions trip. They never told us what it was, and we were afraid to ask! But we never saw the village pup after that day. Hmmm. w Eldon Henderson, Ret. Enid: The weirdest thing I’ve ever eaten was a Fish Head Taco with Ralph Brown at a Mexican Restaurant in Guymon that was recommended by Ed Kirtley. w Bert Norton, Midwest City: When I was on a cruise, I ate the snails and ox tongue. w Jeremy Goodrich, Yukon: Armadillo -- thanks to my captain that brings in the weirdest food. w Melanie Colvin, Lexington: Shark, octopus, rattlesnake, ostridge, alligator and chocolate covered grasshoppers! I liked the shark and the alligator tail. The alligator tail was really tender.
n
SAFER Grant Sheri Nickel SAFER Grant Coordinator
The first of two amazing grants is quickly coming to an end. We want to thank all of the participants and instructors for the great effort put forth in all the classes that the grant has been able to sponsor. It has been very busy for all involved trying to get the classes complete. We have made a great impact on the Oklahoma Fire Service. These classes are meant to reach all volunteer personnel that put on the uniform. We strive to make the students take the information learned back to their departments. This allows the knowledge to continue exponentially. The ability to complete Firefighter 1 was never really a thought for some. This grant was a great way to make that a reality. The grant will officially close and complete the end of November. The great news is we have received another grant to move us into the next three to four years. We will continue to offer Firefighter 1. And the next phase of the grant also includes Firefighter 2 classes. We will offer these in the coming months. Ardmore was the pilot for Firefighter 2 and we have started the second offering in Jenks. Look for new Firefighter 2 classes to be scheduled in the coming months.
Year-4 of SAFER Grant Opened Nov. 29, 2019 Funds dispersed on a first-come first-served basis
OKLAHOMA STATE FIREFIGHTERS ASSOCIATION Sheri Nickel Grant Coordinator www.OSFA.info • sherin@osfa.info 405-424-1452 office • 580-554-7123 cell
Because of the success of this grant, OSFA was awarded a new SAFER Grant for 2020-2024 to sustain and enhance what is already being done!
w Bryan West, OSU-FST: I am not very adventurous when it comes to my food. However, on a dare many years ago, I tried an earthworm. A beverage could have enticed that decision. w Bob Noll, Ret. Yukon: Ham and lima beans in Army C Rations. A veteran will see this and say “Oh yeah. I remember that. UGH.” w Louis Marschik, Oklahoma City: Poi. I was first introduced to Poi in Hawaii. It is apparently a starchy Polynesian food paste made from the taro root. “Bland tasting paste” is the best way to describe it. w Greg Lindsay, Oklahoma City: The weirdest thing that I have eaten that I know about was fried jellyfish. Not a fan! w George Fina, Ret, Oklahoma City: Snail. w Michael Pettey, Fort Supply: Well, I am a country boy, so that is a loaded question. What may be weird to some is not so weird to me. I have eaten everything from smoked beaver, grilled coon, calf fries and squid. LOL.
Next Month’s Question --
“What’s your favorite thing at your Fire Station?” (send a photo, too, if you wish) Everyone is Welcome to Participate!
Email Your Response to penelopes@osfa.info
Communications & Public Affairs -- Oct. 19, 2020 Contact: State Rep. Chad Caldwell -- Phone: (405) 557-7317
Caldwell Hosts Study on Rural Fire Emergency Response OKLAHOMA CITY – State Rep. Trey Caldwell, R-Lawton, led an interim study Thursday, Oct. 8, to discuss the current systems in place for emergency management and ways to improve response time. The study was presented before the House Public Safety committee. “When a person’s health or safety is at risk, they’re not concerned with whether the emergency responders come from their county or the next county over—they just want someone there to save their life,” Caldwell said. “It’s incumbent upon us as legislators to ease any separation between agencies so they can work together quickly and efficiently in the interest of public safety.” Lance Terry, who is the 911 coordinator for Oklahoma Emergency Management, told the committee there were 128 centers handling 911 calls, in addition to 32 standalone dispatch centers, but that dispatch services were local decisions. Jack Nicholson, who serves as fire chief of the Chattanooga Fire Dept., spoke on the relationship between volunteer fire departments, municipal governments and county dispatch services. He told members that while many volunteer fire departments have boundaries that cross county lines, the authority of individual departments remains with the jurisdiction of the title 11 or 18 governance, regardless of county lines. “Bureaucratic red tape is preventing our fire departments from servicing the areas closest to them, and it risks the lives and livelihoods of Oklahomans,” Caldwell said. “I’m thankful for everyone who brought their expertise to the table for this discussion and I’m hopeful we can work together to find a solution that protects Oklahomans and preserves taxpayer dollars.” A video of the study is available at https://okhouse.gov/Video/Default.aspx.
10November 2020Oklahoma Firefighter
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NEAR-MISS REPORT
By Greg Lindsay
Low-Frequency Event Training Fall is a great time to gear up and get outside for training. Moderating weather conditions and the need for reducing community exposure gives us an excellent opportunity to stay at the station and train. In addition to preparing for winter operations, it’s also a good time to break out the low occurrence equipment for an annual inspection and use test. Bear in mind; there are a few requirements for each piece of gear that may not be in the manuals. The report featured this month involves training with specialized equipment. The crew had not used this gear before, and there were unusual complications with assembling the equipment. In addition to using new equipment, the conditions were complicated by training for a low-frequency event. The report is available at http://firefighternearmiss. com/Reports?id=15994
Members Lose Consciousness During Drill Published: 7/24/2020
EVENT DESCRIPTION Our fire department endured a significant “Close Call” during a confined space training exercise. Two firefighters performing as an entry team both became unconscious during the drill, while on supplied air. On-scene communications and the on-site lead instructor quickly recognized the entry team’s lack of responsiveness. The personnel immediately worked to remove the two firefighters from the training prop. They regained consciousness shortly after removal from the in-line air.
FIREFIGHTER FUNDS ACCEPTING CHARITABLE DONATIONS Through Oklahoma City Community Foundation
Pete & Lela Stavros Scholarship Foundation Awarding scholarships to high school seniors -- all the children of Oklahoma Firefighters -- since 2004. At the 2020 OSFA Convention, five $1,000 scholarships were awarded.
Keith Bryan Memorial Scholarship Fund Established in 2012 to provide scholarship opportunities for aspiring and/or current Oklahoma Fire Officers in leadership and management training education. Available to members of the OFCA.
Oklahoma State FireFighters Museum Endowment Fund To Make Secure Donation With Credit Card: https://donate.occf.org
OKC Fire Department
Both were transported and released from the hospital on the same day as the incident. The cause of the firefighters’ unconsciousness was determined to be an exposure to an oxygen-deficient atmosphere in the supplied air system. We added a 150-foot high-pressure breathing airline into the system without purging that line during the exercise. We did not have documentation for when the airline was utilized or when the line had been purged completely. Please take a moment to discuss this event with your crew and consider the following: • Have you ever been issued new equipment and been tasked with investigating the operational parameters? • Are you familiar with Supplied Air Breathing Apparatus (SABA), and when was the last time you had the opportunity to train with it? • There may be other equipment at your station that is not used very often. Items like rescue rope and harnesses, baskets and web gear, or hydraulic equipment, to name a few, may stay on the rig for extended periods before it is needed. What are some of the concerns for this type of equipment that may need our attention? • Do you keep a permanent log on these things? How often are they cleaned or inspected? LESSONS LEARNED What recommendations do you have to prevent a similar occurrence? The manufacturer recommends purging of breathing airlines after each use but does not provide any additional specifications regarding a time requirement for purging before or after use. Our department has implemented completely purging lines after utilization and purging breathing lines before usage; we recommend 30 seconds for every 100 feet. Additionally, we re-purge lines anytime a new line is added to a breathing air system. We had not used this system, and this was training to identify the best way ahead for future operations. We were not aware of the need for the purging of lines attached to the apparatus. We took for granted it was a closed system and that all required NFPA testing had been completed and was up to date. A quick search on the internet revealed this is happening in other places, and some have been fatal. What changes are being implemented due to this event? • Line purging before and after each use. • Assure appropriate time is given to allow adequate breathing air is in the system • Life-long logging of line use. • Incorporate manufacturer recommendations into the life cycle replacement of breathing lines that are part of the vehicle system if they touch the supplied air system. This event tells us about circumstances we may never have encountered until it happened to us. The point of the reporting program is to share lessons learned and avoid injuries. This report is a perfect example of how that is possible. Working with equipment that is specific to a low-frequency event requires special attention. Many departments use field guides that outline the procedures when used. These guides incorporate check-off sheets to be sure of safe operation. We need to be familiar with these guides during an incident, but it is essential to utilize it during training. The adage practice like you play comes to mind. Knowing how to access the field guides becomes an integral part of the equipment itself. Working with low-frequency equipment can be a challenge. If you have had an experience where this type of gear created a learning experience, I would like to read about it. In about the same amount of time it takes to read this report, you can share a significant event that has shaped your career and possibly prevent another firefighter from incurring their own significant event. The web address is www.Firefighternearmiss.com. Your report is anonymous, and the benefit could be tremendous. Thank you for reading and have a safe shift.
FirefighterNovember 202011 Valley View FD a winner in MSA/DuPont 2020 GlobeOklahoma Gear Giveaway This year, 13 volunteer fire departments will receive new turnout gear and helmets through the 2020 Globe Gear Giveaway sponsored by MSA, DuPont and the National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC). And Valley View Fire Chief Lin Newton received word that his department in Lawton was a lucky recipient. Globe sent a representative to Valley View FD on Oct. 22 to take measurements for the four sets of new turnout gear and four new helmets. “We are very excited about the gear,” Chief Newton said. “We do not have the budget to make a purchase of this size, and to help replace some of our old gear is a blessing to our department.” Valley View FD is a relatively new department serving a rural area of southern Oklahoma. In addition to protecting 15 square miles in the immediate vicinity of their station, the department is a state-certified emergency medical response agency and responds to other districts to provide services they are lacking. Founded in 2012, a majority of Valley View’s turnout gear was donated by other departments but is now between 10 and 15 years old. Most of the department’s budget has gone to build the station and equip their trucks, leaving little left to purchase turnout gear. “The ability to receive new gear
(through the Globe Gear Giveaway) will allow us to meet the NFPA standards on gear and better protect our firefighters,” Chief Newton said. His department, which joined OSFA in 2013 and consists of 16 active volunteers, received an online notification about the Globe Gear Giveaway. “We followed up on it,” he said. “And once we looked on the NVFC website and saw that we qualified to enter, we filled out the grant application.” In addition to the new gear, Valley View FD also received a one-year NVFC membership, courtesy of MSA. Fire Chief Lin Newton
12November 2020Oklahoma Firefighter
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Museum news
Support Oklahoma Firefighters Museum by shopping at AmazonSmile
Gene Brown Museum Director geneb@osfa.info 405-424-3440
Hello Everyone! We had the Statewide Memorial on Oct 4, and we held it virtually this year. To view the ceremony, go to the OSFA’s Facebook page. We are very proud to be able to share it with everyone. It turned out great. Thanks to everyone who made it possible. That same day, we had the ground breaking for Phase 1 of the Museum Expansion project. The new shop that will be built over the next several months will enable us to make room in the museum for the education center. The expanion project has been a slow process, but it is worthwhile. We look forward to making these changes. Work on the Memorial is coming along. We are close to caught up. And we hope to open the Museum up to the public on Jan. 1, 2021. Please call to make sure we are open before planning your visit. Be safe out there!
