Newsletter
The REDSHIRTS NEWSLETTER |
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MARCH 2006 |
Volume 2, Number 1 |
Storm King Fire Engine Co. # 2Chief’s UpdateWe are continuing to grow based on progress this past year thanks to each member who has chipped in by doing their part. I would like to thank everyone for working together as a team and I look forward to continued success in 2006.
Station housekeeping has improved but it can always get better. Please remember to clean up after yourself and when departing from the firehouse, make sure that all lights are off, doors are closed and secure.
Tower 413 has had all of the necessary repairs completed and is now UL certified as of February 7, 2006. Annual Hose Testing will be completed by Fail-Safe on April 6, 2006. Tanker 415 will have a new 10” air operated dump valve installed on March 7 and will be out of service for a week. The 2002 Tahoe is being repainted red by Tom Lyons of the Village DPW and will be back in service as Car-2 about the first week of March.
The Village Board is reviewing the Service Award program to increase the benefit amount dispersed to our qualifying members. The Village Board adopted the tax exemption that was already adopted by the State and County which entitles members who are taxpayers and live in the district to 10% off your assessed value up to $3,000.00. The Cornwall School District is expected to adopt this exemption very soon as well.
The Village is currently working on replacing the bathrooms in the meeting room to be compliant with ADA standards. Additionally, the ladder truck bay floor will be replaced in April or May. Tower 413 will be relocated for approximately 20 days while the concrete cures.
Please make sure to place equipment back in service after every event. You must complete an air pack check sheet after using SCBA and make sure it is ready to go for the next call. Please check your turnout gear periodically for your own safety. We are writing a new policy and procedure for equipment inspection.
Please do not hesitate to contact Chief Armitage if you have any questions, concerns, or suggestions at 845-494-5033 or j.armitage@stormkingfire.org. I look forward to working closely with you this year! Thanks to the Annual Dinner CommitteeThank you to the Annual Dinner Committee for a pleasant evening of good food, entertainment, and friends. The attendance was excellent for this great night. Good & WelfarePat Pacenza is recovering from surgery and we wish him the best of health.
Eugene Conley, Jr. was admitted into the Cornwall Hospital for an illness and we wish him a speedy recovery to better health.
Greg Valentin is on the mend from a Heart Attack and we wish him good health and a speedy return from medical leave.
Dave Warner has been activated to serve with the United States Army in Afganistan for 18 months. He is currently in South Carolina retraining and will be deploying for his tour of duty within the next few months. We wish him the best of luck and support Dave and his family while he is serving our Country. Annual Physicals/PPD/On the Job InjuriesAll active departmentmembers must have an annual physical examination in accordance with NFPA 1582. We have a contract with OMNI Medical Care to perform the firefighter physical examination which is paid for by the Village of Cornwall. With all of that said we have the best interests of every firefighter in consideration when we mandate that all of our active members are required to have an annual physical examination and especially that it is provided free-of-charge.
In 2005, there were 106 Firefighter Line of Duty Deaths. The youngest to die was 18, the oldest was 76 and the average was 46 years old. Safety is everyone’s responsibility. Please get your annual physical completed today! If you don’t it could cost a life.
To make an appointment with OMNI Medical Care, please call 566-6664 at your earliest convenience. If your medical clearance is expired and you wish to remain as an active member, please get your physical completed before March 31, 2006.
When you get your PPD planted for TB screening, you must show up to have your result read by the staff at Omni or you must go to a Dr or ER and have them write a script with the result. When you don’t show up for the test to be read, then you cost the Village another $50.00 for a second test. Everyone must be more responsible and help control the costs that we can control, especially since we’re poor. Please be prepared when you show up for your physical.
If you are injured or become ill during the normal course of duty, you must report your problem immediately to a line officer in order to be covered by insurance and the Volunteer Firefighter’s Benefit Law. There is a lot of time-sensitive paperwork that must be completed for you to receive benefits. Captain Hahn is the Chief Medical Officer and maintains all medical records for the department. If you have any questions or concerns, contact Captain Hahn at 845-629-6873 or k.hahn@stormkingfire.org.
