FULLY INVOLVED
December 2005
UNITY
ULTIMATE PERFORMANCE
PERSONALIZED DELIVERY
The Official Newsletter of the Prince William County Department of Fire and Rescue
What’s Burnin’?
2005 Promotion Ceremony
Congressman Tom Davis
From the Chief
2
Kiwanis Cub Hero
3
Work Smarts
4
News From EMS Training
5
Around the County
6
IAFF Redmond Symposium
2005
7
Battalion 2
8
Community Relations
9
Training
10
Celebrate the New Year
11
Article by Olufunke T. Owolabi, Public Information Specialist
On Thursday, December 1, the Department of Fire and Rescue welcomed five new members and
honored twenty-two employees recently promoted to the ranks of Battalion Chief, Captain,
Lieutenant and Technician II during its 2005 Promotion Ceremony. The ceremony was held at
the George Mason University Verizon Auditorium on the Prince William Campus. Battalion
Chief Jim Forgo presided over the ceremony. Guess speakers for the ceremony were Assistant
County Executive Melissa S. Peacor and Congressman Tom Davis.
During the ceremony, Congressman Tom Davis delivered a timely keynote address to the
audience. “What an exciting time to work for a local government and be in public service,” said
Congressman Tom Davis. “You are one of the elite core in the country, and you compare
favorably to anyone else. You are the first line of defense when tragedy strikes, and you have
the skills to get the job done to protect the citizens of Prince William County. Thank you for
your service to the community. I congratulate everyone!”
The following employees were recognized during the promotion ceremony:
Health and Safety
12
Retirement
13
Chaplain’s View
14
DFR Trivia
15
Recruit School
16
Kudos
17-19
New Employees
April Brown, Accounting Assistant II
Chris Bizjak, Breathing Apparatus Supervisor
Katherine Good, GIS Programmer/Analyst II
Arnita Brown, Administrative Support Assistant II
Seamus Mooney, Emergency Management Planner II
Communications
Amy J. Fetter, Telecommunicator III
Technician II
Chad M. Briggs
Aaron D Crispin
Benjamin F. Dunnet
Mark S. Eshenour
Christopher R. Gant
Kevin S. Gochenour
Wesley R. Grieve
Technician II Continued
Kevin M. Loftus
Adam R. Mowry
Jonathan P. Newell
David J. Riddle
Kimberly A. Stewart
Paul M. Taylor
Timothy C. Wrye
Captain
Jeffery T. Crawford
Battalion Chief
Jennie L. Collins
Lieutenant
Thomas H. Clark
Garth D. Clarke
Charles D. Gilliam
Jeffrey L. Howdyshell
Patrick J. Reese
Page 2
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From the Chief. . .
December is always a time for reflecting on the past year and looking forward to the wonders of a
new year. 2005 has been an exciting year for the DFR with having to meet the challenges of a
growing community and growing department. During this year we have:
•
•
•
•
•
•
“Our members
positively impacted the
lives of both citizens
and fellow fire service
personnel in the
hurricane affected
areas.”
Welcomed 72 new members to the department
Promoted 41 members
Conducted two recruit schools
Added 24 hour staffing at Engine 515 and Medic 556
Received a second set of gear for all uniform personnel through the UASI process (still
awaiting the helmets)
Implemented new employee benefits for recruitment and retention of personnel as well as
enhancing compensation for ALS providers.
These are just a few examples of changes within the department. One of the most significant
experiences we encountered was our efforts to assist jurisdictions along the Gulf Coast in recovery.
The Department deployed 34 members on nine different missions. This was a unique life experience
for those that volunteered for these deployments and the individuals and our organization learned
much we can apply to major disasters in our own community or the region. Equally as important,
our members positively impacted the lives of both citizens and fellow fire service personnel in the
hurricane affected areas. They left a very favorable impression of Prince William County and
specifically the Department of Fire & Rescue.
I would be remiss not to also mention all the members of the department who committed immense
time and effort to prepare, equip, monitor and debrief the deployment staff and those who remained
behind to ensure effective service continued in PWC. There is a saying “it takes a community to
raise a child.” In this experience it took a whole department to support the deployments.
While everyone put forth great effort, we did not complete all that I had hoped we would this year
due to changing priorities. I guess we will always hope to do more than we have the time and
capacity for, but that seems to be the nature of our service. That leaves us with continued and new
challenges for the coming year, which looking ahead, also holds the promise of
exciting times.
I am especially looking forward to celebrating the 40th anniversary of the Department. The
Anniversary Committee has worked hard to make it a memorable and fun time in addition to
highlighting and recognizing the achievements of the organization and its people. Lets all enjoy the
various activities.
Other events we are anticipating in the new year include:
•
•
•
•
•
Changes to the career battalion coverage
The continued addition of new technology
Implementation of a new Performance Evaluation System
The continuation of our safety initiatives, which will add another Lieutenant to Health and
Safety, as well as assuring another specialty apparatus is minimally staffed at four stations
Preparations for staffing units at the River Oaks Fire and Rescue Station
(From the Chief Continued on page 3)
December 2005
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Page 3
Kiwanis Club Hero
Article by Olufunke T. Owolabi, Public Information Specialist
Every year the Kiwanis Club selects someone from the Department to receive a hero award for their service to the country and
community. On November 17, Technician I Bennie Jost was presented the 2005 Kiwanis Club Hero Award at the Sudley Road
Holiday Inn. Bennie was recognized for the following efforts:
Technician I Bennie Jost returned home safely on August 7, from an extended tour of duty in Afghanistan with the 129th
Infantry Division of the Virginia National Guard. While there, Bennie served our county with honor and distinction.
During his tour of duty, Technician Jost was actively involved in community oriented projects which included helping to
rebuild schools and families in Afghanistan by initiating and coordinating a coat and school drive for orphaned Afghanistan students. In addition, Bennie also spearheaded an initiative to collect donations for needy children in Prince William
County.
Technician Jost, your blend of courage and compassion represents the finest traditions of the Fire Service. Congratulations!
ef
Chi
u
ie d
enn
B
s
late ony.
ratu
ong d cerem
c
s
ho awar
Mic
ring
the
Group photo of the 2005 Kiwanis Club Heroes
From the Chief
(continued from page 2)
There may be other opportunities for the department and its members that we can not even dream of now, but we will be positioned to be actively involved. I encourage you to take advantage of any of these experiences as they present themselves and to
stay engaged in the activities of the department that extend beyond your normal job functions. We must all look for opportunities
for continuous improvement both in our service delivery and for ourselves personally.