ABOVE: Thank you to the Ride Oklahoma Charities Association for the donation to the Fallen and Living Firefighters Memorial following the 2020 Ride to Remember. A total of 605 riders were registered in this year’s event that raised enough funds to make donations to three different first responder organizations. RIGHT: Thanks to our friends at Great Plains Kubota, our raffle prize has been delivered to the Museum for safekeeping until the winner is drawn in June 2021! This UTV raffle is to support the Oklahoma Firefighters Museum expansion project and is sponsored by the Oklahoma Retired Firefighters Association. Winner will not have to be present at the annual Convention to win! Anyone can purchase 1 ticket for $25 or 5 tickets for $100. To purchase, go to Museum Gift Shop at www.osfa.info/giftshop/donations.
SMILE.AMAZON.COM
When you shop on AmazonSmile (smile.amazon.com), the AmazonSmile Foundation will donate 0.5% of the price of eligible purchases to the charitable organizations selected by customers. The Oklahoma State Firemens Museum Inc. is one of the charitable organizations, and that is your museum. There is no cost to charitable organizations or to AmazonSmile customers. The shopping experience is identical to Amazon.com with the added benefit that the AmazonSmile Foundation will donate to your Museum, if selected! Just make sure to shop at smile.amazon.com instead of the regular Amazon site. Simply add it as a bookmarked page to your home screen, so it will basically be an app. The link that automatically adds the Oklahoma Firefighters Museum as the charity is https://smile.amazon.com/ ch/73-6109355.
Oklahoma FirefighterNovember 202013
Maud Fire Chief Also Works Court Cases and Cattle The Faces of a Volunteer Firefighter By Sheri Nickel Orlando FD & OSFA Administrative Director When not working cattle on the ranch that his family has owned since 1895, team roping, duck hunting, training dogs or being a single dad to a 6-year old little boy, Matt Peters is a practicing attorney at his law office in Shawnee and the Fire Chief of the Maud Volunteer Fire Department in southern Pottawatomie County. The 32-year old attorney completed his undergrad at the University of Oklahoma in 2010 and the Oklahoma City University School of Law in 2013. After obtaining his law degree, he moved back to the town where he was born and raised and opened his own law office in Shawnee. His son was born shortly thereafter and it wasn’t long after that when Matt decided to join his local volunteer fire department. “Growing up in the community, I have always wanted to help people,” he said. “I can’t help everyone financially, so I found serving them as a firefighter is the next best thing.”
It didn’t take long after joining the department in 2014 that Matt was promoted to the Fire Chief. He has served in the position since 2016 and recently had the opportunity to complete Firefighter-1 with the Shawnee class sponsored by the OSFA SAFER grant. “Time is not on my side” Matt said. But becoming more involved in the Oklahoma Fire Service is something that he is interested in. “I feel that my knowledge of the volunteer fire service would be a benefit to spread the things I have learned. “The ones that have come before me have offered great advice to me. I feel that the next generation of firefighters need to be given leadership training to continue this great profession.” When asked what his most memorable fire call has been thus far, Matt explained that his team was deployed to the Rhea Fire back in 2018. They were assigned to protect a structure during the fire in western Oklahoma only to find out that the homeowner was a relative to a close friend. Recently, the Maud Volunteer Fire Department responded to a “gas leak.” Matt was just finishing up
in court when the call came in. He showed up on scene with his suit and tie under his bunker gear. It’s not the norm on a fire scene, but Matt’s duty to serve his community supersedes his dress attire worries. He has a vision for the future of the fire department and hopes to incorporate more EMS training.
Help support your Oklahoma Firefighters Museum Expansion and Oklahoma Fallen and Living Firefighters Memorial PURCHASE AN OKLAHOMA FIREFIGHTER LICENSE TAG! Money received from the purchase of each tag goes directly to financing upkeep on the Oklahoma Fallen and Living Firefighters Memorial and Oklahoma Firefighters Museum. Oklahoma Firefighter tags cost $40 a year (on top of regular tag fees) and $20 goes directly to the Museum/Memorial.
Tags can be purchased from local tag agents any time during the year -- not just with your regular plate. And they can be customized to 6 letters as approved by the Tax Commission. Forms for Oklahoma Firefighter tags can be downloaded from www.osfa.info.
14November 2020Oklahoma Firefighter
Museum Expansion Groundbreaking Ceremony Takes Place Sixteen ceremonial shovels with gold blades were lined up on the grounds of the Oklahoma State Firefighters Association complex on Oct. 4. And representatives from the city of Oklahoma City, OSFA, ORFA, OFCA and the Women’s Auxiliary took part in the groundbreaking ceremony which begins Phase 1 of the project. Work on Phase 1, which entails a 6,100 square foot six bay storage to work on fire trucks and store them, is expected to take six months to complete. The next phase will include the addition of a public fire education area to the museum building. Among those grabbing shovels for the groundbreaking were: OKC Mayor David Holt; OKC Ward 7 Councilwoman Nikki Nice; OSFA President Eric Harlow; Museum Board President Jim Minx; Museum Expansion Committee Chairman Mike Bower; OFCA President Bert Norton; ORFA President George Fina; OSFA Women’s Auxiliary President Michele Cole; OSFA Interim Executive Director Tippy Pierce; OSFA Administrative Director Sheri Nickel; and Oklahoma Firefighters Museum Director Gene Brown.
OSFA Executive Board & Executive Director
Also in attendance were past OSFA Executive Directors, the Oklahoma City FD Honor Guard and Oklahoma Fire Pipes and Drums. Eric Harlow thanked all for coming. Jim Minx talked about the history of the museum. Mike Bower talked about Museum Expansion Fundraising. Councilwoman Nikki Nice said she was pleased that OSFA and the Oklahoma Firefighters Museum are in her ward, as she always likes to help Oklahoma firefighters when she can. And Mayor David Holt talked about how pleased he was with the development. OSFA Women’ Auxiliary Executive Board
Mayor David Holt & Councilwoman Nikki Nice
OSFA Past Executive Directors
OKC FD Honor Guard
Oklahoma FirefighterNovember 202015
Prior to Oklahoma Firefighters Statewide Memorial Service PHOTOS BY GREG ROBERTS, Norman Ret.
The 21st annual Statewide Oklahoma Firefighters Memorial Service was conducted Oct. 4 following the groundbreaking ceremony. In a moving tribute to the 245 firefighters who have passed in the last year, their names were read, a bell tolled and a 21-bell salute followed. Although this year’s Memorial Service was closed to spectators, the event streamed live on OSFA’s Facebook page. In fact, the 45-minute video is still available for viewing. Other highlights included: • A march to the Memorial led by Oklahoma Fire Pipes and Drums. The procession included the OKC FD Honor Guard and Executive Board members for the OSFA, ORFA, OFCA and OSFA Women’s Auxiliary. • OSFA’s Tippy Pierce and Eric Harlow placing the wreath in front of the Memorial Wall of Valor. • Gary Dill (Ret. Edmond FD Chaplain) giving the invocation and benediction prayers. • Herb Bradshaw (Past OSFA Executive Director) adding beautiful music to the ceremony through song. • Kevin Harland playing taps and balloons being released. “It was just a wonderful day,” Tippy said. “Not a cloud in the sky. And not very hot with mild winds.”
Herb Bradshaw ORFA Executive Board & Past Presidents
Tony Lopez
Mike Duncan
16November 2020Oklahoma Firefighter
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FSIO REPORT Mark Murdock FSIO President
n Moore FD
State Fire marshal report Carl Hickman
• Firedoc004@gmail.com
Our annual fall FSIO Conference was a big success! We were able to make it all come together even through the Covid-19 pandemic. It was really looking bleak for a while, but none the less we made it possible. With a great deal of planning and replanning, we were able to have a good attendance and learn from some fantastic speakers. Our speakers were spot on with our motto this year, “Lead With Passion and Teach With Purpose.” All of our instructors were very passionate about what they presented and made it worth our time to listen and learn. Our attendance was up this year even with the virus. I do believe that if not for the virus, we would have had a record attendance. Thanks to all who attended! Thanks to all our board and supporters, because without you, this couldn’t have taken place. This year we had a great line up of presenters that we feel blessed to have in our line-up. On Thursday, we heard from Chief Jim Anas from Skiatook and Captain Sam Hittle from Wichita, Kan. On Friday we heard from Deputy Chief Sam Shaw from Fairfax County, Va., and Retired FC Greg Neely. On Saturday, we had HOT classes presented by the Mid America FOOLS, Captain Scott Kleinsmidt from Wichita, Kan., and his crew from Traditions Training. Also on Saturday, we had presentations from our own crew, Retired FC Rodney Foster and Captain Melanie Colvin. Hopefully, we will be able to continue with not only classroom education but hands on training, as well in future conferences. I fully believe we must balance our education with both if we are to make a positive difference in the fire service. Each year, we take nominations from members from around the state for the Instructor of the Year. This year’s Instructor of the Year award went to Gary Baustert from Okarche. Gary has been a long-time instructor and is very deserving of such an honor. Congratulations Gary! We look forward to the upcoming year and bringing you another beneficial and rewarding conference. We will be planning again for another October date, so be on the lookout. Thanks again for all you do to make our Oklahoma Fire Service great. Till we meet again, “Lead With Passion and Train With Purpose!”