Turn in Your Uniform Nights Please turn in your uniforms to Property Officer Laura Lapre on Thursday March 2nd and 16th between 1900 and 2100. All uniforms will be embroidered for identification purposes, dry cleaned for you, and reissued to you at each parade. You may keep your Company issued shoes but everything else must be turned in. If you cannot attend one of these nights, contact Laura Lapre at 534-1048 or email l.lapre@stormkingfire.org.
Grants We are applying under the United States Fire Administration Fire Act Program for funding to purchase fire equipment such as turnout gear and various tools. We have already applied for $50,000.00 through Senator Larkin for equipment this year and we anticipate an answer on the funding soon. Additionally, we are continuing to explore alternative sources of funding to replace or remount Tower 413.
Fantasy Baseball League We are currently looking into creating a fantasy baseball league for the upcoming baseball season. The parameters of the league are still being discussed. There will however be a small fee to enter a team. At the end of the season winners will be determined based on team records and cash prizes will be distributed. This will be a Internet based league, so access to the Internet will be necessary. If you do not have access to the Internet at home or work you will be allowed to utilize the communications room computer for access. If you are interested in playing in this league please contact Mike Trainor at ske2chief@aol.com for further information.
Driver Certification Any member who is interested in driver/operator training should contact Chief Armitage or Assistant Chief O’Dell. There will be an annual driver refresher certification for all currently qualified driver/operators to be announced in April. For more information, please contact Assistant Chief O’Dell at 845-674-0342 or c.odell@stormkingfire.org.
Training and Continuing Education Emergency Medical Technicians and Certified First Responders are needed. Additionally, Any member in need of CPR/AED training is requested to please contact 2nd Lieutenant Smith at 845-629-0055 or t.smith@stormkingfire.org.
Assistant Chief O’Dell is the training officer. Contact A/C O’Dell for training opportunities and to sign up for classes at 845-674-0342 or c.odell@stormkingfire.org.
Online and correspondence training courses are available to all members to use as a drill make-up. Please contact Captain Hahn for more information. Firehouse Software Training is available through Captain Hahn. Please contact Captain Hahn at 845-629-6873 or k.hahn@stormkingfire.org. to make an appointment.
ICE RESCUE Course will be held at Highland Falls FD Thursday March 2 1900-2100 and practical evolutions Sunday March 5 0800-1200. Sign up on board or contact Chief Armitage at 845-494-5033 or j.armitage@stormkingfire.org.
EVOC will begin on 3/15, 3/22, 3/29, 4/5, and Saturday 4/8 at 0800 for the Final Driving Day. Class size is limited to 30 students. This course is especially recommended for all drivers and anyone who has a blue light. Many auto insurance companies offer a discount for this course too. Contact Chief Armitage to sign up at 845-494-5033 or j.armitage@stormkingfire.org. We will be participating in a mutual aid drill with Vails Gate FD at the New Cornwall High School sometime in April or May.
The FAST Team has been reorganized this year and will be run by Team Leader Eric Chatfield and supervised by 2nd Lt. Smith. There will be some operational changes within the team that will be announced in the future. There was a FAST Team Drill on Tuesday February 28, 2006 @1800 at the Vails Gate Training Facility with Ret. FDNY Capt. Bob Rainey and Highland Falls FAST Team. Attending these training opportunities are critical to remaining ready to respond.
Vails Gate Fire Department has extended the use of their training facility for our department. This asset is a great tool for training if used properly. Expect to drill at the training center within the next few months on regular drill nights.
Easter Pancake Breakfast We will host the annual Easter Breakfast on Sunday April 16, 2006. Please contact Nancy Bryan at 914-213-2167 or n.bryan@stormkingfire.org to help with this event.
Live Fire Training at Middletown, NJ Fire Academy Spring 2006 The department will attend the Middletown, New Jersey Fire Academy again this year for Live Fire Training. We will be leaving the station at 0600 and expect to return home by 1600. All members who plan on attending must be Firefighter-1 or equivalent and have both a current physical clearance and mask fit test to participate in the evolutions. Contact Captain Hahn for further info at 845-629-6873 or k.hahn@stormkingfire.org.
