June 26, 2006: Pennsylvania Fire Commissioner brings a very important Message

Pennsylvania State Fire Commissioner Edward Mann delivered the message that every one of us must have the "Courage To Be Safe...... So EVERYONE GOES HOME!"

Commissioner Mann was hosted by the Hepburn Township Volunteer Fire Company and other members of the Lycoming Valley Alliance including Trout Run Volunteer Fire Company and Ralston Volunteer Fire Company. Chief Jeffrey Tempesco made all of the arrangements for the Alliance. More than 85 representatives of local fire departments were in attendance. Additional organizations represented at the visit included: Woodward Twp. Vol. Fire Co., Loyalsock Twp. Vol. Fire Co., Independent Fire Co. #1 of South Williamsport, Citizens Fire Co. #2 of South Williamsport, South Williamsport Bureau of Fire Prevention, Montoursville Fire Dept., Old Lycoming Vol. Fire Co., Williamsport Area Ambulance Service, Lock Haven Fire Dept., and a representative of the Pennsylvania Dept. of Health.
Commissioner Mann's message was clear, "We need to change the way we do things." Safety must become important to each and everyone of us. We need to do what we do, but we need to change how we do it.

How many of us actually use seat belts while in our apparatus? Commissioner Mann suggests that if you don't, it is about time you make it a priority to wear one. We all hear the excuse that they do not fit over our air packs. Commissioner Mann points out that the Phoenix Fire Depatment has solved that problem - they placed all their air packs in compartments outside the cabs. Because of this action in Phoenix, their firefighter injuries have decreased significantly. Because they now must don their air packs at the scene, they have the added benefit of actually sizing up the scene before they enter a building - a definite safety improvement.
The wearing of seat belts is only one initiative we must consider. How about any of the following:
  • Make sure everyone has a ID Tag and we start using a REAL ACCOUNTABILITY SYSTEM
  • Use of a personnel staging area at the scene of a incident
  • Consider use of a SPOTTER at all times an apparatus is in reverse.
  • Develop a HOT RESPONSE vs COLD RESPONSE plan tied to our Emergency Responses
  • When attacking a structural fire, consider requiring officer to carry Thermal Imager to aid in finding the fire (it just might be right over their head threatening to collapse in on them).
  • Consider placing FIRE 1 in 1st and last location on all portables – if something should happen to a firefighter, firefighter/officer would toggle his/her channel selector to either end of list to reach FIRE 1 to RADIO FOR HELP.  In a true emergency to one of our own this could be life saving.

The list goes on and on. What it all boils down to is that each and everyone one of us must assume some personal responsibility. Responsibility that focuses on our safety. Everyone of us must take a hard look at the "Firefighter Life Safety Initiatives" and be able to describe each of the 16 Life Safety Initiatives.

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    The Hepburn Township Fire Company parking lot was full with private vehicles and fire apparatus.
    Each department in attendance was asked to choose one safetiy initiative to implement within the next 90 days. They were asked to meet as a group and determine what their initiative would be. They would then put the initiative in writing and submit their pledge to Commissioner Mann.

    To the left is a group from the Hepburn Twp. Fire Co, making a decision to implement a "Seat Belt Policy".
    Pictured to the right is a table of representatives from each of the South Williamsport Fire Departments in attendance. Members from Loyalsock are at the upper end of the table. In the right rear of the photo is representatives from Trout Run Fire Company.

    Pictured below, members from the Ralston Fire Company discuss their initiative.

    To the right of the Ralston photo can be seen a group from Woodward Township Vol. Fire Co.
    Food and refreshments were compliments of the Hepburn Twp. Volunteer Fire Company.
    Commissioner Mann meets with the group from Hepburn Twp. Vol. Fire Co.