carl.hickman@fire.ok.gov State statutes define the mission of the State Fire Marshal’s office – fire and arson investigations, code enforcement, and public education. We are responsible for all areas of the state where no local authority exists, or when requested by a local authority. I wanted to bring you up-to-date on a few of the things happening in the State Fire Marshal’s office: • We have produced a brochure entitled “When to Call,” available to all first responder agencies, that explains our services and when to call for assistance. • Two new agents have been added to our staff to improve services in the field. This brings the total number of field agents to 12, including two supervisors. • We are modernizing our inspection software to provide better accessibility by our agents and improve efficiency in our fire/building inspection process. • Tom Palmer has been appointed by Governor Stitt to serve on the State Fire Marshal Commission. Mr. Palmer’s appointment was effective July and replaces David Barnes, Oklahoma County Emergency Director. On a different note, there seems to be some confusion on who is responsible for plans reviews and building permitting. In Title 74 of the Oklahoma Statutes: §74-324.11. Building permits - Conformity to building codes - Authority of cities, towns and counties - Construction or alteration of correctional or assisted living facilities. C. Application for such building permit shall be made to, and such building permit shall be issued by, any city, town or county in whose jurisdiction the construction or alteration is planned. The city, town or county may require the submission of plans and specifications covering the proposed construction or alteration and may refuse to issue such permit unless the work so planned is in accordance with the applicable provisions of the city, town or county’s building code. In all geographical areas wherein no such permit is required by local authorities such permit must be obtained from the State Fire Marshal, who may require the submission of plans and specifications covering the proposed construction or alteration, and shall refuse to issue such permit unless the work so planned is in accordance with the applicable provisions of the building code, as last adopted by the Oklahoma Uniform Building Code Commission. Please understand, by statute – no municipality or subdivision shall enact or enforce any ordinances, rules for construction of or major alterations to buildings with standards less stringent than the building code, as last adopted by the Oklahoma Uniform Building Code Commission. Keep in mind that building codes and zoning are two completely separate issues. The State Fire Marshal’s office does not enforce zoning – that is strictly left to the local jurisdiction. If you need assistance, please do not hesitate to contact us at 405-522-5005 or 1-800-522-8666. Stay safe.
2020 ORFA FUN & FELLOWSHIP GOLF TOURNAMENT Held October 21 at Fire Lake Golf Course in Shawnee • • • • •
11 teams total 1st place: Gary Bonner, Jordan Powell, Gary Doty, Trent Baggett 2nd place: Milton Blackburn, David Carter, Teddy Perkins, Mike McFarland Longest drive: Neal Crutchfield Closest to the pin: David Carter
Oklahoma FirefighterNovember 202017
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Public educational Advisory Committee report Louis Marschik
Oklahoma City FD
The Public Education Advisory Committee reconvened after what felt like a very long time. Like everyone else, we are adapting with a combination of in-person (social distancing and masks) and virtual communications. Prior to COVID, we had just finished our first Public Education Summit at The Children’s Center in Bethany. We received very positive feedback from the group of approximately 100 registered attendees. Initial work has begun on our next summit, which will take place in the Tulsa area. Our goal is to rotate between the Oklahoma City and Tulsa Metro areas so we can reach more of our fire department families across the state. The tentative time for the summit will be in the fall of 2021.
Our committee is now led by new chairman Jacob Stangl from the Edmond Fire Department. We have 16 members representing all areas of the state. In addition to our members, we are grateful to have on board our State Fire Marshal, Chief Carl Hickman, members from OSFA and the museum, as well as NFPA Regional Director Kelly Ransdell. We presently have two sub-committees that are working to improve consistent fire prevention messaging throughout our state. The first is the education committee, which has made some strong contacts within the Oklahoma State Department of Education. This group will focus on avenues we can take to educate our children during a virus and after we are back to normal. The other committee is the special needs team. This group is researching, learning and looking to find ways to properly educate our children and adults with special needs on fire prevention. We are presently sharing and educating ourselves on all the great resources available to assist our public education endeavors. We can then utilize the resources (many of which are free) to support our communities fire prevention efforts.
As many of you are aware, we recently completed “Fire Prevention Week” which was the week of Oct. 4-10. This year’s theme was “Serve up Fire Safety in the Kitchen.” This was a very fitting theme, as most fires start in the kitchen and many more people are working from home. NFPA and State Farm distributed 100 Fire Prevention Week Kits all over our state.
A couple of friendly fire prevention tips: • Thanksgiving Day is the #1 day of the year for cooking fires. • Check your smoke alarms and have an exit plan. This should be a family activity. • Don’t leave your home without making sure that all heat sources/open fires have been turned off, extinguished or unplugged. • Keep turkey fryers away from the house and children. • The kitchen is not a place for children. If they have to be in the kitchen, keep them at least three feet from any cooking appliance. Have a wonderful Thanksgiving!
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18November 2020Oklahoma Firefighter
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page to Ponder
NFPA REPORT Kelly Ransdell
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kransdell@nfpa.org
Rick Chisum
National Fire Protection Association Bring on the holiday season as we finish out 2020! This month, I have a ton of ideas to help you finish the year strong. In November, NFPA Podcasts will highlight Firefighter cancer prevention. The NFPA Podcast is the place for safety professionals to stay up to speed on the fast-paced world of electrical, fire, and life safety. • The Fire Protection Research Foundation has just announced funding to study fire investigator Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and the transition to fluorine free foam technology. The aim of the fire investigator PPE project is to impact the health and safety of fire investigators by determining the effectiveness of PPE, post-fire skin-cleansing wipes, and on-scene decontamination methods for mitigating exposures to toxic fireground contaminants while conducting investigations. The second project will enhance firefighter health and safety by developing best practice recommendations for firefighting foam operations and handling while transitioning to fluorine free foam technology. Fire departments are seeking replacements for Aqueous Film Forming Foams (AFFFs) and other agents containing fluorsurfactants but lack acceptable drop-in replacements for AFFFs that are effective. This is a complex problem that requires insights on fire extinguishing performance, health risks, environmental contamination, and other concerns. • The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) and the Phoenix Society for Burn Survivors announced the rollout of the first two video interviews of a new campaign series entitled, Faces of Fire/Electrical, which will feature personal stories of people impacted by electrical incidents and demonstrate the need for continued education and awareness about electrical hazards in the workplace and at home. The campaign introduces two electrical utility
workers who were injured in the field. Dave Schury was working as an area operator for an Illinois power company when a rat short-circuited a 12,000-volt piece of equipment causing an explosion. He suffered second- and third-degree burns to 30 percent of his body and spent the next two weeks fighting for his life in the burn unit at Chicago’s Cook County Hospital. In 2010, while working as a power lineman, Sam Matagi was involved in an electrical incident; nearly 15,000 volts of electricity surged through his body when a scrap of cut wire that he was holding came in contact with a live wire. His injuries resulted in the loss of both his hands. Over the course of the campaign, a new video interview will be highlighted each month demonstrating the importance of workplace and home safety, in addition to related electrical safety resources and information. • Students and parents, who attend school or work remotely should be aware of caution around using and charging laptops and other electrical devices at home. When it comes to using and charging laptops, smartphones, and other digital devices, following simple precautions can help minimize the risk of electrical fires. NFPA offers many resources to help people use electrical equipment at home safely, along with a safety tip sheet that provide guidelines and recommendations for safely using devices that require lithium ion batteries. • With Halloween behind us, November is the kickoff of the holiday season. In keeping with the cooking safety messaging for Fire Prevention Week, we can extend this to Thanksgiving cooking safety. You can download Safety Tip Sheets for each season. Have a great November and may your Thanksgiving be full of many blessings and a time to reflect on some of the positive things of 2020.
Okmulgee FD
Hello to my fellow sisters and brothers of the Oklahoma Fire Service. Here we find ourselves still in the midst of the sea of uncertainty, all either directly or indirectly influenced by Covid-19. Prayers you haven’t fallen victim and find yourself in good health. And for those less fortunate who are or have suffered through it, God be with you. Many will say that, as always, we will gather lessons learned from he hands of this pandemic that will in the future guide us with less harm or loss taking its toll on us. Some old methods have failed, while others held fast and evolved into new and better, proving their value along the way. Crazy as it sounds, the path to better is littered with the failed and its collateral damage. It always comes with cost that’s neither cheap nor without heartache. And then the real test is time. So here we are in 2020. What’s staring us in the face? Job-wise in the fire service, great strides have been made in areas, with others still lacking and coming up short. And if you are in the lacking side, when is it gonna come together and be resolved? There is one factor that carries all change, and it is involvement. In fine print, that’s you. Seems one time a few will serve the many, but what if it were the many serving? Those willing to step up, work hard, get scuffed or dirty to find a solution, make it fit, serve the greater good and then keep it operating. Anything in motion will break with time an wear. You can’t fix it and leave it. It’s gotta be tend to, maintained adjusted to fit. So now it’s up to you. Are you part of the problem or the solution? It’s step-up time. We’re all in the same boat. Let’s all paddle the same direction for a spell. Can’t image where we can get working together.