In closing, I want to thank you for your efforts and sacrifices in serving our community and others jurisdictions, our department,
and for your support of me as your chief.
May God bless you and grant you a safe and Happy New Year.
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Work Smarts—Tips and Other Interesting Things
Don’t let the meeting you attend descend into just another gripe session
Have you ever been to a meeting where it seems like all the other attendees want to do is blame others for their failure to reach a
goal? If you have, you know what a huge waste of time and energy these meetings can be.
But as an attendee is there anything you can do to get the flow of the meeting going in a more productive direction? You bet there
is. Break in the chatter when you see your chance, and start out by agreeing with some point that has been made, then skillfully
lead the conversation in a direction that is forward thinking— rather than just backpedaling into the blame game. Once you have
the group’s attention, then do some brainstorming to get the ideas flowing. Once ideas are being generated it’s a good idea for
someone to write down what is being said. Before the meeting ends, see if a to-do list can be matched with people willing to take
on the tasks the new ideas will require.
Want a better career?
Everyone wants to be successful in the workplace, but sometimes it’s hard to figure out how to get your career
moving in the right direction. Follow these five tips to ensure that you build skills and start movement to where
you want to be.
•
Start from where you are. Make every effort to build your skills in your current job, so that if and when you
make a move or go for a promotion, you have something to take with you or show. It’s usually better to go
step by step, rather than to hope for a big promotion someday. Focus on doing the best possible job you can
now, and plan future career moves carefully.
•
Sharpen your computer skills. Today, it really doesn’t matter what your job is—at some point you will probably need to be
proficient in using a computer. Try to learn everything you can so that you are more marketable.
•
Develop a learning attitude. Learning in your career should never come to a standstill. Commit yourself to a lifetime of
workplace learning and it will pay off nicely.
•
Network. Always talk to others in your industry or profession. This will help you to know what skills you need and keep
you on top of job opportunities.
•
Learn to work well with others. In almost every job, you will be asked to work with others.
Dealing with slackers in the office
Do you have a co-worker who expects a free ride in the office—at your expense? If you do, then you know how challenging the
situation can be. How do you get through to someone who just doesn’t seem to care if his or her slacking is causing you to work
your tail off, which is grinding you down? If you’re not careful, this situation can ruin your own good relationship with your
workplace. So what’s an employee to do when faced with
this situation—go to your supervisor, handle it on your
own, keep quiet and bear your martyrdom?
It’s always best to first attempt to deal with these situations
directly with the offender. For instance, you could tell
the person that you’re not sure if he or she realizes that you have to pick up the slack. Try to get the person to see that his or her
behavior is having a directly negative effect on you. Some slackers are tough cookies, and you should consider yourself lucky if
one gets a clue and reshapes his or her work world to accommodate you. However, if that doesn’t happen, the next step is to go to
your supervisor and discuss the matter. Let the supervisor know that you have informed the slacker of the problem, but there hasn’t been a responsive action to the complaint. See if your supervisor can come up with creative ways that you might be able to
handle the situation on your own. When you have exhausted your repertoire of slacker reform, ask your supervisor to step in and
handle the situation. A good supervisor knows that this situation is demotivating and can cause the loss of valuable employees if
not dealt with. Trust your supervisor to do what needs to be done to get the slacker to, well, take up the slack.
December 2005
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Page 5
News From EMS Training
Article by Lt. Thomas Jarman, EMS Training
As I am writing this article, I am preparing to make the pilgrimage to Norfolk for the annual EMS Symposium. We have some
“new” faces making their appearance at the Symposium this year and one of those is from the “Shop.” Coco Francois will be taking classes and assisting Chief Collins in her various duties. Chief Collins, as many of you have heard, is on the Governor’s Advisory Board and that requires a tremendous amount of work. I will be lecturing again this year and part of the faculty. Like the pilgrimages of the past, Prince William will be doing its best to support the huge undertaking known as “Symposium.”
Roger Roach is preparing for a long winter break in the mountains of Idaho. (He keeps reminding me that the plane ticket is for
right after the last CME.) Speaking of which, Roger is the master behind the November CME and has worked hard to present
good material. One thing of note is the unveiling of the new Med-Evac Directive. The new Directive is based on some common
sense and newer research. Historically, Prince William has one of the best “fly-out” track records in the region. That means that
we call for the right reason, and for the right resources. That truly speaks well for our providers. Roger has just completed the
most recent EMT-I class, including their National Registry Exams on October 14th. As it stands now, the results look good with a
100 percent pass rate on the practical exam, and the written results still waiting on a complete posting. I assure you that the students worked hard to prepare for this exam, and the results show that effort. The EMT-I students have now started their ALS Internship preparation classes.
Mike Darabond, after helping the students prepare for the National Registry, is off tracking down the “trophy” or at least that annoying squirrel that keeps playing in the leaves. I thought I saw him pass by last week but, with his new camouflage that blends in
with cubicles, I cannot be too sure. Seriously though, the preparation for the National Registry Exam is not to be understated. Between scheduling all the out-of-class, county, and state candidates; communicating with the National Registry; and, of course,
playing with paperwork, it is amazing how it even comes together.
Bill Phillips is also coming off some great success. The recruit class finished their EMT and all passed 100 percent in both written
and practical exams. Bill is busy preparing for the upcoming EMT Basic Refresher classes that many of you will be attending in
January and, dare I say, February?? That is right, February. We now have so many uniformed personnel, that even with an off
year rotation schedule; we can no longer fit the recertification group into three classes. As a matter of fact, all four classes will be
pretty full. This will require additional effort and staffing, so keep your TeleStaff calendars updated for the OT opportunities.
Coco, as I stated earlier, will be attending Symposium for the first time this year. I hope that she enjoys herself and takes away
some great knowledge. She continues to express gratitude to all the instructors that send her complete paperwork. This completeness reduces mistakes, prevents returns to the instructor and, maintains compliance with the AHA. Also, due to the increase in
personnel and subsequent classes, quick return of the equipment ensures availability for all.
