The likelihood of needing to put our low angle technical rescue skills into operation is increasing as colder darker weather is approaching. To that end two trainings are scheduled:

1. Sept 10 at 7:00 PM Station 3 a review of rigging for low angle rescue with our new stokes basket. Tech rescue team members can benefit from the review. Everyone is encouraged to attend. 
2. In October (TBA) a simulated low angle rescue on CR 125 in which full patient care and packaging will be included. Since an incident of this nature requires significant resource, the more hands attending the better.  

Based on feedback from the member survey taken earlier this year, our FLM website (http://flmfire.org) has been refreshed with the latest calendar, newsletter, board minutes, etc. The FLM website is collaborative, which means registered users can contribute content and also see additional content the general public cannot access. Most everyone in our organization has a registered user name consisting of first initial and last name (i.e. jsmith) and there is a "Forgot Password" feature. For those who are interested in knowing more about the website plan to attend a demonstration on Sept 24, 2009 at 7:00 PM at Station 3.

What is Narrowbanding?

Without getting too technical, it simply means that the spectrum (VHF: 150 -174) on which we communicate will be split in half. The general reasoning behind this is to create more frequency capacity from that which already exists. The net result is a doubling of radio spectrum in these identified bands.



The impact comes in how our radios operate. Older radios certified before February 14, 1997 may not have the capability of narrowbanding while those certified after February 14, 1997 were required to meet this narrowbanding mandate. This affects transmitters and mobile radios alike.



In 2011, the FCC will no longer accept new or modified applications that exceed the narrowbanding guidelines. In 2013, all radios will be mandated to meet the FCC narrowband requirements.

 

What are we doing?

• Take inventory and identify equipment that must be replaced. 15 of our 19 mobile units are affected by this mandate.



• Identify the impact and the alternatives available. VHF units are required to communicate with federal agencies (Forest Service, BLM, etc). Some of the deficient VHF units can be replaced by 800 MHz units, while others require replacement units. 

...

HANDHELD UNITS

Our current inventory of handheld units have been deployed to all officers and some members of the department. Because of their superior coverage and clarity in our area, compared to VHF, we are starting to use these units for internal communicaitons. One example of the exceptional coverage was reported between 702 in La Plata Canyon (below the chimney) and 701 in Dolores.

MOBILE UNITS

We recently completed the installation of our current allotment of 800 MHz mobile radios. The following apparatus have been outfitted:

M-71 M-72 CHIEF E-72 SRU T-73 B-71 R-73

The following apparatus are on the waiting list:

E-71 R-71...

At the last EMS training Chief Ebner went over the changes that are coming to FLM fire in regards to the EMS side of the department.  There were some question as to whether or not we could fill the monday thru friday day time shifts.  SO........  I have created a calender.  I have put my name in the spaces that I am able to fill.   Please understand that this is just a beta test.  Please fill in your name under the appropriate EMT level.  Please don't think about changing your schedule around this one.  In otherwords look at the September and October pages in the calender and type your name in for the days that you can work as of today.    Please fill out the calander and sent it back to me.  You may have to save it before you can send it back.  This is a basic calender for now.  Once I have everyone's calenders back I will send every one and email with the results.   Don't worry if you might be taking someone else's day.       If you have any question please let me know

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    As many of you know we have formed an EMS commity to begin to organize and establish the ambulance transport side of FLM fire.   I have been elected the chair of this commity.  There are two very important trainings that the department as a whole needs.  Unfortunately the training that is discussed below is something we need wheather or not we provide our own transport service.        I know that the term "Mandatory Training "  can push some buttons, but there will be some mandatory training coming soon.   These are trainings that we have to have as a department.  One is a OSHA mandate and the other is a Medicare/Fed mandate.        First,  everyone in the department needs to have a blood born pathogens training (osha required), even if you are not an EMT.  This will be conducted over the course of two weeks on several different nights.  You only need to show up for one class.  An email will be sent out later with times and dates.  We are looking torward the middle/end of september.         Second is...

In early August 2009 the La Plata Country Sherriff's department donated a computer server to FLMFPD. The server is an HP Prolient ML370 with four 36.4 GB disks. This link full describes the options and specifications of this computer. The server is rack configured (it lays on it's side).

The FLMFPD Technology Committee is evaluating the server for use with such applications as  incident tracking, mapping, and docment management.

 

I have set out in the training room, at station 3, some items for each of you to pick up,

 

We now have new Tee shirts in, please pick up 2 for each member We also have new ball caps in, these are fitted small-medium and large-x large, please try one on for size, 2 for each member We have some flashlights, these are actually a flashlight on one end and a strobe light on the opposite end and are designed to hang on your gear. These lights are for your safety please be sure to pick one up. Feel free to stop in and pick up your items, please pick up only the designated amount of each,

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Thursday August 13th and Friday August 14th Steve delivered the Engineer short course that we had a couple of years ago. It was a good opportunity to learn how to operate the pump panel on the structure engines and a good refresher for those who have already taken the class.

Click here for power point presentation used during the class.