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O.A.E.V.T. can provide FREE TRANING that can be tailored to your department
Oklahoma FirefighterNovember 202019 Addiction & Mental Health Resources for First Responders Written By Granite Recovery Centers Clinically Reviewed By Cheryl Smith MS,MLADC First responders such as police officers and firefighters deal with daily struggles and crises. This increases their odds of becoming dependent on a substance or developing mental health disorders. Even though they undergo a degree of emotional hardening through training, first responders are often worn down slowly by daily dramas. The category of “first responders” is made up of police, firefighters, paramedics, military personnel, prison guards, emergency medical technicians and rescuers in general. Frequently, the day-to-day scenarios these professionals encounter have the potential to cause an array of trauma-based disorders, such as post-traumatic stress disorder. With the daily risks of life-threatening encounters combined with the physical and mental strain of working for long hours, first responders have a higher risk of turning to drugs or alcohol as a means to cope with their lives. Getting adequate help is frequently difficult because it means that their aura of invincibility is tainted or even falls away entirely. Some feel that they might not even be fit for their job any longer; a mental health issue will imply, in their minds, that they are too weak to deal with the realities of their career field. Although addiction and mental health issues have a negative impact on first responders’ lives, there is help available. Rate of Addiction in First Responders Despite few long-term studies relating to alcohol or drug addictions among first responders, some research reflects that it is a growing problem in society. Usually, alcohol is the most abused substance of choice. However, a wide variety of substances present a temptation of escapism for the suffering individual. According to the Clinical Psychology Associates of North Central Florida, roughly 9% of studied first responders admitted to binge drinking within the last month. Police officers and firefighters have the lowest incidents of illegal drug use, but as many as 10% say that they have abused drugs at some point. Being addicted to a substance comes with a lot of nuance in the eyes of first responders. They often deal with instances where they can see the grave impacts of those who are struggling with addiction, especially the effects on the youngest and oldest members of society. Physical injuries both acute and chronic are gateways into opioids and other prescription painkillers. Though first responders might understand well enough the dangers and detrimental impacts of substance abuse, having highly painful injuries and taking equally powerful painkillers can lead to a physical dependency no matter how strong willpower is. Even though illicit substance abuse will inevitably cause conflicts with working life, even something as innocuous as smoking tobacco could have just as catastrophic health consequences. First Responders, Mental Health Disorders and Addiction A study performed in 2008 investigated the factors for resilience that first responders possess. Researchers found among 961 people surveyed a high level of understanding and a low level of burnout acceptance. The survey, conducted online, measured self-efficiency, collective efficiency, sense of community and mental health-related outcomes derived from work. Researchers found that a stronger sense of duty and community responsibility acted as prevention against mental health degradation. Among those handling the European refugee crisis since 2017, first responders who cover the entire Mediterranean risk physical and mental health outcomes at a higher rate than the average population, and this is compounded further in the cases where there are ideological differences among first responders and stated objectives. Up to 72% reported low levels of perceived well-being. This included feelings of burnout as well as severe, longlasting issues such as PTSD. Seeing the dead bodies of adults and children also impacted the overall outcome of long-term mental health for those offering first-aid services. Some began to abuse alcohol as a result. A survey from the University of Phoenix discovered that
mental health challenges are typical among first responders, even if they don’t admit to having it. If help is available, it frequently goes under-utilized. Roughly 85% of those who have been surveyed have gone through symptoms of mental health issues. Nearly one-third were formally diagnosed with a mental condition. More than 25% of those who were diagnosed had depression. In addition, a fire department is three times more likely to experience death from suicide rather than death during an active response. Due to their reluctance to have their issues addressed, first responders are increasingly likely to selfmedicate with drugs or alcohol. Studies like these highlight that there is a growing need for effective intervention programs that can spot and solve occupational and mental well-being issues that impact first responders before addiction sets in. Substance Use Disorder and Firefighters Firefighters must risk life and limb to rescue civilians from dangerous situations. They are often subject to psychological traumas from witnessing severe burns and other types of fatal injuries. Shifts can last as long as 24 hours, which can become very dangerous if performed too often. Nearly one-third of firefighters participate in binge drinking, and up to 10% are actively abusing prescription-only drugs such as opioids. When compared to the general population, the risks of binge drinking are much higher in firefighters. Not dissimilar to police officers, several social and psychological variables contribute to the increased rates of alcohol use; usually, acts of camaraderie and the idea of friendly outings involve alcohol in some means or another. Typically, it will be described as a “cooling down” experience after the struggles of the day. According to a 2018 study, alcohol was the second most popular coping mechanism for firefighters. Substance Use Disorder in EMTs and Paramedics Emergency medical technicians who are deployed to accidents and other traumatic occurrences are frequently exposed to gruesome sights. This can include bearing witness to everything from shootings and stabbings to people being crushed or decapitated. EMTs are frequently expected to perform 24-hour shifts. In addition, paramedics are required to make decisions with little time to deliberate, which could mean the difference between life and death. They must do this while also managing the significant personal physical risks involved in working in such hazardous areas. According to one U.K. study, more than 20% of EMTs and paramedics suffer from PTSD, and 72% of EMTs and paramedics have experienced severe sleep deprivation symptoms. The same resource claims that up to 36% of EMTs and paramedics also suffer from depression. Emergency medical service providers are at a higher risk for all forms of substance abuse than the general population. More than any other emergency responder position, EMTs and paramedics are at risk of drug abuse. There has not been enough research on the causes to establish just why this is, but some believe that it’s a complex combination of factors such as high stress from the job and easy access to drugs. The elevated trauma and stress drive many paramedics to cope with their severe psychological load by relying on the use of mind-altering substances. Signs of Addiction in First Responders Mental health issues and substance addictions present frequently through similar though sometimes unexpected behaviors. These symptoms can include: • Being irritated or overly impatient • Showing increasingly defiant or angry behavior • Having panic attacks and a general increase in anxiety • Going through extreme mood swings that can be unpredictable • Speaking very quickly or very slowly • Experiencing a lack of coordination • Falling asleep randomly and experiencing general lethargy • Appearing overly energetic and hyperactive • Experiencing tremors, twitching, or shaking of eyelids and hands • Having constricted or dilated pupils
• Not being able to maintain eye contact • Having needle marks or pinpricks on arms or legs • Having burned lips or fingers • Struggling to make decisions • Needing constant reminders to do tasks • Having trouble with basic performance such as filing paperwork • Not showing up to work Due to the physical pain incurred from performing in EMT and law enforcement work, painkillers and prescription drug abuse are major problems since they are more readily available. Self-Care for First Responders It is typical for first responders to be educated in screening survivors for detrimental health effects due to behavioral issues. Presently, the career field is magnifying how inner strength and resilience can be built through frequent and meaningful self-care. Similar to how first responders put so much on the line to help others, so too must they set aside time for themselves to maintain their emotional, physical and mental well-being. SAMHSA recommends multiple different techniques for self-care: • Keep in close contact with your support network of friends and family. • Look forward to positive things in life. • Take time off from work to unwind. • Reach out to a leader of your faith and practice spiritual beliefs. • Take time for yourself so that you can rest and reflect on life properly. • Mourn sorrows and celebrate successes as a group with coworkers in a way that does not involve drugs or alcohol. • Learn about your coworkers. • Wash yourself when you leave work, even if it’s just your face, as though the problems of the day were going down the drain. • Practice good hygiene. • Wear clean clothes. • Get enough sleep. • Eat a nutritionally balanced meal three times a day. • Exercise regularly. • Get help if you are addicted to a substance from a reputable source. Challenges When Seeking Help and Selecting a Good Rehabilitation Center It’s important to understand that there are many options out there, but for those who suffer from substance use disorder, the highest rates of success usually come from being part of an in-house rehabilitation process. Finding a rehabilitation clinic that understands the personal concerns about how one’s community sees them and their unique job is paramount. Places such as NFA Behavioral Health provide a small client-to-clinician ratio to help ensure an individualized treatment program has the best odds for success. Science-backed regimens are handled by a staff of medically trained, boardcertified professionals who have a stellar track record of helping people conquer their addictions. Our specialists can help with detoxification, which is very dangerous if performed alone. The risks can even include death. As the body has usually become accustomed to the addictive substances, the sudden shift in balance means that withdrawal symptoms can be severe as the body seeks a new equilibrium. The average person, even one as skilled and determined as a first responder, has difficulty handling the severe and debilitating pains that come with withdrawal. Medical professionals at our inpatient detox center not only will ease the burdens of withdrawal, but they’ll also make sure the sufferer stays alive and as comfortable as possible while doing so. Long-term recovery from alcohol or drug use dictates that a comprehensive life change is often in order. To help facilitate this, our recovery specialists at New Freedom Academy (www.graniterecoverycenters.com) institute a 12-step program that’s ideal for handling follow-up programming so that emergency responders can keep helping their communities.
20November 2020Oklahoma Firefighter
www.osufst.org
1723 West Tyler, Stillwater, OK 74078 • (800) 304-5727 • (405) 744-5727 • Fax: (405) 744-7377
November 2020 CLASS SCHEDULE Current as of October 20, 2020
Courses are subject to change • Call or check online for changes in courses
All courses are FREE unless otherwise noted
Fire Officer I: NFPA 1021, 2014 Edition (77943) Nov. 2-6 (48 hours) • $3000 - All Participants Northwest Rogers Co Fire Prot, Fire Inspector I (79313) Nov. 2-6 (40 hours) • $3500 - Oklahoma Emergency Responders • $4500 - Industrial / Military • $4500 - Out-of-state Responders Broken Arrow Safety Complex Fire Fighter II Academy (79333) Nov. 2-6 (40 hours) • $8000 - All Participants Owasso Fire Department Hazardous Materials Technician Refresher - Part B (76027) Nov. 3 (8 hours) Ardmore Fire Department Hazardous Materials Technician Refresher - Part B (76028) Nov. 4 (8 hours) Ardmore Fire Department Hazardous Materials Technician Refresher - Part B (76029) Nov. 5 (8 hours) Ardmore Fire Department Certification: Fire Officer I (77944) Nov. 6 (8 hours) Northwest Rogers Co Fire Prot,
Introduction to Farm Rescue (79224) Nov. 7 (8 hours) MarVal Resort - Gore Hazardous Materials Operations for WMD Refresher (79375) Nov. 7 (8 hours) Lebanon Fire Department Calling the MAYDAY (79505) Nov. 7 (8 hours) Canadian Valley Tech - El Reno Basic Response to Grain Handling Hazards (79112) Nov. 8 MarVal Resort - Gore Certification: Fire Fighter II (79215) Nov. 8 Jenks Fire Department Hazardous Materials Technician Refresher - Part B (77023) Nov. 9 (8 hours) Yukon Fire Department Fire Inspector I (79575) Nov. 9-13 (40 hours) • $3500 - Oklahoma Emergency Responders • $4500 - Industrial / Military • $4500 - Out-of-state Responders Woodward Fire Department
Certification: Fire Fighter II (79336) Nov. 6 Owasso Fire Department
Hazardous Materials Awareness for First Responders Resource One Online (79766) Nov. 9-Dec. 14 (8 hours) • $500 - All Participants Resource One
Vehicle Rescue Technician Level I Part A (79084) Nov. 6-7 (16 hours) Freedom Fire Department
Rope Rescue Technician Level 1 Part B (76754) Nov. 14-15 (16 hours) Owasso Fire Department
Hazardous Materials OperaCertification: Fire Fighter I tions: Core Competencies (79516) (79029) Nov. 14 (8 hours) Nov. 6-8 (24 hours) Autry Technology Center - Enid Coalgate Fire Department Calling the MAYDAY (79061) Rope Rescue Technician Level I Nov. 14 (8 hours) Part A (76755) Hitchcock Fire Department Nov. 7-8 (16 hours) Owasso Fire Department Vehicle Rescue Technician Level I Part A (79086) Emergency Services Instructor Nov. 14-15 (16 hours) (Instructor I) (79015) Guymon Fire Department Nov. 7-15 (32 hours) Deer Creek Fire Prot District
Exterior Offensive Fire Attack / Structural Fire Scene Size Up (79277) Nov. 14 (8 hours) Hominy Fire Department Basic Response to Grain Handling Hazards (79531) Nov. 14 (8 hours) Roland Fire Department Hazardous Materials Awareness for WMD-HazMat Emergencies (79759) Nov. 14 (8 hours) Western Tech Center - Elk City Certification: Fire Fighter I Live Burn Evaluation (79030) Nov. 15 (8 hours) Autry Technology Center - Enid Fire Fighter I Live Burn (79031) Nov. 15 (8 hours) Canadian Valley Tech - El Reno Responding to the MAYDAY (79062) Nov. 15 (8 hours) Okeene Fire Department Certification: Hazardous Materials Operations (79518) Nov. 15 (8 hours) Coalgate Fire Department Hazardous Materials Technician Refresher - Part B (76030) Nov. 16 (8 hours) Tulsa Fire Department Curriculum Development (Instructor II) (79011) Nov. 16-19 (32 hours) • $2500 - Oklahoma Emergency Responders • $4000 - Out-of-state Responders Durant Fire Department Hazardous Materials Technician Refresher - Part B (76031) Nov. 17 (8 hours) Tulsa Fire Department Hazardous Materials Technician Refresher - Part B (76032) Nov. 18 (8 hours) Tulsa Fire Department
n
fire service training
Caroline Reed OSU FST Director
creed@osufst.org • 405-744-5727 Oklahoma State University Fire Safety Training (FST) is excited to announce our new online class scheduling option. FST is bringing the training straight to your department through this easily accessible platform. OSU FST has also created a YouTube channel where we will post small advertisements for upcoming training, as well as training videos. Our vision is to help the local training officers with tools to boost local training. We are still be delivering many courses in our traditional format where we provide instruction with guidance from up-to-date policies related to the COVID-19 pandemic. Check out our schedule and be sure to sign-up! Show up for a course in your area of the state. Other new items from OSU FST include: • A set of Blended Learning Firefighter II courses funded by the SAFER Grant that will be delivered throughout the state • Available in our online format is the HazMat Awareness course and the Hazardous Materials refresher courses. If you need more information about these courses, please check out our web site at www.osufst.org. Be safe!