Yours truly, besides the Symposium, is preparing for the alternative site accreditation visit for the Jefferson Davis Highway Facility. This will add another campus to our accreditation for our ALS Programs. As you are aware, space at the PSA is limited and
with the delay in our “modular expansion,” we need that space. National Registry renewal time is fast approaching, so I need your
help. Please, after the November CME posts sometime in December, check your CE records with the OEMS. This will keep us
aware of any potential problems and allow us to fix them before crunch time. Please remember that I do not have access to your
CE record or OEMS account, unless you provide me with the information. I have no way of predicting your credit hours if they
are not in alignment. As a rule, if you have been in the system for two years, and have completed and passed all your CMEs, you
have all the hours you need. The OEMS is still trying to work out some “bugs” after converting over some of the hours. It can be
fixed, but, I have to be made aware of the situation first. The last few cases have taken some additional time and effort to correct,
with the emphasis on time. Please help me, help you.
In the final segment, my many thanks to all the evaluators, patients, runners, and support staff that made the EMT and National
Registry exam sites run so well. It is with your participation and efforts that we remain a world class test site.
That is it for now. Be safe and remember to keep up your EMS Training.
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Around the County
Get Alarmed!
Article by Mike O’Brien, Public Education Coordinator
As many of you know, Community Education recently received a grant of
1,000 smoke alarms from the Department of Fire Programs. On Saturday Dec.
3, 2005, 15 staff and volunteers armed with ladders, screwdrivers, and
educational materials descended upon the Irongate Community in Manassas to
install some of those alarms. When they left over three hours later, 84 ten-year
battery smoke alarms had been installed and 51 homes and families were safer.
Many of the houses had misplaced alarms or no working smoke alarms. In
addition to the checking and installation of alarms, valuable fire safety information was given to seniors, parents and children. In one home, staff was able to
do some interactive instruction on escape techniques with the children. All of the residents were appreciative and many could not
believe that this was a free community service.
This was a collaborative venture made possible by the Department of Fire and Rescue, CERT, Fire Chaplain Bob Moon, Stonewall
Jackson Volunteers, Irongate Home Owners Association, and the Red Cross (coffee and doughnuts).
Many thanks to the following individuals who assisted and to Chief McGee for coming out and supporting the effort:
Scot Weeks F&R
Greta Burton F&R
Mike O’Brien F&R
Tech II Ricardo Santiago
Tech I Sean Jones
Tech II Kyle Straker
Tech I Werter Willis
Tech I Donah Samuel-Sinclair
Tech I Greg Mateo
Brad Sumter (CERT)
Jenn Pavol (CERT)
Rudy Dufour (CERT)
Bob Moon (Chaplain)
Micah Gnau (Stonewall Jackson)
Community Services Board Employees Go the Extra Mile
Article by Olufunke T. Owolabi, Public Information Specialist
On Thursday, December 8, several CSB Public Safety Support Team
members presented DFR members, Johnny and Mickey Thomas, with a
cash donation for their family members who were displaced by
Hurricane Katrina. The CSB employees raised a total of $1,650 after
hearing about the Thomas family misfortune. The Thomas’s also
received $2,750 from various DFR members to support family
members affected by Hurricane Katrina.
Station 11 members, Assistant Chief Hadden Culp, Captain Tim
Taylor and 11CSB employees were present during the donation
presentation.
The following CSB/Public Safety Support employees contributed to the Thomas family donation fund: Vicki Taylor, Renee
DeLucca, Deb Ward, Suzette Smith, Laura Adams, Mari Brooks, Jill Gordy, Harry Wilson, Georgina Rogers, Claudia Bailey, and
Cathy Wood.
It is important to note that CSB employees also assisted another Department members family. During Captain Jim Tanner’s recent
hospitalization CSB employees provided several meals to his family to show their support.
Thank you CSB for your kind contributions. You are all awesome!
December 2005
Page 7
IAFF Redmond Symposium 2005
Article by CPAT Technician Bonnie King
This past October I was asked by the International Association of Firefighters to speak at their annual Redmond Symposium.
The IAFF John P. Redmond Foundation Symposium focuses on the occupational health and hazards of the fire service. I was
specifically asked to be part of an expert panel to present a workshop on “The CPAT: Preparing Fire Departments for Legal and
Successful Implementation.” My role was to talk about the CPAT implementation and the development of a successful
mentoring program from a departmental aspect.
The workshop panel also included John Hanley, President IAFF Local 198, San Francisco, CA, who targeted the need for CPAT,
Kevin White, CPAT Program Administrator for California Professional Firefighters, who looked at CPAT administration from a
state level, and Kurt Rumsfeld, Esq. legal counsel for the IAFF, who discussed some of the forefront legal issues involving
CPAT. Lt. Dee Howard-Richards, Montgomery County Division of Fire and Rescue Services, functioned as the moderator for
the workshop.
The 2-hour workshop was well attended and very well received. CPAT is currently being used as far away as Sydney, Australia
and is being considered by a large number of departments. Hopefully, with the information they received from this workshop,
some of the jurisdictions “on the fence” with respect to implementing CPAT will now be able to make a more informed choice
as to whether CPAT is best for their department.
As a speaker I was also afforded the opportunity to attend any of the sessions during the conference. I attended quite a few
sessions regarding the health and wellness of firefighters; classes discussing cardiovascular screening and heart disease prevention, monitoring the physiological response of firefighters, and the importance of proper rehabilitation after injury. I was also
able to sit in on a very emotional plenary session regarding the IAFF response to Hurricane Katrina.
This was an incredible experience and an excellent opportunity to represent the Prince William County Department of Fire and
Rescue. I met some great people and made some beneficial contacts. If anyone has any questions about the symposium, please
give me a call at the CPAT Facility (5852).
I close this article with a mention of gratitude. I feel it necessary to take this opportunity to thank Technician II Bill King. TechII King, my wonderful husband, was selfless enough to stay at home with three kids (ages 4, 5 and 7), while I went off to warm
and sunny Hawaii for a week. Thank you, Bill, for your constant support! I could not have done this without you!
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What’s Happening In the 2nd Battalion?