Storm King Eng. Co. # 2 Annual FAIR The Annual Fair will be held on July 26-29, 2006. On Wednesday June 28, there will be a work detail to hang signs for this critical fund raiser. The main setup work detail will be on Saturday July 22 at 1000. We need new committee members to take charge of different aspects of this event. Please contact Chief Armitage at 845-494-5033, 534-3466 or j.armitage@stormkingfire.org to find out how you can help.
RCVFA Parade September 8, 2006 We have been invited to attend the RCVFA Parade this year in Stony Point on Saturday September 8, 2006. Since bands are very expensive, we want to know how many members will be interested in attending this event. Please sign up on the board in the “training room” if you can attend before March 1st.
OCVFA Parade September 23, 2006 The annual OCVFA Parade will be held in Pine Bush on Saturday September 23, 2006. A bus for transportation to the parade will be available at the firehouse. Please make every effort you can to march with us. We have spent a lot of money on uniforms and we are overdue for a “Best Overall” trophy.
Coldenham 75th Anniversary Parade Oct. 7 We have been invited to attend the Coldenham 75th Anniversary Parade on Saturday October 7, 2006. Since bands are very expensive, we want to know how many members will be interested in attending this event. Please sign up on the board in the “training room” if you can attend before April 5th .
Fire Prevention Week October 8-14, 2006 We will be teaching fire prevention in the schools in October, 2006. Captain Hahn and Eugene Conley Sr. will be administering the program this year and will have a sign up sheet posted in September.
9th Annual Bruce Armitage Memorial Softball Tournament Fall 2006 The 9th Annual Bruce Armitage Memorial Softball Tournament will be held in the fall this year on a date yet to be determined. There is a lot of work that needs to be done to setup for the tournament. Anyone who is available to help with this event is asked to contact Chief Armitage at 534-3466 or Mike Trainor at 534-5538.
Halloween Party October 31, 2006 The annual Halloween Party will be held on Tuesday October 31, 2006. Please contact Vice President Nancy Bryan to find out how you can help at 914-213-2167 or n.bryan@stormkingfire.org.
Storm King on The Web Please visit www.stormkingfire.org periodically for the latest news. Thank you to Andy Vatter and Danika Albert for all of their hard work developing and maintaining our site. More improvements are to come, if you have any suggestions or comments, please contact Danika Albert at 914-213-2195.
Redshirts in Action The Redshirts battled this Fire on February 24, 2005 at 22 River Avenue. In 2005, Storm King Fire Engine Company #2 was very busy.
2005 Annual Report Alarms 310 6,502 Training 112 2,401 Fire Prevention 10 676 Work Details 51 1,803 Parades 6 975 Miscellaneous 20 550 TOTALS Events 509 Hours 12,907 We never could have accomplished this much without such a dedicated team of volunteers. Thank you again to everyone who does their part as a member of Storm King Fire Engine Company #2.
2005 Awards Participation Probationary – Chris Benson Proby of the Year Over 18 Robby Vought Active – Nancy Bryan Proby of the Year Under 18 Mike Smith Active Honorary – Bob Gosda Life Member – Bob Quillin
Top 5 Responders Chief’s Awards Mike Smith Sam Cassella Doug Vatter Tom O’Keefe Andy Stathes Butch Cocks Kristi Vanduzer Eugene Conley, Sr. Steve Calamari Lloyd Neville Doug Vatter Nancy Bryan
NOTICE TO ALL STUDENTS Any members who are students in High School are reminded that you are to attend school and not go on calls when school is in session. If we need you, the department has a policy to release students from school.
Thanks to Village Historian and Tom Trainor Colette Fulton, Village Historian held an open house in honor of Storm King Fire Engine Company #2 to dedicate a picture of our firehouse that was donated by Tom Trainor in honor of the contributions of the Trainor family. The picture is displayed in the Village Museum and a copy will be in the company museum soon.
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