Oklahoma FirefighterNovember 202021
It Could Never Happen Here: Preventing Suicides in the Volunteer Fire Department By Hersch Wilson Hondo FD (Santa Fe County, N.M.) Assistant Chief Article Courtesy of National Volunteer Fire Council I want to start with an emotion. Imagine, right now, in your department, that you get the call that one of your members has killed him or herself. It might be someone who you’re close to, gone on hundreds of calls with, shared dark fire department humor. Maybe someone you thought of as a rock. Maybe (like in our department) you responded to a 911 call that was the suicide of a member. I promise you two things. First, there is the deep and numbing grief, the pain of losing someone to suicide, which is a pain like no other. Second -- and I again promise this -is the search for clues. Why, as an officer, didn’t I figure this out? What did I miss? Did she say anything? Was there a change in how he was acting? Could we have done anything? Nights of this, I promise. You’re gut reaction on hearing this scenario may be, “That could never happen here.” But that is like holding the belief that a line-of-duty death could never happen in your department. We know because our work is often dangerous that we don’t believe that. The facts are that more firefighters die from suicide each year than in the line of duty. Since 2009, LODDs have steadily decreased while deaths by suicide have increased. In fact, in 2019, deaths by suicides represented 30 percent more fatalities than LODD’s. And these are just the suicides we know about through the Firefighter Behavioral Health Alliance (FBHA) reporting system -- it is likely there are more. Yet, in most volunteer departments, the time spent training on emotional health and suicide prevention is pale or non-existent compared to the time spent training to be safe on the fireground. Like understanding the factors that lead to exertion deaths and deaths by vehicle crashes, we need to know how suicides happen and what we can do to prevent them. Our goal as officers and firefighters should be reducing death and harm for our brothers and sisters no matter where it may arise. The Sea We Swim In Firefighters swim in the same sea as the rest of society, so it is essential to understand what is going on in the rest of the country before we dive specifically into the firefighter world. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, in the United States, suicide is the SECOND leading cause of death for individuals between the ages of 10 and 34 (unintentional injuries are the leading cause) and the fourth leading cause for individuals between 35 and 54. In 2017, over 47,000 individuals died via suicide (almost twice the number of homicides). In data obtained by the American Psychological Association, the rate of suicides has increased by nearly 33 percent since 1999, with a sharp uptick in 2006. Further, suicide rates tend to rise during times of recession, especially in middle age and older men. It is too early to understand how the pandemic, recession, and social unrest we are now experiencing might affect the suicide rate. But one report out of Cook County, Illinois, found the 2020 suicide rate in their community is “on pace to double” last year’s, with an alarming increase in the number of suicides among African Americans. There is another way that individuals are taking their lives, and it is just as tragic. These are the deaths of despair. As our economy and society are transforming, many individuals feel left behind and are killing themselves by drinking, overeating, and unintentional overdosing on drugs, in addition to suicides. One source noted that 65,000 deaths a year could be categorized as deaths of despair (and a concurrent decline in life longevity in the U.S.).
Why Individuals Attempt Suicide Researchers mostly agree that there is rarely one reason why someone might attempt suicide. It is usually a confluence of factors. Common reasons are changes in life circumstances like: • Being laid off or fired • Divorce • Economic hardship • Addiction (and alcoholism) • Depression (and PTSD) • Abuse The Firefighter World Against that backdrop, look at the unique set of circumstances that we face as firefighters. In the civilian world, firefighters, EMS providers, police, doctors, nurses, and social workers experience the world differently. Although it is a choice we make, it comes with a set of similar challenges, emotional and psychological, that put us at a higher risk for depression, PTSD, and suicide. According to an article in Law Enforcement Today, “PTSD and depression rates among firefighters and police officers have been found to be as much as five times higher than the rates within the civilian population, which causes these first responders to commit suicide at a considerably higher rate (firefighters: 18/100,000; police officers: 17/100,000; general population 13/100,000).” An important note is that first responder suicides are likely undercounted. According to Jeff Dill, founder of the FBHA, only about 40 percent of firefighter suicides are reported. For volunteers, this is probably even more of an understatement because only one profession is listed on death certificates. What Can We Do? Let’s cut to the chase. We have a mental health crisis in the country. Over 46 million Americans report some kind of mental illness, from severe depression to PTSD to schizophrenia. Unfortunately, as a culture, we are in denial that we have a problem. The fire service, in many ways, is a microcosm of this. As firefighters, we deal with some of the worst circumstances, the life-changing crises that people encounter. What we see, a single terrible call or the years of cumulative tragedy, can cause us temporarily (or sometimes permanently) to lose our bearings. If left untreated, it can lead to depression, PTSD, and even suicide. These are just the facts. And yet, we as a culture, an old and proud culture dating back to 1736, are largely in denial of this. If you listen to our culture, the message is to be superhuman, suck it up, not be affected, and not admit “weakness.” Generation after generation of firefighters have absorbed this message. Although we’ve always paid the price in depression, substance abuse, and suicide, it is now 2020, and we have come a long way in our understanding of the stressors that plague us and what we can do to help. Denial is not the answer. I’ve written previously about what we can do as individuals to help minimize the possibility of getting and reducing the symptoms of PTSD. In this article, I want to suggest a few ideas for officers about preventing suicides. 1. First, as officers, we need to educate ourselves on the facts about suicides in the fire service. 2. We need to educate our firefighters and EMS personnel about suicides, the causes, what the signs are, and where and how they can get help. 3. Remember, “Leaders go first.” As officers, we need to be open about our experiences with hard calls and how they affected us. We want to give firefighters permission to open up and talk about what they’ve gone through or are experiencing. When leaders go first, it provides “air cover” for others to talk.
4. Depression, PTSD, and suicide ideation are NOT SIGNS of weakness. As officers, we need to hammer this message home. We need to be “tough” on scenes, sometimes detached, but having an emotional reaction to what we see is normal. Expressing those feelings, not repressing them, is healthy. 5. The best way to communicate all of this to firefighters is through stories. When you tell a story about a call, how it affected you, and what you did about it (or didn’t) is how we learn. 6. Have an informal and formal process for firefighters to get help. Most importantly, make sure that peer counseling is available. Firefighters (like police and military) are reluctant to talk to individuals who don’t “get it.” Talking to other firefighters is more comfortable and often more productive. 7. For those who need to talk to a behavioral healthcare professional, the National Volunteer Fire Council maintains a directory of local providers who are ready and equipped to help first responders. Providers are vetted by the FBHA and either have firsthand experience with the emergency services or have taken a course through the FBHA. The directory is updated monthly as more providers are added. 8. Our responsibility is to ensure that there is no bullying, abuse, or sexual harassment in our departments. They have no place in a professional volunteer department. 9. Finally, I’ve listed resources at the end of this article that we can have readily accessible as officers in case we need them. We know that firefighting and EMS are not just “normal” vocations. They come with a risk to both our physical and emotional health. As officers, it is our responsibility to ensure that our firefighters and EMS personal are as safe — physically and emotionally — as possible. We want them to stay in the vocation for a long time and retire intact. A large part of that equation lies in having vibrant, healthy, open, and trusting cultures. You know those cultures as soon as you walk into the bay. Firefighters greet you, they’re happy and purposeful, there is little blaming and lots of stories. Those cultures make you want to belong there. It takes work as officers to build and sustain those kinds of departments. But the payoff is immense. The right culture, where it is “normal” to talk and share about bad experiences, does a lot of the work for us. The right culture, where we are looking out for others’ emotional safety, will help us spot and be able to help those in trouble. The right culture, where we are open about the emotional risks of firefighting and EMS, will help everyone stay healthy. The goal is not to get that call in the middle of the night that one of our brothers or sisters has taken their own life. In the end, it is not about statistics. It is about looking each of your firefighters and EMS members in the eye and letting them know you have their back. That no matter how hard it can be, no matter how painful, there is a way back. Finally, in the Talmud, it’s written that all men are responsible for one another. For us, it starts with our brothers and sisters. We can be the difference makers. Learn about mental health and suicides. Have the conversation about suicide. Do the trainings. Organize a peer counseling program. Remember, leaders go first. We are the ones responsible for starting. Be Brave. Be Kind. Fight Fires. *This is dedicated to Travis Ashkee Daily, Hondo VFD LT. 1970-2009, and Nate Blaser, Hondo Firefighter, 1993-2014. Rest in Peace, Brothers, we’ll take it from here. Resources: FFBHA.org; NVFC.org/help (Share the Load program); codegreencampaign.org Note: For more on this topic, watch the webinar It Could Never Happen Here: Suicide and the Volunteer Fire Department, presented by Hersch Wilson and available in the NVFC’s Virtual Classroom.