Article by Technician II Josh Jones, Engine 518
Station 6
The HazMat Mecca of the Prince has faced little change in the past months. Freshly promoted TII Briggs has stayed in place on
E506 B-shift and TI Willis has slipped into his old position. Station 6 has a new Rescue on order and after some minor delays it
should be in early next year. Hazmat training continues to be a significant task for the personnel at station 6 as the number of
HazMat incidents in the county continues to rise. Separate from station 6 operations; Captain McCleese is still selling tickets to the
New Years Eve Party on December 31st at Station 16. Please contact him regarding questions or to purchase tickets.
Station 7
Changes are coming to the little house on the lake; a massive renovation of the station is underway. Construction however, has
been plagued with delays and minor set-backs; expect to see a revived station 7 sometime mid to late 2006. TII Culbertson is still
on light duty for his injured chicken wing, he is working out of the Manassas office. TII Voundy has joined the crew on the engine
company. C-shift is currently working to spec out a new boat support unit.
Station 13
TW513 welcomes two new faces to the unit; TI Seifert transferred in from E503, and TI Moore came over from the Lake. They are
continuing extensive rope training evolutions and are working to get their new personnel HTR training. Newly promoted TII
Loftus packed up all of his gear and departed for a long journey… all the way over to E513. M513 saw a few changes themselves;
Lt. Tucker has left for Communications and TI Chase is off to M553 B-shift. Never fear, the unit has been re-stocked with newly
promoted Lt. Reese and TII Ericson. Another addition to the big 13 house is a new pumper; it is a Pierce Dash Cab with 750 gallons of water and an A/B foam system. It also sports Pierces super duper TAK-4 independent front suspension and a ladder rack
“conveniently” located on the driver’s side.
Station 14
Not a lot has changed at the Country Club; station renovations are on hold and may begin next year. Station 14 personnel were
faced to pay a very tearful goodbye to TII Straker who has departed to station 18 in the City of Dale.
Station 16
Over at the Staffing Headquarters a few changes have taken place including new personnel and new apparatus. Newly promoted
TII’s Crispin and Newell have transferred in to the Buck. TII Crispin is assigned to the daytime engine company and TII Newell
can be found on E516 C-shift. TI Berry who was temporarily assigned to C-shift has gone back to day work where he is joined by
TI Aloiso who has returned to full duty. Lastly TII Eshenour has been promoted and is staying in place on K516. As for the apparatus a new tanker and brush truck are now in service. The tanker holds 3000 gallons of water and is equipped with a CAFS system. B516 is a 2005 Ford F350 chassis; the pump is powered by diesel which eliminates the need for a separate fuel system/tank. It
has 500ft of forestry hose pre-connected on a reel and 200ft of one inch booster hose on another reel. The HazMat support vehicle
and the tanker are both available for training. Those interested contact Captain Crawford to set up a time and date.
Station 18
Station 18 personnel were faced to pay a tearful hello to TII Straker who left the Country Club to take up residence here at the Retirement Home. On another tearful note, we have officially said goodbye to TII Lefever who has cleaned out the last of his lockers
and moved on to the Fire Marshals Office. He is now known to the world as FM527; parking lane violators beware! Old E513 is
now W518, and B518 continues to be in service 60% of the time due to little quirks here and there. We have no new apparatus to
speak of; however there is a lovely new rug in the day room and a new dish drying rack in the kitchen. Pictures can be e-mailed at
your request!
That’s the scoop from the 2nd Battalion; everyone stay safe and have a wonderful Holiday Season.
December 2005
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Page 9
Community Relations
DFR Graduates its Fourth CERT Team
Article by Mike O’Brien, Public Education Coordinator
On Saturday November 5, 2005, we graduated our fourth Community Emergency
Response Team (CERT). Thirty-two citizens successfully completed the course, bringing our
total number to 120 volunteers. The CERT curriculum was designed by FEMA and includes 27
hours of basic training in areas such as; Disaster Preparedness, CPR, First Aid, Fire Safety,
Incident Command System, Search techniques, Terrorism and Disaster Psychology. CERT
volunteers are trained to be able to take care of themselves, their families, and neighbors in case
of an overwhelming disaster or emergency.
Many thanks to the following Department members who assisted with the training: Pat Collins, Pecola Francois, Joanne Porreco,
Greta Burton, Scot Weeks, Tom Jarman, Kurt Heindrichs, James Cervino, Sean Jones, John Medici, Katherine Simmons, Shawn
Crispin, Michelle Surdam (communications), Richard Scott, Joshua Dempsey, Michelle Butler, Chris Adams, Jim Forgo, Lance
McClintock, Daniel Shea, Danny Perkins, Lucas Hart, Nick Baskerville, Pat McClelland, Marlon Moaney, Jacob Wilson.
Special thanks to Penny Climenhaga for her administrative assistance.
Our next class is scheduled to begin on April 18, 2006.
SAFE KIDS Coalition Award
Article by Mike O’Brien, Public Education Coordinator
On November 11, the Prince William Community SAFE KIDS Coalition, in conjunction
with the Prince William County Police Department, received the Virginia Law Enforcement
Challenge Child Passenger Safety Award from the Virginia Association of Chief’s of Police. This prestigious award means that
Prince William SAFE KIDS is recognized as having one of the most effective programs in the country. The Coalition sponsors
monthly child safety seat checks at area hospitals and businesses, supports ongoing safety seat installations in County Fire and
Rescue stations, conducts training and educational presentations, and as resources allow, provides assistance to low-income
families. Since traffic accidents remain the leading cause of death for children under the age of 14, SAFE KIDS and the Fire &
Rescue Department continue to prioritize Child Passenger Safety Programs. The Fire & Rescue Department is the lead agency for
the Prince William Community SAFE KIDS Coalition.
Thanks to all of you in Operations who inspect car seats and educate caregivers in addition to your normal busy schedules.
Traveling Trunk for Preschoolers
Article by Joanne Porreco, Public Education Specialist
Students from the PWC Head
Start Program Learn about hot
and cold
objects.
Did you know the Public Education division of the Community Relations Team recently
implemented a new program called the “Traveling Trunk?” Yes, we sure did, and I must say the
program is one of the best.
The Traveling Trunk program is our first venture into providing a fire safety curriculum for preschools.
Teachers are provided a curriculum on various fire safety themes, such as “Hot things Burn, Crawl Low Under Smoke, Stop, Drop,
and Roll, Matches Aren’t for Children, and First Aid for Burns.” In addition, they are given a variety of activities, and props to
use with the children, such as songs, and videos to reinforce the fire messages.
