The Fire Wire. National 9/11 Flag Arrives in Cherokee County. We Will Never Forget! Story on page 4

Size: px

Start display at page:

Download "The Fire Wire. National 9/11 Flag Arrives in Cherokee County. We Will Never Forget! Story on page 4"

Mervin Rice
5 years ago
Views:

1 Cherokee County Office of Fire and Emergency Services September - October Volume 9 - Issue 5 We Will Never Forget! National 9/11 Flag Arrives in Cherokee County Story on page 4

Published bi-monthly by the Cherokee County Office of Fire and Emergency Services Raymond Gunnin Fire Chief Tim Cavender Editor Tim Prather Assistant Fire Chief Eddie Robinson Training Division Chief

,FACEP Medical Director Cherokee County Office of Fire and Emergency Services 150 Chattin Drive Canton, GA 30115 Phone: [678] 493-4000 Fax: [678] 493-4034 www.cherokeecountyfire.

2 Published bi-monthly by the Cherokee County Office of Fire and Emergency Services Raymond Gunnin Fire Chief Tim Cavender Editor Tim Prather Assistant Fire Chief Eddie Robinson Training Division Chief Rick Ruh Fire Marshal Kevin Botts Support Services Manager Jill Mabley, M.D.,FACEP Medical Director Cherokee County Office of Fire and Emergency Services 150 Chattin Drive Canton, GA Phone: [678] Fax: [678] Office Hours: Monday through Friday 8:00 A.M. - 5:00 P.M. Closed Saturday, Sunday and Holidays ABOUT THE COVER: The National 9/11 Flag made a brief stop in Cherokee County as a part of it s tour across the country. Cherokee County firefighters take time to view this historic flag that was part of the most tragic event in America s history. The Fire Wire Page 2 Public Safety Night at Dixie Speedway Saturday, August 27th, was designated as Public Safety Night at Dixie Speedway, located off Highway 92, in Woodstock, Georgia. Local public safety officials, including firefighters, sheriff s deputies and 911 personnel got to enjoy a night of racing at the speedway. Dixie Speedway, Cherokee County Fire and Emergency Services and local law enforcement Cherokee County firefighter, Brandon Denson, enjoys the races at Dixie Speedway with his son, Canaan. officials have always had a great working relationship with the local race track and this was an opportunity for Mickey Swims, general manager of Dixie Speedway, to say thanks for a job well done. Tim Cavender, Public Information Officer for Cherokee County Fire and Emergency Services, met with Mike Swims in 2004 about having a Public Safety Night event at the speedway for local public safety officials. Unfortunately, Mike passed away in September of 2007, after a 7 year battle with cancer. Mike s dad, Mickey, continues to host the event, even after his son s death. We would like to give our thanks to the entire staff at Dixie Speedway for making this event possible.

Page 3 Shane West Named Outstanding Service Award Winner Captain Shane West, with Cherokee County Fire and Emergency Services, was named Cherokee County Outstanding Service Award Winner for the 2nd

West works tirelessly both on and off duty to make sure that the department and his subordinates succeed.

3 Page 3 Shane West Named Outstanding Service Award Winner Captain Shane West, with Cherokee County Fire and Emergency Services, was named Cherokee County Outstanding Service Award Winner for the 2nd quarter. Captain West is a paramedic at Station 1 and has worked in fire and emergency services for 15 years. West works tirelessly both on and off duty to make sure that the department and his subordinates succeed. Battalion Chief, Greg Erdely, who nominated West said Shane is called upon often to either chair or participate in department projects and is a proven leader in his battalion and department. He takes pride in his Captain Shane West (center) is congratulated by Steven McClure (left), work and always completes his Director of Human Resources for Cherokee County, and Buzz Ahrens, assignments and tasks in a way Chairman of the Cherokee County Board of Commissioners. that exhibits pride and ownership. Shane keeps an open door for fellow employees and does not hesitate to offer his help and assistance when needed. Captain West developed and pioneered the Cherokee Fire and Emergency Services Officers Forum to help develop better communications between the firefighters and management. The forum serves many purposes for the department including, a communication bridge, a development and training mechanism, a debriefing forum and a platform for firefighters to voice their opinions in a positive way. The Outstanding Service Awards are announced quarterly to recognize CherokeeCounty employees that exemplify outstanding customer service. Our congratulations to Shane for a job well done!