22November 2020Oklahoma Firefighter
ADMINISTRATIVE STAFF Chase Rankin Executive Director
6601 Broadway Ext., Oklahoma City, OK 73116 405-522-4600 • 1-800-525-7461 toll free • 405-522-4643 fax www.okfirepen.state.ok.us
Martha Pierce Member Services Coordinator
Terri Williams Executive Secretary
Than Dinh
Tim Van Horn
Controller
Assistant Director (CFO)
Keely Swonger
Vicki Mulbery
Accounts Payable Administrator
Thelisha Clark
Records Administrator
Assistant Controller
Latoya Battle Data Processor
n MEETING (September 18, 2020) Members Present: Mike Kelley (In Person), Jim Ed Nimmo (In Person), Cliff Davidson (In Person) Dana Cramer, (In Person), Matt Lay (In Person), Brent Baggett (In Person), Tony Lopez, (In Person), Eric Harlow (In Person), Ron Kreiter (Via Zoom,) George Fina (In Person), Brent Bryant (Via Zoom) . Members Absent: Brandy Manek, Janet Kohls. Others Present: Chase Rankin, Executive Director (In Person); Terri Williams, Executive Secretary (In Person); Scott Vanhorn, Assistant Director; (In Person); Marc Edwards, Legal Counsel (In Person). Visitors: (All the following visitor’s attended via Zoom) Troy Brown, Tim Nash and Tony Kay, &CO; Vivian Flynn & Patrick Madaus, Pomona; Alex Hanh, Varinia Giacalone & Jara Habib, Capital Dynamics. Thomas A. Mills/Bartlesville – Request To Address The Board In Regards To The Denial Of His “Disability In The Line Of Duty”: Motion was made by Cramer and seconded by Kelley to approve the request of Mills by approving his “Disability in the Line of Duty”, effective July 3, 2020. Ayes: Kelley, Harlow, Nimmo, Davidson, Fina, Cramer, Lopez, Lay, Kreiter, Bryant, and Baggett. Nayes: None. Motion carried. Ryan Murray/Norman Request To Address The Board In Regards To The Denial Of His “Dis-
ability In The Line Of Duty”: Motion was made by Lay and seconded by Cramer to approve the request of Murray by approving his “Disability in the Line of Duty”, effective June 10, 2020. Ayes: Kelley, Harlow, Nimmo, Davidson, Fina, Cramer, Lopez, Lay, Kreiter, Bryant, and Baggett. Nayes: None. Motion carried.
ability In The Line Of Duty Pension, Effective August 25, 2020: Motion was made by Cramer and seconded by Baggett to approve the Application for “Disability in the Line of Duty, effective August 25, 2020. Ayes: Kelley, Harlow, Nimmo, Davidson, Fina, Cramer, Lopez, Lay, Kreiter, Bryant, and Baggett. Nayes: None. Motion carried.
Steve Ruther/Enid – Application For Service Pension And Participation In The Oklahoma Firefighters Deferred Retirement Option Plan: Motion was made by Cramer and seconded by Davidson to approve the request of Ruther by approving his “Service” pension, effective June 2016, including his application for participation in the Oklahoma Firefighters Deferred Option Plan. Ayes: Davidson, Fina, Cramer, Lopez, Lay, Kreiter, Bryant, and Baggett. Nayes: Nimmo, Kelley, and Harlow. Motion carried.
James Mcccarroll/Lawton – Application For “Disability In The Line Of Duty Pension, Effective September 8 2020: Motion was made by Cramer and seconded by Baggett to approve the Application for “Disability in the Line of Duty, effective September 8, 2020. Ayes: Kelley, Harlow, Nimmo, Davidson, Fina, Cramer, Lopez, Lay, Kreiter, Bryant, and Baggett. Nayes: None. Motion carried.
Jeffrey L. Smith/Guymon – Application For “Disability In The Line Of Duty Pension, Effective March 3, 2014: Motion was made by Kelley and seconded by Cramer to modify the Application for “Disability in the Line of Duty”, to a “Vested” benefit, effective June 7, 2020. Ayes: Kelley, Harlow, Nimmo, Davidson, Fina, Cramer, Lopez, Lay, Kreiter, Bryant, and Baggett. Nayes: None. Motion carried. Steve M. Norris/Idabel – Application For “Dis-
Evelyn Cohoon/Marietta – Application For “Disability In The Line Of Duty Pension, Effective September 5 , 2020: Motion was made by Cramer and seconded by Kelley to approve the “Application for “Disability in the Line of Duty”, effective September 5, 2020. Ayes: Kelley, Harlow, Nimmo, Davidson, Fina, Cramer, Lopez, Lay, Kreiter, Bryant, and Baggett. Nayes: None. Motion carried. Michael Carroll/Mustang – Application For “Disability In The Line Of Duty Pension, Effective September 1, 2020: Motion was made by Kelley seconded by Cramer to approve the Application for “Disability in the Line of Duty”, effective September 1, 2020. Ayes: Kelley, Harlow, Nimmo, Davidson, Fina, Cramer, Lopez, Lay, Kreiter, Bryant, and Baggett. Nayes: None. Motion carried. Terry Allen/Oklahoma City – Application For “Disability In The Line Of Duty Pension, Effective September 1, 2020: Motion was made by Davidson and seconded by Baggett to approve the “Application for “Disability in the Line of Duty”, effective September 1, 2020. Ayes: Kelley, Harlow, Davidson, Fina, Cramer, Nimmo, Lopez, Lay, Kreiter, Bryant, and Baggett. Nayes: None. Motion carried. Robert Dibrell/Oklahoma City – Application For “Disability In The Line Of Duty Pension, Effective September 1, 2020: Motion was made by Cramer and seconded by Baggett to approve the Application for Disability in the Line of Duty”, effective September 1, 2020. Ayes: Kelley, Harlow, Nimmo, Davidson, Cramer, Fina, Lopez, Lay, Kreiter, Bryant, and Baggett. Nayes: None. Motion carried. Joe Sherga/Oklahoma City – Application For “Disability In The Line Of Duty Pension, Effective September 1, 2020: Motion was made by Lay and seconded by Lopez to approve the Application for Disability in the Line of Duty”, effective September 1, 2020. Ayes: Kelley, Harlow, Nimmo, Davidson, Cramer, Fina, Lopez, Lay, Kreiter, Bryant, and Baggett. Nayes: None. Motion carried. George Hawkins/Tulsa – Application For “Disability In The Line Of Duty Pension, Effective September 12, 2020: No Action Was Taken. Frederick Millard Jr./Wewoka – Application Of Municipality On Behalf Of Firefighter For Disability Not In The Line Of Duty, Effective September 1, 2020: Motion was made by Cramer and seconded by Kelley to approve the Application for Disability Not in the Line of Duty”, effective September 1, 2020.
Ayes: Cramer. Nayes: Kelley, Harlow, Nimmo, Davidson, Fina, Lopez, Lay, Kreiter, Bryant, and Baggett. Motion failed. David Tomlinson/Ardmore – Request To Modify Pension From “Service” To “Disability In The Line Of Duty”: Motion was made by Davidson and seconded by Nimmo to approve the request of Tomlinson to modify from “Service” to “Disability in the line of Duty”. Ayes: Baggett, Kreiter, Lay, Lopez, Cramer, Bryant, Fina, Davidson, Nimmo, Harlow and Kelley. Nayes: None. Motion carried. Mark Mitchell/Lawton - Request To Modify Pension From “Service” To “Disability In The Line Of Duty”: Motion was made by Davidson and seconded by Nimmo to approve the request of Mitchell to modify from “Service” to “Disability in the line of Duty”. Ayes: Baggett, Kreiter, Lay, Lopez, Cramer, Bryant, Fina, Davidson, Nimmo, Harlow and Kelley. Nayes: None. Motion carried. Chance Finley/Moore - Request To Modify Pension From “Service” To “Disability In The Line Of Duty”: Motion was made by Cramer and seconded by Kelley to approve the request of Finley to modify from “Service” to “Disability in the line of Duty”. Ayes: Baggett, Kreiter, Lay, Lopez, Cramer, Bryant, Fina, Davidson, Nimmo, Harlow and Kelley. Nayes: None. Motion carried. Jon Cook/Oklahoma City - Request To Modify Pension From “Service” To “Disability In The Line Of Duty”: Motion was made by Kelley and seconded by Nimmo to approve the request of Cook to modify from “Service” to “Disability in the line of Duty”. Ayes: Baggett, Kreiter, Lay, Lopez, Cramer, Bryant, Fina, Davidson, Nimmo, Harlow and Kelley. Nayes: None. Motion carried. James Clark/Tulsa - Request To Modify Pension From “Service” To “Disability In The Line Of Duty”: Motion was made by Nimmo and seconded by Lay to approve the request of Clark to modify from “Service” to “Disability in the line of Duty”. Ayes: Baggett, Kreiter, Lay, Lopez, Cramer, Bryant, Fina, Davidson, Nimmo, Harlow and Kelley. Nayes: None. Motion carried. Alan Griffey/Tulsa - Request To Modify Pension From “Service” To “Disability In The Line Of Duty”: Motion was made by Davidson and seconded by Lay to approve the request of Griffey to modify from “Service” to “Disability in the line of Duty”. Ayes: Baggett, Kreiter, Lay, Lopez, Cramer, Bryant, Fina, Davidson, Nimmo, Harlow and Kelley. Nayes: None. Motion carried. Robert W. Page/Tulsa - Request To Modify Pension From “Service” To “Disability In The Line Of Duty”: Motion was made by Lay and seconded by Nimmo to approve the request of Page to modify from “Service” to “Disability in the line of Duty”. Ayes: Baggett, Kreiter, Lay, Lopez, Cramer, Bryant, Fina, Davidson, Nimmo, Harlow and Kelley. Nayes: None. Motion carried. David M. Umfleet/Tulsa - Request To Modify Pension From “Service” To “Disability In The Line Of Duty”: Motion was made by Nimmo and seconded by Lay to approve the request of Umfleet to modify from “Service” to “Disability in the line of Duty”. Ayes: Baggett, Kreiter, Lay, Lopez, Cramer, Bryant, Fina, Davidson, Nimmo, Harlow and Kelley. Nayes: None. Motion carried.