To date, there have been a total of 189 preschoolers to participate in the program. We expect to expand the program to other PWC
pre-schools in the coming months.
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Training
Article by Captain Mike LaSalle, Training Division
The time has flown by since my transfer to the Public Safety Academy, and the holidays are here. All program areas at the Academy have been extremely busy. EMS Training has concluded the most recent EMT-I class with a 100% percent completion of its
students. Roger Roach along with Lt. Jarman and his staff have invested a great deal of time and efforts into making this program
a success. Recruit Training under Lt. Morrison and his staff, are concluding Recruit Class 05-2. This has been a unique class as it
includes recruits that are the sons and nephews of individuals I have worked with throughout my career. This is when you really
begin to notice the gray hair.
Construction is well under way on the modular classrooms at the rear of the Academy. The unit’s exteriors have been completedand the finishing work to the interior is close to completion. The modular building will give the PSA an additional 4 classrooms,
4 small offices, a new defensive tactics room, and men and women’s locker rooms. Accommodating an additional 100 students,
the units will help facilitate the increase in classes/programs that are occurring at the Public Safety Academy. As with our existing
building this is a joint venture with the Police Department, and will be a shared facility. With any project of this size the construction crews have had minor delays, but the projected date of occupancy is still on target for January 06.
Other projects under way are:
•
Training Pad located near the existing well pump house, adjacent to Warrenton Rd. This will facilitate auto
burns/extrication training without impacting burn building evolutions. The plans have been drafted and final design
changes with Public Works are now being completed. We have begun accepting bids for this project and hope to begin
construction in the near future.
•
We have received bids from three vendors and are concluding the final details with Purchasing to place the order for the
new Training Pumper at the PSA. The bids have been reviewed and the contract will be awarded in the near future. Once
the contract is awarded, delivery is expected within 300 days.
In conclusion, I wish you and your family a safe and happy holiday season.
Answers: 1. 1974 - E, 1975 - D, 1976 - A, 1977 - C,
1978 - F, 1979 - B * 2. 1974 - B, 1975 - F, 1976 - D,
1977 - A, 1978 - C, 1979 - E.
December 2005
Page 11
Celebrate New Year’s Eve
The PWCDFR 40th Anniversary Committee invites you to kick off our 40th Year and
celebrate NEW YEAR’S EVE 2005!!
WHEN:
Saturday, December 31, 2005
7:30 pm to 1:00 am
DJ begins at 9:00 pm
WHERE:
Station 16
7190 Yates Ford Road
WHAT:
Hot & Cold Finger Foods, Desserts,
Drink Mixers, Music, Dancing & Door Prizes!
COST:
$15.00 per person (at least 18 years old)
**Invite your friends and family to attend**
Ticket sales begin, Monday, October 31, 2005
Send check or money to Captain McCleese, Station 6
**PARTY IS BYOB**
Page 12
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Health and Safety
Study finds no link between cell-phone use and tumors
There is no link between use of cell phones and the risk of developing a brain tumor, according to a new study
published in the journal Neurology.
Danish researchers questioned 427 people with brain tumors and 822 without brain tumors about cellphone use. There
was no increased risk for brain tumors found despite frequency of use or number of years of use. For a portion of the
participants researchers studied cell-phone records and compared that to actual participant recall to ensure that people who had
brain tumors did not exaggerate or minimize past cell-phone usage.
The study did not look at regular or heavy cellphone use for 10 years or more. Brain tumors were not found more frequently on
the side of the head where the cell phone was usually used either.
The study was supported by the European Commission Fifth Framework Program, International Union Against Cancer, International Epidemiology Institute and the Danish Cancer Society.
Want to Reduce Health Costs?
If you had to guess, what do you think has the most negative impact on worker productivity? If you guessed musculoskeletal or
mental health conditions, you can pass go and collect $200.
A survey by the Institute for Health and Productivity Management found that musculoskeletal conditions, such as arthritis, lower
back pain and repetitive motion strain were the leading causes for work absences. Mental health conditions (mostly depression)
came in as the second leading cause. And pregnancy came in as the third leading cause of absences.
Most companies do not have disease management programs. Sean Sullivan, president and CEO of IHPM, says that if more companies made an effort to deal with these types of health issues that they would be able to significantly reduce their health-related
costs and increase productivity.
Awareness of Sesame Allergy Needs to be Raised
Annals of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology, the scientific journal of the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology,
recently published a report on the growing and serious problem of sesame allergy.
The study, led by researcher Venu Gangur at Michigan State University in East Lansing, Mich., found a significant increase in
hypersensitivity to sesame since the first report of it in the United States in 1950. The Food and Drug Administration’s list of
allergenic foods for labeling purposes in the United States does not yet include sesame, even though the European Commission
and Canada have both added it to their lists of major food allergens. This is of great concern because the use of sesame seed and
oil is growing in the pharmaceutical, cosmetics and food industries. But public awareness of sesame allergy is very low.
In Australia, sesame came in fourth in foods that caused hypersensitivity in children, following eggs, milk and peanuts. In Israel,
sesame came in third.
Food allergies occur in about 4 percent of American adults and 6 percent of infants and children under 3 years old. Food allergies can appear suddenly at any age and be caused by foods that have been eaten for years with no problems. Many parts of the
body can be affected and the symptoms can range from mild to life threatening.
More information is available by calling the ACAAI at 800.842.7777 or visiting the Web site at www.foodallergy.org.
December 2005
WWW.FULLY-INVOLVED.COM
Page 13
Retirement
Farewell, My Dear Pat
Article by Judy Hooser, Public Safety Academy
“Good morning, Department of Fire & Rescue, this is Pat speaking.” When calling the McCoart office, that is the very pleasant
and professional greeting we have received from Pat Wills since February, 1999. Friday, November 18, was our last opportunity
to enjoy her greeting and Pat’s last day with the Department of Fire & Rescue. November 30, marked her official retirement
“again.”
Pat’s first retirement came after 25 years with the Federal Government’s General Services Administration. Initially hired as a
clerk steno, Pat retired as a Supervisory Contracting Officer in the Furniture Center. Her responsibilities included awarding contracts for the purchase of security equipment, stand alone system furniture, and the renovation of military quarters. Prior to becoming a member of Fire & Rescue’s Management Services, Pat sandwiched a year as the Accounting Manager for a local Home
Owner’s Association.
