NOVEMBER 2014 FIRELINE

FROM THE DESK OF THE CHIEF T H O M A S M. B I L L I N G T O N

I N S I D E T H I S I S S U E :

AC STEVENS 2

EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT 3

BIRTHDAYS 4

BATTALION 2 5

BATTALION 3 6

TRAINING 6-7

ANNOUNCEMENTS 8

THE F IRELINE NEWSLETTER

FAUQUIER COUNTY

DEPARTMENT OF FIRE, RESCUE

& EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT

Phone: 540-422-8800

www.fauquierfirerescue.org

The summer flew by and the cooler weather is coming.

I wanted to take this opportunity to discuss some updates.

November 18, 19, and 20 during the career training

rotations, I will be doing a “state of the organization” meeting

with everyone with, of course, an open question and answer

period for questions, concerns, or grapevine.

Our training section is gearing up for new protocol roll-outs,

EMT classes, fire classes, and the kitchen sink. I am very

proud of these few individuals and the work product that they

deliver to all of us.

As you are aware, the Board of Supervisors worked effortless-

ly to adopt a two year budget plan that spread out needs of

multiple agencies, including us. However with that, our career

staffing plan is in arrears. Fauquier County is unique as we

have both our volunteer and career side requesting more

career staffing collectively. In review, our options it is noted

that the opening period for the Staffing for Adequate Fire and

Emergency Response (SAFER) Grant should be in the near

future. We will be working diligently to seek approval to apply

for the grant in an attempt to “catch-up” our career staffing

plan.

Other than that start thinking about any questions for me at

our November sessions!

FAUQUIER COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF FIRE , RESCUE & EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT

NOVEMBER 2014 FIRELINE 2

EV ERYO N E ’S A L EA D ER… B Y : A S S I S T A N T C H I E F S T E V E N S

Each of our departments have formal and informal leaders, both of which meet the definition seen on the right. But which leader often carries the most influence? Who has had the most meaningful effect on your development?

Informal leaders often carry the most influence, and within the fire service we must understand the power of our informal leaders and how firefighters model their behavior after others. As senior leaders, we look out and down through-out the workforce to determine who has the skills necessary to lead, succeed, and eventually move up in the organization. However, young men and woman look up ever so slightly within the organization, usually at the next level, and think, “I want like to be like them.”

Everyone in the organization has the potential to be an informal leader, it’s up to you to make sure you’re a positive one. Every day you have an opportunity, often only two words can make a difference in how people view you...

Two words that deflate: you’re screwed, who cares?, and you lose.

Two words when thing’s go wrong: it happens, let go, don’t quit, and I understand.

Two words that move forward: why wait?, what’s next?, and what else?

Two words when things go right: great job and thank you.

Two words that challenge others: reach higher, try again, go large, and think again.

Have a safe month and remember everyone is looking to you to make a positive difference, please

choose your words carefully and stay strong.

If you can't be a good example, at least be a horrible warning– Aileen Wuornos

leader noun 1. a person or thing that leads.

2. a guiding or directing head, as

of an army, movement, or political

group.

NOVEMBER 2014 FIRELINE 3

EM ERG EN CY MA N AG EM EN T B Y : S A R A M A K E L Y

Get Ready for Winter Weather!

Winter Preparedness Week in Virginia is Nov. 30-Dec. 6

Recent Virginia winters have been cold and snowy, and many people had power outages. It’s so important to

be winter-ready that the National Weather Service and the Virginia Department of Emergency Management

have set aside Nov. 30-Dec. 6 as Winter Preparedness Week. No matter the predictions, a significant winter

storm is always possible. With an El Nino weather pattern expected this season, there could be a wetter than

normal winter. And El Nino winters can be snowier if atmospheric conditions are right…just like the winter

of 2009-10. Remember: an important part of winter weather planning is being prepared to stay where you

are until conditions improve. To be ready, take these steps:

Get a kit. Basic emergency supplies include:

Three days’ food that doesn’t need refrigeration or electricity to prepare it

Three days’ water (a gallon per person per day)

A battery-powered and/or hand-crank radio with extra batteries

For businesses and offices, some bottles of water, food bars and a radio or TV to hear local infor-

mation about whether or not it is safe to travel

A power pack for recharging cell phones and other mobile devices

Make a plan. Everyone needs an emergency plan:

Decide who your out-of-town emergency contact will be.

Where will you meet up with family members if you can’t return home?

Get an emergency plan worksheet at ReadyVirginia.gov.

Stay informed. Before, during and after a winter storm, you should:

Listen to local media for information and instructions from emergency officials.

Be aware of winter storm watches and warnings and road conditions.

Get where you need to go before the weather gets bad.