Oklahoma FirefighterNovember 202023
n
Hal Penner
n CONSENT AGENDA (October 16, 2020) CHECKS TERMINATED IN SEPTEMBER 2020:
APPLICATION FOR SURVIVING SPOUSE:
Arkoma Claremore Commerce Davis Hulbert Kansas Keota Minco Minco Owasso Shawnee Shidler Tulsa Wilburton Yale
09/06/2020 10/01/2020
Betty L. Borin Mary A. Andrews Alpha Swaim Carl G. Summers Kenneth R. Fore, Sr. Walter L. Squirrel Patricia Oliver Lois M. Markle Willadean Woodworth Thomas M. Rikkola Bertha L. Littleton Eugene N. Smith Virginia I. Hunter Jessie M. Brixey Hobart D. Simpson
Deceased Deceased Deceased Deceased Deceased Deceased Deceased Deceased Deceased Deceased Deceased Deceased Deceased Deceased Deceased
$5,000.00 DEATH BENEFIT: Aline Arnett Blanchard Cheyenne Cheyenne Choctaw Crescent Hulbert Hulbert Hulbert Milburn OKC OKC OKC Paoli Perry Poteau Tulsa Waynoka Wynnewood Yale
Betty A. Goss, Widow Of Bill Goss Shaw Funeral Home On Behalf Of Russell Miller Janis E. Shupert, Widow Of Gregory L. Shupert Rose Chapel Funeral Service On Behalf Of Daniel W. Dye Glenna F. Kirk, Widow Of Gary W. Kirk Barnes Friedrich Funeral Home On Behalf Of David W. Nelson II Sarah Crook, Widow Of Joseph D. Crook Leisa D. Walker, Child Of Kenneth R. Fore, Sr. Kenneth R. Fore, Jr., Child Of Kenneth R. Fore Sr. Sandra Lynn Mayfield, Child Of Kenneth R. Fore Sr. Brown’s Funeral Service On Behalf Of Robert B. Jackson McNeil’s Funeral Service On Behalf Of Robert B. Jackson Charlotte Berend, Widow Of Rodney A. Berend Serenity Funeral Service On Behalf Of Robert C. Jenner Stufflebean-Coffey Funeral Home On Behalf Of Juanita Mata Winans Funeral Home On Behalf Of Ralph D. Darrow Evans & Miller Funeral Home On Behalf Of Richard B. Andrews Bixby Funeral Service On Behalf Of Lense E. Ramey, Sr. Marshall Funeral Home On Behalf Of Marvin R. Miller Dearman Funeral Home On Behalf Of Roger B. Musgrove Pamlmer Marler Funeral Home On Behalf Of Hobart D. Simpson
APPLICATION FOR ENTRANCE INTO PENSION SYSTEM: Bethany Coalgate Enid Enid Hugo Lawton Lawton Lawton Lawton Lawton Lawton Lawton Moore Moore Moore Muskogee Pawhuska Piedmont Pryor Pryor Wagoner
William Martinez Bradley York John Schrader Korbin Silvers Blaize Burns Jesus Aguilar James Fidler Keegan Garrett Andrew Good Christian Gardner Jacob Howell Justin McFarland John Finn Kole Strayhorn Mason Volk Cameron Foster Dakota Jester David Cumming Zachary Lenon Taylor Melchior Dalton Grooms
NEW COUNTY/CITY FD ENTERING PENSION SYSTEM: Bethel County Fire Department/McCurtain County
Helena Diana L. May, Widow Of Kelly May Deceased 09/05/2020 Oklahoma City Stacie Paige, Widow Of Dennis Paige Deceased 9/24/2020
APPLICATION FOR SURVIVING SPOUSE (CONTINUATION): 10/01/2020 10/01/2020 10/01/2020 10/1/2020 10/01/2020 10/1/2020 10/01/2020 10/01/2020 10/01/2020
Elk City Shirl Brittain, Widow Of Robert G. Brittain Enid Judith A. Roberts, Widow Of Johnny L. Roberts Konawa Monte E. Surber, Window of Jerry M. Surber Lawton Charlotte L. Reed, Widow Of John S. Reed Mulhall Elizabeth Cyphers, Widow Of Leeroy Cyphers Murray Spur Tracey Carter, Widow Of Cary Carter Ponca City Joyce Sherron, Widow of Kenneth Sherron Tulsa Sheila Buthod, Widow Of Daniel R. Buthod Tulsa Nickola G. Shinnen, Widow Of Ronald S. Shinnen
APPLICTION FOR DISABILITY IN THE LINE OF DUTY MODIFY TO SERVICE PENSION: 11/01/2020 Oklahoma City 11/01/2020 Tulsa 11/01/2020 Tulsa 10/01/2020 Tuttle
Christopher Birdsong Sally Ann McGrew Tim Smallwood Michael B. Anthony
APPLICATION FOR SERVICE PENSION: 10/01/2020 08/01/2020 10/01/220 10/01/2020 10/01/2020 10/01/2020 10/1/2020 1/01/2020 10/01/2020 10/01/220 09/01/2020 09/01/2020 09/22/2020
Canton Cherokee Davis Erick Frederick Grady County Sharon Sharon Shawnee Shawnee Stigler Stigler Stringtown
Brian S. Schoonmaker Justin W. Lucas Bert Curtis Jr. George P. West Kevin D. Davis Brandon C. McDonald William J. Phillips Gary M. Wallace Rodney W. Foster H. (Jared) Gibson Jr David B. Bumpers Brian L. Morrison Jerry Elrod
APPLICATION FOR VESTED BENEFIT: 11/05/2018 6/01/2029 10/29/2031 05/28/2029 05/08/219 10/1/2017 07/03/2023 06/01/2029 10/01/2017
Blackgum Cleo Springs Comanche Hastings Langley Purcell Stonebluff FPD Cleo Springs Wilson
William B. Mitchell Barbara Beecher Justin C. Harkins Louis W. Holstead II Raymond D. Midgett Kevin N. Shobert Guy W. Mccoy Barbara Beecher Joe D. Dethloff
REFUND OF CONTRIBUTIONS: Branden Jarvis Connor Pelton Tyler Allen Ryan Flores Mitchell O’Shell Laren Robison
Chaplain’s corner
Hominy Hired: 1/19/2006 Terminated: 06/12/2020 Hugo Hired: 10/9/2017 Terminated: 09/22/2020 Muskogee Hired: 02/16/2017 Terminated: 8/23/2020 Oklahoma City Hired: 05/08/2015 Terminated: 07/05/2018 Tecumseh Hired: 09/18/2015 Terminated: 06/19/2018 Wewoka Hired: 04/14/1997 Terminated: 01/29/2007
Weatherford FD Chaplain THE GREAT LONDON FIRE Shortly after midnight on September 2, 1666, a small fire started in central London and soon swept throughout much of the known city destroying much of the medieval architecture. It destroyed over 13,000 houses, over 80 churches, including St. Paul’s Cathedral, and most of London’s official buildings, killing hundreds of people and displacing thousands more. But what is most interesting about this great fire on the city is not the destruction, nor the resolution of the people to rebuild their city. What stands out to me is that a man named Christopher Wren, who was an English architect, mathematician and scientist stepped forward. He not only had the necessary skills to rebuild London, he had the desire and means to redesign the city. Wren’s proposal for the city was quite impressive for the time. He was going to widen the streets, providing greater access for travel, ease for the medieval fire-fighting crews to reach homes and business which were ablaze and protection for those who would be on the streets after dark. His architecture talents also afforded the design of 51 new city churches and a new St. Paul’s Cathedral. All this would radiate from a central hub in downtown London. Quite the ambitious fete noting the time period. Yet, the citizens of the city rejected this new plan, opting instead to just clear the rubble and rebuild their same homes on their same foundations as before. How ironic that they had a chance to not only start with something new, but to improve it and they chose to go back to what they knew because it was easier. And this got me thinking how often maybe we go back to what is familiar and comfortable instead of stepping out into new territory. How often do we tend to try to rebuild our lives on the same old foundations, with the same old values, the same old materials and yet we expect a different outcome? Jesus taught on this matter as well: “Anyone who listens to my teaching and follows it is wise, like a person who builds a house on solid rock. Though the rain comes in torrents and the floodwaters rise and the winds beat against that house, it won’t collapse because it is built on bedrock. But anyone who hears my teaching and doesn’t obey it is foolish, like a person who builds a house on sand. When the rains and floods come and the winds beat against that house, it will collapse with a mighty crash.” (Matthew 7:24-27 NLT). Let’s all learn from the mistakes of the medieval-Londoners and lay only the solid footing for lives in that of Jesus. For He is the only foundation worthy of building your life upon.