During her years with Fire & Rescue, Pat has had many responsibilities, but first and foremost, she has presented the face of the
Department to the public via the reception desk or in answering the telephone at the McCoart office. To some, who had never had
reason to contact the Department before, or may never have reason to contact the Department again, it will be the image Pat portrayed that they will remember and share with their friends and neighbors. And, now, Pat is retiring once again … this time, she
says “It’s for real.” She hopes to be in her new home in Helena, Alabama (already occupied by her son, 1 dog and 1 cat) to celebrate the Thanksgiving holiday. In actuality, Pat will be surrounded by family as another son, daughter-in-law, 3 grandchildren
and 3 great-grandchildren will be living nearby.
Pat also has family in Virginia, including a son in Stafford, and as she puts it, “When I visit, I will be sure and stop in the office to
say hello.” So, from all of us in Management Services, Pat, we will look forward to those visits. In the meantime, we wish you
safe journey, much happiness in your new home, and this time, a “real” & “lasting” retirement!
Page 14
Fully Involved
Chaplains View
Article by Fire Chaplain Bob Moon
Let’s be honest! Confession is good for the soul. Working with a Chaplain can be unfamiliar turf to most folks. I suspect many of those in leadership, as well as the rank and file,
have from time to time expressed openly, under their breath, or privately in their mind the
following questions: What am I expected to do with this Chaplain that is hanging around?
What is this Chaplain suppose to do?
Let’s be honest! This question or concern is not unusual. In fact, most people have never
worked with a Chaplain. You will probably not see a Chaplain in a factory, a repair shop, a
department store, a construction site, or an accounting firm. Chaplains are most frequently
found in a military or health care environment. Unless you have served or worked in one of
those arenas, you might not have had any experience with working along side a Chaplain.
Fire Chaplain Bob Moon
Please permit me in this column to be straightforward in my attempts to answer the following question: As a team member of the
Fire and Rescue Department what do we (the Chaplains) have to offer? In summary, we offer Presence, Intentional-Responsive
Listening, and Ceremony. Let me elaborate on each of these.
Presence… When we arrive at an incident, we first ask of the command center where we might be needed. In many cases, we are
directed to a specific task or area of service. In other cases, there are no apparent needs or crises to address at the moment. In the
latter cases, we must assess the situation and determine, from our experience, where we would be most useful. Each incident requires a customized response that relates to the need recognized by the incident commander or identified by the chaplain. Therefore, you may find us in several different places. We could be with a victim or the family of the victim assisting with the emotions
that can surround a tragedy. We can be found connecting the victims with the Red Cross or their faith support systems, i.e.,
church, synagogue, rabbi, priest, pastor, spiritual leader. We can be found directly involved with firefighters or rescue personnel
supporting their efforts with a word of encouragement and appreciation. We might be with an injured team member assuring that
person of the concerns and prayers of all members of the team.
Sometimes, our greatest role is simply a Presence. How does our ‘presence’ help, you might ask. Our presence works to benefit
the task. We are much like a family member or special friend of an athlete, standing at the sideline, really into the game, but careful not to interfere. Or, like a stagehand in a performance, we wait in the wings off stage, ready to lend our assistance. We are not
technically skilled in fighting the fire or preparing the injured for transport. We cannot personally perform the difficult task you
are facing, but we are there to lend you our support and encouragement. The very presence of a Chaplain can elevate a sense of
spiritual consciousness among those who are working to save a life or a structure. While your particular brand of faith or denomination may differ from the Chaplain, the very presence of the Chaplain, regardless of his or her personal faith, can cause you to be
mindful of your own spiritual values useful to you in the immediate crises. A skilled Chaplain will never impose his or her personal beliefs or doctrine upon another person. Rather, the Chaplain will attempt to help a person identify the faith, beliefs, and values professed by that individual and apply those resources to the challenge at hand.
Intentional-Responsive Listening is another role of the Chaplain. There are moments in our lives when we need someone who
will listen without judgment to our concerns, our questions, and our challenges. To have someone without supervisory authority to
listen to your concerns can help you explore solutions to the challenges you face. As counselors, chaplains are trained to listen to
you. Sometimes, that listening process invites a response of dialogue, the freedom to openly discuss and exchange ideas that can
be either spiritual or secular. Sometimes the listening leads to a request for perspective and feedback on matters of faith and spirituality or the core of human nature.
On some occasions, intentional-responsive listening leads to the seeking of advice. Chaplains are not specialists in how to fight a
fire or address an emergency medical issue. There are experts in those fields to offer that advice. However, Chaplains are well
versed in the complexities of living and values that are daily challenges to everyone.
(Continued on page 16)
December 2005
Page 15
DFR Trivia
The following members joined the Department almost thirty years ago. Test your knowledge and match each member to their
starting year of employment. Think you can handle another challenge? Try matching each major event with the year it occurred
in section two.
1.
Directions: Place the alphabet from the DFR member
groups on the left with the correct starting year of
employment on the right.
A.
B.C. Shepherd
Tech II Steve Adams
B.
Lt. Lake
Lt. Pearson
Lt. Boulton
Lt. Doehler
____
1974
____
1975
____
1976
Lt. Hapner
Capt. McCleese
B.C. Smolsky
____
1977
____
1978
____
1979
C.
D.
E.
F.
Capt. Tanner
Capt. Monaco
Lt. Cayer
Capt. Taylor
B.C. Davis
Capt. Little
A.C. Culp
Lt. Reese
Capt. Crawford
Capt. G. Gesling
Tech II Santiago Wins Award from
Local Colonel Fielding Lewis Chapter
On November 12, 2005, Technician II Ricardo Santiago was
awarded the Fire and Rescue Commendation Award by the
Colonel Fielding Lewis Chapter of the Virginia Society of Sons
of the American Revolution.
Ricardo was nominated for the award by Public
Education Coordinator, Mike O’Brien for the following:
•
•
•
•
•
Unselfishly supporting the efforts of Community Education
Appearing on the cable T.V. show “Panorama Latino”
Working on the weekend at Hispanic festivals
Recruiting Hispanics for fire service careers
Spearheading and Instructing the “Spanish Immersion Program.”