Page 4 National 9/11 Flag Arrives In Cherokee County The 9/11 Flag made an appearance today in Cherokee County shortly after 3 pm on July 28th.

The National 9/11 Flag is one of the largest American flags to fly above the wreckage at Ground Zero. It has become our generation s Star-Spangled Banner.

living testament to the resilience and compassion of the American people.

4 Page 4 National 9/11 Flag Arrives In Cherokee County The 9/11 Flag made an appearance today in Cherokee County shortly after 3 pm on July 28th. The flag stopped at the Cherokee County Boys and Girls Club, located on Univeter Road, as it was headling to Gilmer County where it was displayed that weekend. The National 9/11 Flag is one of the largest American flags to fly above the wreckage at Ground Zero. It has become our generation s Star-Spangled Banner. Destroyed in the aftermath of the World Trade Center attacks on September 11 and stitched back together seven years later by tornado survivors in Greensburg, Kansas, The National 9/11 Flag is a living testament to the resilience and compassion of the American people. On President Lincoln s Birthday, a piece of the flag that Abraham Lincoln was laid on when he was shot at Ford s Theater was stitched into the fabric of The National 9/11 Flag. In May 2011, The National 9/11 Flag was presented as the official flag for The Kentucky Derby. Children from the Boys and Girls Club and many firefighters and deputies were on hand to greet the flag on its arrival to Cherokee County. A child salutes at a piece of steel from the World Trade Center that was on display when the flag arrived. The piece of steel arrived at Cherokee County Fire and Emergency Services the morning the flag arrived. Firefighters, Sheriff's deputies and children with the Cherokee County Boys and Girls Club hold the National 9/11 Flag. Over 200 Million Americans have experienced The National 9/11 Flag through national and local TV coverage, public displays in small town gatherings, and major cultural and sporting events. The flag has been stitched by soldiers and schoolchildren who survived the shooting at Ft. Hood, Texas, by World War II veterans on the deck of the USS Missouri in Pearl Harbor, by the family of Martin Luther King Jr., by 20 Members of Congress at the U.S. Capitol, and by thousands of everyday service heroes nationwide. Cherokee County Fire Chief, Raymond Gunnin, and Lt. Robbie Kennedy with the National 9/11 Flag.

Page 5 Fire Prevention Week is October 9-15 Cherokee County Fire Department Reinforces Newer Smoke Alarm Recommendations What s the best way to protect your family from fire?

With more than 360,000 home fires reported in the United States in 2009, according to the nonprofit National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), your best defense is a good offense.

5 Page 5 Fire Prevention Week is October 9-15 Cherokee County Fire Department Reinforces Newer Smoke Alarm Recommendations What s the best way to protect your family from fire? Be ahead of the game, of course. With more than 360,000 home fires reported in the United States in 2009, according to the nonprofit National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), your best defense is a good offense. That s why Cherokee County Fire and Emergency Services is teaming up with NFPA during the October 9-15, 2011, to let our community know: It s Fire Prevention Week. Protect your Family from Fire! This year s campaign focuses on preventing the leading causes of home fires -- cooking, heating and electrical equipment, as well as candles and smoking materials. Additionally, it urges people to protect their homes and families with life-saving technology and planning. In 2009, 2,565 people died in home fires. Nearly all of these deaths could have been prevented by taking a few simple precautions like having working smoke alarms and a home fire escape plan, keeping things that can burn away from the stove and always turning off space heaters before going to bed, says Cherokee County Fire Chief, Raymond Gunnin. Fire is a dangerous opponent, but by anticipating the hazards, you are much less likely to be one of the nearly 13,000 people injured in home fires each year. Cherokee County Fire and Emergency Services offers the following tips for protecting your home and family from fire: Stay in the kitchen while you are frying, grilling, or broiling food. If you leave the kitchen for even a short period of time, turn off the stove. Keep anything that can burn at least three feet away from heating equipment, like the furnace, fireplace, wood stove, or portable space heater. Have a three-foot kid-free zone around open fires and space heaters. Replace or repair damaged or loose electrical cords. If you smoke, smoke outside. Use deep, wide ashtrays on a sturdy table. Blow out all candles when you leave the room or go to bed. Avoid the use of candles in the bed room and other areas where people may fall asleep. While preventing home fires in Cherokee County is always our number one priority, it is not always possible, Gunnin continued. Cherokee County s residents need to provide the best protection to keep their homes and families safe in the event of a fire. This can be achieved by developing an escape plan which you practice regularly and equipping homes with life-saving technologies like smoke alarms and home fire sprinklers.

