WEST BEND FIRE DEPARTMENT

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1 WEST BEND FIRE DEPARTMENT Planning to Protect......Acting to Save November 2015 Volume 3, Issue 11 Inside this issue: Fire & EMS Run Review 1 Tis the Season - Cold Weather Safety EMS Bureau Report 2 Fire Prev./ Public Safety 4 Operations Bureau 6 Training Bureau 7 In Their Own Words 8 YEARS of SERVICE ~November Capt. T Lamberg...1/26/90 LT J Gustafson...11/18/96 LT R Lesiecki...11/18/96 FF M Rinzel...11/27/96 LT R Schafer.11/27/96 POC Wahouske...1/02/98 POC FF Guild..11/15/04 Our first snowfall of the season has arrived, a preview of things to come. Now is the time to start thinking about some simple things you can do to keep yourself and others safe. Continued on page 2..Acting to Save Emergency Activities Types of Calls November 2015 October 2015 Year to Date (2015) Year to Date (2014) Fires Calls Emergency Medical Calls Paramedic Intercepts Interfacility Transports Totals Town of Barton Calls Town of West Bend Calls

Emergency Medical Services Bureau BC Van Langen and Captain Thrash Page 2 Tis the Season - Cold Weather Safety by Todd Van Langen Cold weather and snow bring there own set of problems for emergency

Unfortunately we know emergencies have no schedule and can happen at any time of the mention is first ice. All parents should take the time to speak with their children about the dan- call for help.

It is especially important for people to help out the elderly at this time of gers of walking out onto a newly frozen surface.

When responding to a motor vehicle crash the footing on the scene can be very slippery and initially there is not a lot fire personnel can do but to other type material to keep these surfaces from

2 Emergency Medical Services Bureau BC Van Langen and Captain Thrash Page 2 Tis the Season - Cold Weather Safety by Todd Van Langen Cold weather and snow bring there own set of problems for emergency responders answering a move about very carefully. When arriving at a residence it is very important to emergency better. Unfortunately we know emergencies have no schedule and can happen at any time of the mention is first ice. All parents should take the time to speak with their children about the dan- call for help. Snow and ice can make driving hazardous for emergency vehicles. When arriving at a responders that sidewalks and especially steps are snow and ice free. Using salt or some day or night. It is especially important for people to help out the elderly at this time of gers of walking out onto a newly frozen surface. It must be emphasized that looks can be deceiving scene getting to the patient can be a challenge. When responding to a motor vehicle crash the footing on the scene can be very slippery and initially there is not a lot fire personnel can do but to other type material to keep these surfaces from being slippery could prevent one of the responders from being injured. The sooner you can clean the sidewalks and steps after a snowfall the year and make sure the surfaces they are walking on are not slippery, a fall for an elderly person can be a devastating injury. One other very important issue that we need to and this ice is extremely thin. There are many lakes, ponds, and streams within our response area. Unfortunately first ice often coincides with kids being out of school on Christmas break.

Emergency Medical Services Bureau Battalion Chief Todd Van Langen & Captain Tom Thrash WBFD EMS TRANSPORTS Page 3 West Bend Fire Department Paramedic Ambulances have been busy so far this year.

3 Emergency Medical Services Bureau Battalion Chief Todd Van Langen & Captain Tom Thrash WBFD EMS TRANSPORTS Page 3 West Bend Fire Department Paramedic Ambulances have been busy so far this year. We have had contact with over 3200 patients to date. The chart below shows where we have transported those patients. Note that there are times where we arrived on a scene and did not transport the patient. In this situation paramedics most likely only gave simple assistance. They may have just helped someone in getting up from the floor. In most nontransport cases they likely did an assessment and then had a discussion with the patient explaining their findings. At that point the paramedics and the patient agreed that transport was not needed. As the chart indicates St Joseph s Hospital is where we transport over 40% of our patients. We try to give the patient every opportunity to go to the hospital of their choice.