Way to go Ricardo!!!
2.
Directions: Match each major event with the correct year it occurred.
A.
Coneheads debut on "Saturday
Night Live."
B.
U.S. Freedom of Information
Act passed by Congress over
President Ford's veto.
C.
Super Bowl XII Dallas Cowboys
beat Denver Broncos, 27-10 in
New Orleans; Super Bowl MVP.
D.
George Foreman KOs Ron Lyle
in 5th round of a real slugfest.
E.
President Carter proposes Martin
Luther King's birthday be a holiday.
F.
____
1974
____
1975
____
1976
____
1977
____
1978
____
1979
R&B bandleader-saxophonist
Louis Jordan dies in Los Angeles
at age 66.
Feeling defeated?
Check out the answers on page 10.
Continuous Quality Improvements
in DFR
On Wednesday, November 30, Captain Lance McClintock and
Captain John Petrie graduated from the Prince William County
Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI) course. During this
training, they learned about strategic planning, principles of
continuous quality improvement, how to identify customers and
stakeholders, and process management/ improvement. They also
received training on data collection and statistical process control.
Congratulations Lance and John on a job well done!
How will these members apply their new CQI tools?
Capt. McClintock
“I will be able to utilize the tools and
techniques learned in class and apply many of them to the multitude of
processes in the F&R personnel section.”
Capt. Petrie
“I think the statistical process control (SPC) class was
one of the most important topics in the program. The DFR is a data driven
organization, so using SPC will help in collecting and analyzing
information to improve a specific program area.”
Page 16
Fully Involved
WWW.FULLY-INVOLVED.COM
Recruit School 05-02
In the Home Stretch
Article by Recruit Training Staff
By the time of this newsletters publication, Recruit School 05-02 would have
graduated. This school certainly formed a strong bond. A couple of weekends
ago the recruit school participated in the “Heart Walk” and collectively raised
over $4,000 for the American Heart Association. Was that team effort or what?
The recruits survived their mid- term written exams, practicals, and mid-term
burns. They covered all of the basic materials required for the VDFP FF I Certification. They also completed the classes required for FF II, which will take
them through Haz-Mat Awareness & Operations. Other topics covered by the
Recruits were Rural Water Supply, LPG Emergencies, FF Survival Skills, and
Vehicle Rescue.
The recruits are in the “Home Stretch” and are definitely looking forward to December 16, 2005, their graduation day. Those of
you in the stations should see them just in time for the holidays!
Chaplains View
(Continued from page 14)
Finally, Chaplains provide an element of Ceremony by officiating at moments of celebration, gratitude, or sorrow. The occasion
might call for a prayer or invocation at a gathering or meal, the thoughtfulness of a funeral, the joy of a wedding or baptism, or the
acknowledgement of a holiday. In ‘ceremony’, the Chaplain represents the blessing of both God and the community on special
occasions. In these situations, we gladly offer our services whenever we are invited to do so.
So as Chaplains, we stand, or kneel, or sit, ready to offer our assistance, first to our Fire and Rescue Department family and second
to the citizens we serve. We are on stand-by, ready, and available, when the need arises. Call on us. We are honored to serve you
and to serve with you.
Telephone Contact for Fire and Rescue Department Chaplains:
Rev. Jeff Carter, 570-722-8919
Rev. Bob Moon, 570-722-8921
Rev. Tim Perrin, 570-722-8922
Rev. Rudy Tucker, 570-722-8923
Second Annual Safety Awards Ceremony
Article by Olufunke T, Owolabi, Public Information Specialist
On Wednesday, December 7, several Department members were recognized for their
contributions in creating or maintaining a safe and healthy workplace. Safety Awards for
Excellence were announced for the following DFR members:
Individual Winner
Katherine Simmons
Group Winners - Healthy Heart Program
Tim Keen
Rob Clemons
Brian Cooke
Rick Pennock
Congratulations for making our Department one of the safest in the County!
Battalion Chief Keen and Captain Clemons
accept Healthy Heart Safety Award.
Page 17
WWW.FULLY-INVOLVED.COM
Fully Involved
Kudos for a Job Well Done
TO:
Technician II Kyle Straker
Technician II Ricardo Santiago
Technician I Sean Jones
Technician I Werter Willis
Technician I Donah Samuel-Sinclair
FROM:
Assistant Chief Kevin McGee
Technician I Greg Mateo
Public Education Specialist Greta Burton
Public Education Specialist Scot Weeks
Public Education Specialist Joanne Porreco
Public Education Coordinator Mike O’Brien
On behalf of the Department of Fire and Rescue, I want to thank you for helping with the smoke alarm installation project on
December 3, 2005. Due to your efforts, 84 free smoke alarms were installed in the Prince William County Irongate
community. As I observed your interactions, I was particularly impressed by the overall professionalism and courtesy
extended to the residents during this event.
Working smoke alarms decrease the chances of dying in a fire by one-half, and I am confident that your efforts will
significantly impact many lives in the years to come.
Thank you for participating in this potentially life saving effort.
TO:
Technician I Abraham Uribe
FROM:
Mike O’Brien Public Education Coordinator
On behalf of the Community Education staff, I want to thank you for appearing on the Panorama Latino Cable TV show on
November 22, 2005.
You did a wonderful job presenting winter-related fire safety tips and represented the Department very well. Outreach such
as this to the Hispanic community, in their native language, is high on our list of risk reduction priorities. Your partnership
and cooperation with our education efforts is invaluable.
Thank you for your dedication in making Prince William County a safer community.
TO:
Technician II Barry Culbertson
Technician I Marcus Saager
Technician I Frank Dozier
Technician I Nakia Baskerville
Technician I John Dresser
FROM:
Mike O’Brien, Community Education Coordinator
On behalf of the Community Education staff, I want to express our gratitude for helping us with the Family Safety Trailer
presentation at the Ferlazzo building during Fire Prevention month in October.
This was a staff intensive event and your assistance enabled us to present fire prevention education to hundreds of second
and third graders.
Thank you for doing such a wonderful job working with the children.