Page 6 Agencies Work Together to be Better Prepared During a Terrorist Threat similar to our Cherokee County Haz-Mat truck with many pieces of equipment on it.

The Cherokee County Haz-mat team would respond first, followed by the Civil Support team. Both agencies would work together to protect the public from the threat.

6 Page 6 Agencies Work Together to be Better Prepared During a Terrorist Threat similar to our Cherokee County Haz-Mat truck with many pieces of equipment on it. The Cherokee County Haz-Mat Team would respond locally in a case of a possible terrorist threat that would involve an unknown chemical release. The Cherokee County Haz-mat team would respond first, followed by the Civil Support team. Both agencies would work together to protect the public from the threat. Cherokee County Haz-mat Team Member, Jason Angle (right), speaks with the military unit about decontamination. Cherokee County Fire and Emergency Services hosted a joint training exercise on August 23rd with the Cherokee County SWAT Team and members of the National Guard from the 4th Civil Support Team from Dobbins Air Force Base in Marietta. The Cherokee County Fire Department Haz-Mat team and the team of military responders did a show and tell of equipment and capabilities to let each group know what tools, equipment and resources were available in the event of weapons of mass destruction (WMD) call involving a suspicious chemical release. According to Cherokee County Support Services Chief, Darrell Mitchell, The Civil Support Team from Dobbins is an elite unit of full time National Guard members that respond to terrorist incidents or threats that may involve Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD). It s their job is to help identify and neutralize incidents of a chemical, biological, radiological or nuclear nature. The team also brought a mobile lab to show its capabilities to identify products on an incident site. This saves time from having to send items to a lab some places else to be evaluated. Also on display was a communications truck with all types of state of the art communications equipment. The unit also sent an emergency response unit The Cherokee SWAT Team also attended the demonstration because they are participating in a Haz- Mat training class this week also. Decontamination is the process of cleaning the human body to remove contamination by hazardous materials including chemicals, radioactive substances and infectious material. Persons suspected of being contaminated are usually led into a decontamination tent, trailer or pod, where they shed their potentially contaminated clothes in a strip-down room. Then they enter a wash-down area where they are showered. Demonstrations like this makes us better prepared when we are called to suspicious packages, suspicious powder, or any type of terrorist threat involving chemicals, added Mitchell. Members of the Civil Support Team look at a decontamination tent.

Page 7 Cherokee County Firefighters Collect for MDA The Cherokee County Board of Commissioners presented a proclamation on August 16th, during their regular meeting, to Cherokee County Fire and

Babette Davis, Cherokee County Fire Marshal, Rick Ruh, Shauna Roudabaugh with her seven year old daughter Cailegh, who has Limb Girdle Muscular Dystrophy, Raymond Gunnin, Cherokee County Fire Chief,

Buzz Ahrens, Chairman of the Board of Commissioners, stated that Cherokee County firefighters exemplify the most time-honored American ideals of public service and sacrifice, protecting the citizens