Fire Prevention & Public Safety Bureau Battalion Chief Chuck Beistle & Captain Tammy Lamberg Page 4 300 250 200 150 November 2015 Prevention & Inspection Activities Periodic Inspections

4 Fire Prevention & Public Safety Bureau Battalion Chief Chuck Beistle & Captain Tammy Lamberg Page November 2015 Prevention & Inspection Activities Periodic Inspections Reinspections/Follow-ups Violations System Acceptance Tests Requests/Complaints Meetings/Consults Permits Home Smoke Alarm Installs Community Safety Presentations Plan Reviews Christmas Tree Safety Guidelines by Captain Tammy Lamberg The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) reports that there is an estimated annual average of 410 home structure fires that begin with Christmas trees. Based on data from 2004 through 2014, these fires caused an average of 34 civil- ian deaths, 52 civilian injuries, and $13.3 million in direct property damage per year. On average, one of every twelve Christmas tree fires resulted in a fatality. In addition, Christmas tree fires are statistically shown to Continued on next page

Page 5 Fire Prevention & Public Safety Bureau Battalion Chief Chuck Beistle & Captain Tammy Lamberg Christmas Tree Safety Guidelines continued spread beyond the room of origin.

When bringing home a live Christmas tree the key thing to remember is this: It is the moisture content of each tree that will determine the fire hazard each tree represents.

5 Page 5 Fire Prevention & Public Safety Bureau Battalion Chief Chuck Beistle & Captain Tammy Lamberg Christmas Tree Safety Guidelines continued spread beyond the room of origin. The fires that spread beyond the room of origin caused 94 % of the associated fatalities. When bringing home a live Christmas tree the key thing to remember is this: It is the moisture content of each tree that will determine the fire hazard each tree represents. Retaining a high moisture content in the needles of the tree is very important to limit accidental ignition and prevent rapid flame spread. A tree which has dry needles can readily ignite and generate heat release rates that are capable of causing flashover in a very short period of time. Wet trees tell a different story. For comparative purposes, researchers selected a fresh, green Scotch pine, had it cut in their presence, had an additional two inches cut from the trunk's bottom, and placed the tree in a stand with at least a 8 liter water capacity. The researchers maintained the Scotch pine's water on a daily basis. A single match could not ignite the tree. In a second attempt an entire burning matchbook failed to ignite the tree. Finally Firefighters look over the remains of a burned Christmas tree an open flame was applied to the tree using a propane torch. The branches ignited briefl y, b u t s e l f - extinguished when the researchers removed the torch from the branches. This demonstration shows that moist trees are much safer. They should have pliable green needles at all times. Signs of a dry tree would be needles that break easily when bent or needles that fall from the tree when the branches are shaken. There are many beautiful, realistic artificial trees available for consumers today. NFPA advises that these artificial trees are the safest option for in the home. If you do choose to bring a live tree into your home remember to keep your tree moist Example of a Christmas tree located too close to the fireplace with at least twice daily watering. If at any time the needles appear to be drying out the tree should be removed from the home. Do not place the Christmas tree next to a fireplace, heat vent or any other possible ignition source. Also, make sure tree lights are not damaged or worn. Remember these tips to keep your family safe. Happy holidays to you and your families!!!

Fire Department Operations Bureau Battalion Chief John Spartz & Captain Jon Coutts Keep the Wreath Green This Holiday Season Christmas is a time of great joy and cheer for many.

6 Fire Department Operations Bureau Battalion Chief John Spartz & Captain Jon Coutts Keep the Wreath Green This Holiday Season Christmas is a time of great joy and cheer for many. However, it is also a time of increased fire risk. Thousands of fires occur during the holiday season. Locally, a fire can devastate a household in seconds. The members of the West Bend Fire department want to remind you to have a safe holiday season this year. In order to show how many times fire can affect a community, the West Bend Fire Department has adopted the Keep the Wreath Green Program during the 2015 Christmas and New Year s holidays. Holiday Safety Reminders Here are a few fire safe tips that we all should keep in mind during the upcoming Holiday Season: Page 6 A holiday wreath is displayed in front of all three fire stations. They are decorated with green lights and 1 white light. The single white light at the top of the wreath is in remembrance of all firefighters who have died in the line of duty. A green light will be replaced with a red light each time our department responds to a structure fire from Thanksgiving through New Year s Day. It is our hope that the wreath will remind people to be fire safe during the holiday season by practicing fire safety everyday. A list of fire safety tips for your family to use are given below. Finally, the Operations and Maintenance Bureau wishes everyone a happy and safe holiday season. Burn candles away from any drafts and all flammable materials. More than half of home candle fires occur when something that can catch on fire is to close to the candle. Never leave a burning candle unattended. Candles should be extinguished when you leave a room, leave the residence, or go to bed. Candles started 7% of home Christmas tree structure fires. Christmas trees account for hundreds of fires annually. Live trees should be recut approximately 2 inches above the old cut as soon as you get it home. The tree should then be put into water & the water level should be maintained for the duration that it s in a residence. Keep the tree away from heat sources & use decorations that are flame resistant. Electrical problems were factors in one-third (32%) of home Christmas tree structure fires. Twelve percent of home Christmas tree fires involved decorative lights. Two of every five (39%) home Christmas tree fires started in the living room, family room, or den.