Page 18
WWW.FULLY-INVOLVED.COM
Fully Involved
Kudos for a Job Well Done
TO:
Captain William R. Montminy
Technician II James M. Bourque
FROM:
Chief Mary Beth Michos
Recently, I received an e-mail form Robert Gibbons regarding an incident that you responded to on Saturday, September 24,
2005, near Quantico. I could tell from Mr. Gibbons e-mail that he was very appreciative of the assistance rendered to his
wife and the professionalism you exhibited.
It is always pleasing to receive comments such as these about fire and rescue personnel. Because you do this all the time,
you may not realize how much your care and compassion means to the person in crises. Thank you for demonstrating the
Department values of “Personalized Delivery” and “Ultimate Performance.”
TO:
Technician II Chad Briggs
FROM:
Chief Mary Beth Michos
Congratulations! You were selected Team Member of the Month for August 2005 for this Department. Your selection was
based on your assistance to a couple and their children stranded with a flat tire on a very hot day (100’s) in the Food Lion
parking lot. Even though there was a language barrier you were able to assist them and change the tire.
You certainly demonstrated the Department values of “Personalized Delivery.”
Thank you for your initiative and leadership.
TO:
FROM:
Captain Steve Barr
Captain Brad Richardson
Technician II Mike Militello
Technician I Mike Moore
Technician I Ron Carlson
Technician I Chris Alloway
Mike O’Brien, Community Education Coordinator
The Community Education staff wishes to thank you each of you for assisting us at the 2005 County Fair. Your expert help
in setting up and securing tents for the “Family Safety Trailer” was instrumental in creating a weatherproof environment for
our customers.
December 2005
WWW.FULLY-INVOLVED.COM
Page 19
Kudos for a Job Well Done
TO:
Technician I Neil Eloise
FROM:
Mike O’Brien, Community Education Coordinator
On behalf of the Community Education staff, thank you for the excellent job you did in painting a fire fighter mural on
our display board for the recent County Fair. Your depiction was very artistic and captured the children’s attention.
Many of them stopped to pose for pictures behind the display and we were able to teach them valuable fire safety
lessons. Thank you for being a part of the Community Education team as we reach out with fire safety and injury
prevention messages.
TO:
Captain Douglas Monaco
Technician II Thomas Hawkins
FROM:
Chief Mary Beth Michos
Technician II Loren Little
Technician I Ryan Tolley
Peggy Aldrich, a resident of the County, sent me a letter recognizing you for the assistance provided to her son on September 9th. I always enjoy receiving letters that acknowledge the extra service that our fire and rescue staff provides to
our citizens. You went above and beyond in assisting Ms. Aldrich who was stranded with a flat tire. As she said in her
letter, you made her day. Thank you for representing the Department in such an admirable and professional manner.
TO:
Battalion Chief Jerry Shepherd
Captain Dewayne Spitzer
Lieutenant Brian Janda
Lieutenant Carl Morrison
Lieutenant Harry Wood
Lieutenant Paul Hebert
Lieutenant Lora Sharkey
Lieutenant Bruce Tucker
FROM:
Chief Mary Beth Michos
Lieutenant James Paul
Lieutenant Jeff Howdyshell
Technician II Robert Harrell
Technician II Barbara Quick
Technician II Bill Phillips
Technician II Justin Lefever
Teresa Simpson, Supply and Logistics Technician
Thank you for your valuable contribution to the funeral services of retired Battalion Chief Phillip Ponder. Your support
for Phil’s family was invaluable to them. I know that it meant so much to them to see the contingent of firefighters and
others who participated. They must have felt very proud of his contributions to our Department.
The loss of a “department family member” is always very devastating. Phil was well liked, and he will be greatly
missed. Again, thank you for your assistance. Your efforts are sincerely appreciated.
TO:
Technician II Matthew Child
Technician II Pecola Francois
FROM:
Mike O’Brien, Community Education Coordinator
Thank you for instructing the “First Aid” class at our Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) continuing education training on September 13, 2005. Your contributions to citizen preparedness in the County cannot be overstated.
Prince William County
Department of Fire and Rescue
9250 Lee Avenue
Manassas, VA 20110
In January...
Monthly
•
Phone: 703-792-6360
Fax: 703-792-4362
www.pwcgov.org/fire
Support the Department Newsletter
Contributions can be made to the Fully Involved Newsletter in the form of
articles, pictures or kudos for a job well
done. Send your ideas/comments to
f&[email protected]. Please
submit all articles in Microsoft word format and pictures as jpeg attachments.
2006 Newsletter Schedule
Submission Deadline
February 15
May 15
August 15
November 15
Cervical Cancer Screening Month. Jan. 1–31. To inform
women and their doctors about the causes of cervical cancer and the best ways to prevent or detect it. To encourage
women to be screened. For more information, browse
www.thegcf.org.
• Financial Wellness Month. Jan. 1–31. For people to establish financial balance after credit card bills pour in from
the holidays. This is a time to set new goals for financial
freedom and moderation in spending. For more information, browse www.wordsofwellness.com.
• National Get Organized Month. Jan. 1–31. An opportu-nity to streamline your life, create more time, lower
your stress and increase your profit. For more information,
browse, www.napo.net.
Weekly
•
Release
March
June
September
December
•
New Year’s Resolution Week. Jan. 1–7. To show people how, why and what resolutions/goals should be set
and the necessary steps to make this year the best ever.
For more information, browse www.goalsguy.com.
Women’s Self-Empowerment Week. Jan. 2–8. To stop,
take stock of your life and recognize all you have accom-plished. A time to pat yourself on the back and feel
good about your role in society. For more information,
browse www.ibwc.org.
We can’t do it without you!
Mailing Label
The Banquet for the Departments 40th Anniversary will be held May 6th, 2006 at the VFW Hall in Dale City.
Don’t miss this opportunity to share in the celebration.
Ticket sales will begin in December of this year and
seating will be limited.
Plan now to attend!
The committee is also requesting you to share your historical photos!
Contact Kim Griffith for info.
Olufunke T. Owolabi, Editor
© COPYRIGHT 2005
Prince William County
Department of Fire and Rescue
9250 Lee Avenue
Manassas, Virginia 20110
(703) 792-6360
FULLY INVOLVED is the newsletter of Prince William County
Department of Fire and Rescue. The newsletter is published by the
Department’s Community Relations Team. Questions regarding deadline
or publication schedule should be directed to FULLY INVOLVED at
f&[email protected] or (703) 792-6360.