Get road condition information 24/7 by calling 511 or checking www.511Virginia.org

Download the Ready Virginia app. F ree app for iPhone® and Android™ features:

Location-specific weather watches and warnings issued by NWS

Disaster news from the Virginia Department of Emergency Management

A customizable family emergency plan that can be easily shared

A checklist for gathering emergency supplies

Links to register for local emergency alerts, and more

NOVEMBER 2014 FIRELINE 4

11/07—Lt. Grogan

11/12—Jessica Saunders

11/13—Dawn MacAllister

11/24—Jeremiah Leonard

11/26—Nicholas Baer

NOVEMBER 2014 FIRELINE 5

It is amazing that it is November already and the holidays are just right

around the corner. The Southern Battalion continues to be busy as ever

with house fires, brush fires, auto accidents, and EMS calls. This month we

have also added an addition to our DFREM staffing in the south with a day-

time unit that rotates between Goldvein and Lois.

As the winter months come upon us we would

like to remind everyone to start thinking about all

the little things that come with the winter

months. These things include making sure your

onspots are working appropriately, that you rinse

the salt off your rigs after each call, and always

remember that SCBA’s must be kept out of the

snow and water to avoid freezing problems.

Halloween is the holiday for October, can you identify the DFREM employee in this picture?

This month, new staffing went into service. This new staffing consists of a

12-hour daytime unit that rotates between Goldvein Company 8 and Lois

Company 13. On Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays this crew staffs

Company 8; on Tuesdays and Thursdays the crew staffs Company 13. On

behalf of Fauquier County Department of Fire, Rescue and Emergency

Management I would like to thank both Chief Woodburn and Chief Weeks

for their help in getting this crew up and running with needed equipment

and supplies. A special thank you to Chief Woodburn and the members of

Goldvein for allotting funds for new office furniture for the crew. We look

forward to working with these stations in enhancing the staffing in the

Southern Battalion.

T H E S O U T H E R N V O I C E B Y : B C L I C H T Y

NOVEMBER 2014 FIRELINE 6

Over the past month, there have been several new faces in the Third Battalion. We have been

training hard with all of the new Technicians to get them accustomed to the apparatus, stations

and first dues. Lots of training will continue over the next few months to complete everyone's

Technician books. We have had a few fly-outs over the past couple of months including cardiac

emergencies and traumas. Company 5 will be getting their new Medic unit soon and Wagon 3 will

be delivered soon. Everyone is looking forward to arrival of these new units. Wagon 3 will have

training days to follow and those days will be open to anyone. We hope everyone has a great

Thanksgiving. Remember if you’re deep-frying a turkey, make sure the turkey isn't frozen!

N O R T H E R N L I G H T S B Y : T E C H N I C I A N L A T I M E R

T R A I N I N G D E PA R T M E N T

Thank you all for the high-spirited participation in the three days of training we held at the burn

building. This was an absolute success and a great opportunity for the entire department to come

together and have fun while training to become more proficient in our careers. Everyone was will-

ing to help and eager to participate. We had some great suggestions and several compliments on

the training over the three days of scenarios.

Coming up in November (18th, 19th & 20th) we have EMS training and look forward to getting

together with everyone again.

NOVEMBER 2014 FIRELINE 7

P R O T O C O L T R A I N I N G B Y : L T . S H I E L D S

The online portion of the 2014 Protocol Training has been created and disseminated, and

many members have participated in the training. The Training Division is receiving very valuable

feedback from those of you who have completed the training. If you have not yet completed the

Training the web site is www.fauquieremsprotocols.myicourse.com. Once you have completed

the appropriate modules online please remember to print out your certificates of completion,

these certificates will act as an invitation to allow you to attend the in-person skills session.

If you have completed the online portion of the training, the next step is to attend the skills

portion. This is the final portion of the protocol rollout training. The trainers have been submitted

to the training division and will be attending a train the trainer on Nov. 10th or Nov. 13th. The

turn-on date for the new treatment protocols in the field is expected to be January 2nd 2015.

NOVEMBER 2014 FIRELINE 8

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Marshall Fire’s (Co. 3)

new pumper

Fauquier Alert Network (FAN)

Fauquier County Emergency Notification System

Effective July 1st, 2014 - Fauquier County has launched a new emergency notification system, Fauquier Alert Network (FAN) provided by Everbridge. Everbridge is a web based service that enables the County to provide mass notification quickly and easily. Notifications may include evacuations, missing person alerts, hazardous materials incident, flooding, and other emergency incidents where rapid and accurate notification is essential for life safety. Messages are delivered by phone call, text, and email. To ensure you receive emergency notifications, sign up by clicking on the image link below.

Chief 3 says he is

a Dallas fan, but

not according to

this picture!!

Company 10 hosted students from

Ritchie Elementary School last month