Fire Instruction & Training Bureau Battalion Chief Chuck Beistle & Captain Tom Thrash Page 7 Citizen Appreciation Awards Citizen Award Appreciation For the second year in a row The West Bend Fire

This year we are recognizing Mr. Michael Mets, Mrs. Mary Metz, and Mrs. Sue Garvey at the November 16th, 2015 Common Council meeting.

7 Fire Instruction & Training Bureau Battalion Chief Chuck Beistle & Captain Tom Thrash Page 7 Citizen Appreciation Awards Citizen Award Appreciation For the second year in a row The West Bend Fire Department is honoring citizens who have done exceptional things. When citizens take initiative to act it benefits the residents of West Bend and makes it a safer place to live. This year we are recognizing Mr. Michael Mets, Mrs. Mary Metz, and Mrs. Sue Garvey at the November 16th, 2015 Common Council meeting. On October 14, 2014, Michael and Mary were driving on University Drive when they noticed a tree burning next to a large apartment building. The Metz s stopped their vehicle and phoned 911 to alert fire crews. They began notifying building occupants to get out. The fire was extinguished and no injuries were reported. They also remained on scene to further assist the fire department with information and giving witness statements. As a result of Michael and Mary s actions, the West Bend Fire Department believes they saved the property from significant damage and they might have also saved a lot of lives. On October 4, 2015, while letting her dog out, Sue smelled smoke and knew that it didn t smell like a campfire. She took time to investigate further and found the neighbor s house on fire. She called 911, and then went to the neighbor s door and alerted the female resident of the fire. She then assisted further with removing some items from the garage. The fire investigation revealed that the fire started in the attic\chimney area. This area was not equipped with smoke detectors to alert the resident. Sue s neighbor may not have become aware of the situation until it was to late. If Sue would not have been willing to get involved, this incident may have had a very tragic ending. Each of the recipients were awarded a framed Certificate of Appreciation that was presented by Fire Chief Gerald Kudek to the individuals Last years winners were Mr. Marvin Young and Mr. David Schlough. We plan on continuing our citizen recognition program. Awards will be given annually during Fire Prevention Month to thank those who go above and beyond. Their actions make this a safer area to live in for our citizens. ROW

Dave and his family then moved to Queens in New York City. Dave moved to Wisconsin in 1992. Dave started in the fire service with the Menomonee Falls Fire Department in 1998.

8 In Their Own Words... card that we have received from Whether it is during an ambu- education assignment, the Bend Fire Department are al- cated to making their contact residents a positive experi- The back page of our newsletter features a note or our customers.the people we serve. lance call, fire call, or a public members of the West ways dediwith area ence. Personnel Spotlight: Personnel Spotlight: MPO Larry Schwechel Firefighter David Keon was born on in Belfast Northern Ireland where he spent the first year of his life. Dave and his family then moved to Queens in New York City. Dave moved to Wisconsin in Dave started in the fire service with the Menomonee Falls Fire Department in Dave started on our department in February On one of the first days that Dave was on the job at our department our present Chief Gerry Kudek gave him the nickname Bronx. Dave explained that he grew up in Queens not the Bronx, Gerry replied then we will call you Queens. Dave quickly replied that Bronx sounded just fine. Dave enjoys hiking outdoors with his wife Lori, listening to rock and roll music, boxing, and snowboarding. WEST BEND FIRE DEPARTMENT Planning to Protect...Acting to Save 325 N 8th Ave. West Bend, WI

WEST BEND FIRE DEPARTMENT

WEST BEND FIRE DEPARTMENT Planning to Protect......Acting to Save December 2016 Volume 4, Issue 12 Inside this issue: Fire & EMS Run Review 1 EMS Bureau Report 2 Fire Prev./ Public Safety 4 Operations