7 Page 7 Cherokee County Firefighters Collect for MDA The Cherokee County Board of Commissioners presented a proclamation on August 16th, during their regular meeting, to Cherokee County Fire and Emergency Services for their help in collecting money for the Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA). Accepting the proclamation from Commission Chairman, "Buzz" Ahrens, are (left to right): Sgt. Babette Davis, Cherokee County Fire Marshal, Rick Ruh, Shauna Roudabaugh with her seven year old daughter Cailegh, who has Limb Girdle Muscular Dystrophy, Raymond Gunnin, Cherokee County Fire Chief, Tim Prather, Assistant Fire Chief and Eddie Robinson, Training Chief. Bells Ferry Road in Woodstock. Buzz Ahrens, Chairman of the Board of Commissioners, stated that Cherokee County firefighters exemplify the most time-honored American ideals of public service and sacrifice, protecting the citizens of our county from tragedy on the home front while providing invaluable services to our community in all tasks they perform including their help with MDA. Last year, CherokeeCounty firefighters raised approximately $1,022 during a bucket drive supporting MDA. Once again, the firefighters collected for MDA during their annual Bucket Drive on August 22nd, 23rd and 24th 2011 at the Wal-Mart, located at 6435 Our sincere thanks to all of the citizens who made a donation to MDA. Georgia Firefighter Golf Classic Cherokee County Fire and Emergency Services is once again sponsoring the Georgia Firefighters Golf Classic that will be held on Wednesday, September 28 th, at the Callahan Golf Links, located on Highway 140, near Waleska, Georgia. The format will be 4 person/best ball tournament with USGA rules. Mulligans will also be for sale. Registration for the tournament will begin at 7:30 am with a shotgun start to begin at 8:30 am. Proceeds from the event will go to the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation. The United States Congress created the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation to lead a nationwide effort to remember America s fallen firefighters. The tournament is open to the public and the cost for each particpant is $75 or $300 per foursome. To register or for more information on being a sponsor contact Jim Strack by calling (770) or jstrack@cherokeega.com or Wesley Densmore at (678) or wdensmore@cherokeega.com.

Make Sure Halloween is Filled With Treats and Not Tragedy Page 8 Halloween is an exciting time for children, but the excitement of the night can cause us to forget about being careful.

8 Make Sure Halloween is Filled With Treats and Not Tragedy Page 8 Halloween is an exciting time for children, but the excitement of the night can cause us to forget about being careful. If you play it safe, Halloween can be a real treat for the entire family. The major dangers are not from ghost and goblins, but rather from falls and pedestrian/car crashes. Many towns and communities in Cherokee County officially designate a night and assign specific hours for trick-or-treat activities. According to Raymond Gunnin, Cherokee County Fire Chief, Both children and adults need to think about safety on this annual night of trick-or-treating. The Cherokee County Office of Fire and Emergency Services urges everyone to play it safe this Halloween by following these important safety rules. Motorists should be alert and aware of their surroundings: Watch for children darting out from between parked cars. Watch for children walking on roadways, medians and curbs. Enter and exit driveways carefully. During the evening hours, watch for children in dark clothing. Before children start out on their trick or treat rounds, parents should: Make sure that an adult or an older responsible youth will be supervising the outing for children under age 12. Plan and discuss the route trick-or-treaters intend to follow. Know the names of older children s companions. Instruct your children to travel only in familiar areas and along an established route. Teach your children to stop only at houses or apartment buildings that are well-lit and never to enter a stranger s home. Establish a return time. Tell your youngsters not to eat any treat until they return home. Review all appropriate trick-or-treat safety precautions, including pedestrian/traffic safety rules. Pin a slip of paper with the child s name, address and phone number inside a pocket in case the youngster gets separated from his/her group. When preparing or selecting your child s costume, remember these safety suggestions: Only fire-retardant materials should be used for costumes. Costumes should be loose so warm clothes can be worn underneath. Costumes should not be so long that they are a tripping hazard. (Falls are the leading cause of unintentional injuries on Halloween). During the evening hours, costumes should be made with light colored materials. Reflective tape should be used to make children visible. Masks can obstruct a child s vision. Use facial make-up instead. If masks are worn, they should have nose and mouth opening and large eye holes. Accessories, like knives or swords, should be made from cardboard or flexible materials. Do not allow children to carry sharp objects. Trick-or-treat bags should be light colored or trimmed with reflective tape. Carrying flashlights will help children see better and be seen more clearly.

Lesson Plan for Fire Safety Starts with You!

Lesson Plan for Fire Safety Starts with You! Students can be a powerful influence on family and loved ones by taking home fire safety messages learned at school. A great tool for helping them learn about fire safety is The You! activity pamphlet.