24November 2020Oklahoma Firefighter
n
OSFA Executive Board Highlights
Roll Call: Eric Harlow, present; Cliff Davidson, present; Jim Ed Nimmo, present; Tony Lopez, present; Mike Kelley, present; George Fina (ORFA), present. Others: Tippy Pierce, Gene Brown, Sheri Nickel, Trisha Chain, Bob Allen, Caroline Reed, Don Armes by phone, Julia Jernigan-Smith, Eric Hamilton Guests: Chris Neal, Casey Craig, Tara Scott, Lindsay Hicks, Jane Braden, John Carpenter Correspondence: Thank you card from Great Plains Kubota. Presentation: OBI/OHH Scott, Craig, Hicks, and Braden discussed a potential partnership between the Oklahoma Blood Institute, Oklahoma Heart Hospital and OSFA called ‘Hearts for Heroes.’ The offer would be for firefighters, spouses and retirees to donate blood, platelets, convalescent plasma twice over the next year in either blood drives or any OBI location to receive a free HeartView CT scan. Cards would be made by OHH and distributed to firefighters by OBI and OHH, with OBI employees signing off on them and OHH collecting the completed cards. OHH will be providing marketing tools to advertise the partnership. Reed stated OBI could set up blood drives at OSUFST’s conferences. OEM Report: Allen OK Task Force 1 has been deployed twice recently to help with hurricane recovery efforts; Allen is working on setting a meeting date to discuss changes in mutual aid. ERG’s are in the warehouse but not distributed yet. A decision was made to stop hazmat/technical rescue training, but was soon rescinded. Fire Service Training: Reed Reed expressed appreciation for the OSFA’s support on grants FST applied for; awarded grants include one for a TtT wellness program and one on a new fire truck for training use. There are online versions of every class OSFA is sponsoring through the SAFER grant and the first blended Firefighter II class received a 98% pass rate. FST is working on upgrading and adapting, including new website, YouTube channel and promotional videos. Carpenter discussed and showed new promotional video for HazMat classes. Legislative: Armes, Jernigan-Smith The turnover in the legislature was discussed along with the interim studies that are being watched. Armes stated they will be working on finding funding sources for OSU-FST. COMMITTEE REPORTS n Educational Advisory: Nimmo Nimmo reported the plans with the Cox Center fell through due to an agreement the Center had with another group. Due to the cost of the hotel contract buyout, the best plan will be to move back to the dates originally scheduled. Nimmo discussed reaching out to Tulsa Police Dept. about utilizing their training center. n Volunteer Fire Service: Nickel The committee is developing a leadership program similar to the Oklahoma Ag Leadership Program; 25 students will meet periodically throughout the year
August 20, 2020
and travel across the state to see how other volunteer departments fight fires, fundraise, etc. Museum Report: Brown Brown thanked Davidson and Darrin Nickel for their help with wiring lights for the memorial pool; discussed a leak found in one of the pools. The Museum received surplus gear that is being arranged to be sent to Cimarron County. The Memorial Golf Tournament and Ride to Remember were successful events. Davidson discussed Darrin Nickel’s assistance at multiple events and suggested he should be reimbursed for his help at events. n Museum Expansion: Pierce The building permit comment report was presented to the Board and was discussed; an ADA accessible bathroom will be required in the storage building, which will increase projected costs of the project. Board requested confirmation that 4” sewer line would suffice for the projected expansion plans and requested multiple quotes from plumbing vendors. Fina recommended meeting with Councilwoman Nice to discuss the project and would be willing to attend the meeting.
OSFA & Museum Staff Executive Director (Interim) Tippy Pierce tippy@osfa.info Administrative Director Sheri Nickel sherin@osfa.info Events & Promotions Trisha Chain trishac@osfa.info Membership Coordinator Diane Bain dianeb@osfa.info
Museum Director Gene Brown geneb@osfa.info Museum Assistant Quintin James quintinj@osfa.info Museum Assistant Bob Noll bobn@osfa.info Publications Penelope Soldan penelopes@osfa.info
Administrative Assistant Madelyn Roth madelynr@osfa.info
Volunteer Recruitment & Retention Report: Nickel Nickel asked Board to revisit the heart presumption clause in Pension rules for volunteers as she is still experiencing difficulty in finding medical facilities that can host physicals that include the treadmill test. Nickel was informed about a mobile clinic but does not think it will be feasible to meet the time and quantity guarantees of the clinic. NVFC Report: Nickel The NVFC has sponsored Nickel to virtually attend the Brave Fire Leadership program. ORFA Report: Fina Fina stated he was willing to meet with anyone who was interested in developing an ORFA chapter. Fina discussed the need to keep members engaged online while they are getting used to staying indoors. Members should focus on local and state elections as much as federal elections. Executive Director’s Report: Pierce OSFA membership: 541 departments with 11,923 members. ORFA membership: 4,439; ORFA Museum expansion fundraiser has raised $2,775; electronic paper subscription 999; OSFA Associate Members 15; OFCA Associate Members 20. The Memorial Tournament had 28 sponsors and 27 teams. Chet Thompson provided the meal and was able to have most of it sponsored; he agreed to provide the meal for next year’s tournament. Lopez can help with getting food donated. Board consensus reached to open the Museum and offices to the public Nov. 1 and discussed implementing appointment scheduling for the Museum and mask requirements. The groundbreaking ceremony for Phase I of the expansion will be Oct. 4 at 11 a.m.; agenda was discussed. The Memorial service will continue as normal, but without the families involved. Pierce notified the Board that leaks were fixed in the building; Pierce and Nickel have moved offices within the building; a member was appreciative for the accidental death benefit from American Income Life.
Pierce is working on making a membership benefit through MASA available for retirees; would like set it up so it can be taken out of Pension check. The ORFA Board approved for the work to be handled in-house and will be handled by Pierce at first and then passed to other staff. Old Business Chain stated there was no update for the website proposal due to lack of time available to research the issue; Board consensus to table the item. New Business Board consensus reached to add Justin Garrett to EMS Committee. Resignation from Educational Advisory Committee: Randal Sullivan. Resignation from Safety & Health Committee: Justin Hackworth. Financial Report: Hamilton Kelley asked for clarification about ‘miscellaneous’ category on Museum/Memorial report; Hamilton stated it was insurance money received from water damages. Hamilton discussed check written from OSFA to Museum for additional support; funds are from the PPP loan. Meeting adjourned: 11:43 a.m. Next meeting: Sept. 17, 2020 at 9 a.m.
OSFA Snapshots
Oklahoma FirefighterNovember 202025
Got something going on at your Fire Department? Share the news! Email photos to osfa@osfa.info
LEFT: The beginning of the 18th class funded with the FY2015 SAFER grant. The Tahlequah class packed the house. BOTTOM LEFT: The first night of the last Firefighter 1 class funded with the 2015 FEMA grant. It was held at High Plains Tech Center in Woodward. BOTTOM RIGHT: Congratulations to the Shawnee Firefighter 1 class. Keep watching OSFA’s Facebook page for opportunities funded with the 2018 SAFER grant.
OSFA delivered bunker gear, air packs and radios to Kenton FD in Cimarron County, six miles from New Mexico state line
Meeting with Washita County Fire Chiefs
Yale FD open house for the new Number 1 Fire Station on Oct. 10 Sunset at Oklahoma Firefighters Memorial
26November 2020Oklahoma Firefighter
BY GREG ROBERTS n OKLAHOMA FIRE SPOTLIGHT
Ret. Norman FD
GOLDSBY FIRE DEPARTMENT Fire Chief: Pat Goldsby FD formed: 1980 Joined OSFA: 1980 ISO rating: 5/5 Volunteer Firefighters: 19 Population: 2,400 (Approx.) Square Miles Covered: 55 (Approx.) Calls Per Year: 350 (Average) Number of Stations: 1 BP-1 2001 Ford/G&L 18HP/200 pump/500 tank
E-2 2018 Kenworth/Fouts Bros. 1500 pump/3000 tank
Number of Engines: 3 Number of Tankers: 2 Number of Brushpumpers: 5 Number of Rescue Vehicles: 1
E-1 2006 International/Pierce 1250 pump/1000 tank
BP-3 2018 Ford/G&L 23 HP/200 pump/500 tank
Rescue 1 2010 Ford/Cooper Creek 18 HP/200 pump/300 tank
BP-5 1981 Chevrolet 18HP/200 pump/300 tank
BP-2 2007 Ford/1st Due 20HP/200 pump/350 tank
n
Oklahoma FirefighterNovember 202027
in memoriam Dennis Paige, Oklahoma City FD
The Final Fire Alarm sounded for Oklahoma City firefighter Dennis Paige on Sept. 24. He was 64. Dennis trained thoroughbred race horses for 19 years, prior to applying for the Oklahoma City Fire Department. He started rookie school with OCFD in October 1996 at the age of 40 and served 23 years and 11 months with the Oklahoma City Fire Department. He was a Corporal at Fire Station 22-A. Dennis was a man of many hobbies. He was an avid scuba diver, team roper, world traveler, rancher, poet, jokester, teacher/mentor, known for his one-liners, his whistle, snow skier, bladesmith, master maker of jelly and no-bake cookies, artist, welder, grill master, Captain of the Double D Pontoon Boat, biggest cheerleader of all of his families endeavors and the world’s best Papa. We now suspect that he is in Heaven either “Ridin’, Racin’ or Ropin’.
Troy Hoover, Elmwood FD The Final Fire Alarm sounded for Elmwood Fire Chief Troy Hoover on Sept. 29. He was 72. Troy had been the chief at Elmwood Fire Department since 1990. He was a member of the Beaver School Board for 7 years. He worked for Phillips Petroleum, (later becoming DCP) for over 31 years and earned an award for working over 25 years without ever calling in sick. There was never a question he did not know, even if he had to make it up. He loved to hunt and do anything with the grandkids. He loved his famous “cowdog,” his toy poodle Boomer.
Jim Glover, Honorary Oklahoma Firefighter The Final Fire Alarm sounded for former State Reprresentative Jim Glover on Oct 11. He was 74. Jim was elected to the Oklahoma State House of Representatives, working over two and a half decades, 13 consecutive terms, serving under six governors during his 26 years of service. He retired from his post in 2002. He holds the record as the longest serving Speaker Pro Tempore in Oklahoma history and was deemed the “Dean” of the House. In 1997, he was permanently named Speaker Pro Tempore Emeritus, a position of honor bestowed upon him by the Oklahoma Legislature. Duing his time in the legislature, Jim worked with OSFA lobbyist Pete Stavros to help pass several bills, including Plan B that many firefighters still enjoy the benefits of today. Jim had a never-ending dedication to state, community service and helping those in need. He worked tirelessly to improve the well-being of all Oklahomans and fought for countless public issues. He was an Honorary Oklahoma Firefighter and Oklahoma Highway Patrolman and was also dedicated to the agriculture industry, cattle industry and horse industry, along with countless other rural and state programs. He was known for his unmatched ability to rule with a firm hand and gavel, along with his gift of true bi-partisanship and special ability to promote cooperation from both sides of the isle. Although known as “The Enforcer,” he was also known as having a heart of gold. After his retirement, Jim continued his work as a consultant for Remington Park, the Chickasaw Nation and numerous other groups and corporations. He will be remembered as a man with integrity and intellect who was an extraordinary public servant.
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28November 2020Oklahoma Firefighter
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