Fighting fire in a rural environment is much different than fighting fire in an urban or suburban environment. Firefighters face many challenges in the rural setting, like lack of water, extended response time, and lack of manpower, just to name a few. Unlike urban or suburban area, rural areas do not have hydrants so this means firefighters must bring water to fight the fire. Many rural fire departments depend on volunteer firefighters, which in many cases respond from home to the fire station and then go to the fire. This factor and distance from the firehouse can lead to extended response times. Finally, and almost most importantly, is the lack of manpower. Volunteerism is unfortunately slowly dwindling away putting a strain on volunteer fire departments.
According to the United States Fire Administration, volunteer firefighters have declined by 13% or more. This has caused many fire departments to resort to hiring fire and EMS personnel to staff the station during the day or around the clock. This leaves many departments struggling to operate. Many volunteer or part time fire departments struggle to purchase or replace needed equipment due to tight budgets. Federal resources are drying up and taxpayers are less likely to approve higher funding for fire departments. This leaves these volunteer or part time fire departments in a bind.
Many firefighters can attest that they often don’t have the proper tools to do their job, but in a job where you improvise, adapt, and overcome, they make it work. There are many newer tools and equipment that can make firefighting more efficient or time saving. In a job where seconds counts, wouldn’t you want your fire department to have those newer, more efficient tools? That’s where Brothers Helping Brothers steps in. Brothers Helping Brothers specializes in helping the small and rural departments who are struggling to operate.
Brothers Helping Brothers is a 501c3 non-profit organization that works with firefighting equipment manufacturers and distributors to obtain tools and equipment at a lower rate, and grants them to struggling small and rural fire departments. Brothers Helping Brothers is completely funded by private donations. You can help struggling fire departments by donating to Brothers Helping Brothers.
By donating just $10 per month, you can put a new axe or hand tool in the hands of a firefighter that needs it to battle a blaze. That’s only 33¢ a day.
By donating just $25 per month, you can outfit a firefighter with a new set of boots, which may have been desperately needed to be replaced. That’s only 83¢ a day.
By donating just $50 per month, you can purchase the Jaws of Life enabling that department to save a victim from an auto accident. That’s only $1.66 a day.
Donating just $100 per month can purchase a new SCBA air pack for a department who maybe using out dated one and with that air pack a firefighter could perform a rescue during a fire safely. That’s only $3.33 a day.
To learn more about Brothers Helping Brothers, or to how you can help. Please visit their website at www.brothershelpingbrothers.org.
Nick Magoteaux has been in public safety for over 15 years. Nick has experience in law enforcement, dispatching, firefighting, and emergency medical service. Nick currently works for four different fire departments in Southwest Ohio, including the busiest fire department per capita in the state. Nick is also the founder and co-executive director of Brothers Helping Brothers, a fire service 501c3 non-profit that specializes in equipment grants to small and rural fire department in the U.S. Contact Nick at nmagoteaux@brothershelpingbrothers.org.
The Fourth of July rings in a day of patriotism and pride. There will be barbeques and picnics, parades and festivals followed by fabulous fireworks displays in towns and cities across the nation.
If you are lucky enough to live in or be in Seattle or Minneapolis, you will be treated to the two best Fourth of July celebrations in the nation. WalletHub factored in 16 metrics – including the duration of the fireworks display, average gas prices and weather forecasts – to pick their 10 best Independence Day celebrations. The rest of the top ten were: New Orleans; Washington, D.C.; Portland, Oregon; St. Louis; San Diego; Milwaukee; San Francisco and Orlando.
Whether it’s on the list of or not, hopefully your community will be holding a celebration too.
If you are planning to set off fireworks in a nearby park or near your home, you are urged to be very careful or skip that part of the celebration. It would be a shame if one of your children was injured or a neighbor’s home was burned by a bottle rocket or sparkler.
According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission, the majority of fireworks injuries in 2014 occurred in the 30 days surrounding the July 4th holiday, resulting in 10,500 people treated in U.S. hospital emergency rooms. Pyrotechnics also caused an estimated 18,000 fires with 11 deaths. Children five to nine years of age had the highest estimated rate of emergency department injuries from fireworks.
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission warns that even sparklers burn at nearly 2,000 degrees, hot enough to melt wood, plastics and some metals, and inflict terrible burns on mostly young people. Most of the injuries were to the hands and fingers, head, face and the eyes; caused mainly from firecrackers, bottle rockets and sparklers. The Alliance to Stop Consumer Fireworks, coordinated by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), is calling for an end of the use of personal fireworks. Their goal is to educate parents and caretakers before more people get hurt or burned. They also urge people to attend professional community displays instead of using them at home.
Realizing fireworks are still used by families; the Consumer Product Safety Commission has developed these essential safety tips:
Never allow young children to play with or ignite fireworks
Avoid buying fireworks that are packaged in brown paper because this is often a sign that they were made for professional displays and could pose a danger to consumers
Always have an adult supervise fireworks activities.
Never place any part of your body directly over a fireworks device when lighting the fuse and back up a safe distance immediately after lighting fireworks
Don’t try to re-light or pick up fireworks that have not ignited fully
Never point or throw fireworks at another person
Always keep a bucket of water or a garden hose handy in case of fire or other mishap
Only light fireworks one at a time, then move back quickly
Never carry fireworks in a pocket or shoot them off in metal or glass containers
After fireworks complete their burning, douse the spent device with plenty of water from a bucket or hose before discarding it to prevent a trash fire
Make sure fireworks are legal in your area before buying or using them
Remember, while they may be pretty to watch, the damage from personal use of fireworks is more than just statistics or numbers; they are real victims – sons, daughters, parents and grandparents. Think before someone in your family goes to the emergency room.
What made you want to be in Law Enforcement?“A Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s deputy came and spoke at my high school for a youth law class I took, and I decided that I wanted to be in law enforcement then. I realized I wanted to help people and be outside doing different things all day.”
What do you like most about your job?“I enjoy seeing little kids faces light up when they see me in uniform. I love knowing that I make a difference in people’s lives.”
On Saturday, June 4th in 2016, Santa Cruz County Deputies responded to a residential fire in Aptos, California. The home was fully engulfed, and the resident was trapped on the second floor of the house.
Deputy Ramm obtained a ladder from a neighbor’s home and rescued the resident by lifting her to the front door awning. She saved this woman’s life that day due to her quick thinking.
Are you prepared for hurricanes, tornadoes and fires? If your home was threatened would you know what to do? This is the season and at the very least, all of us should:
Unfortunately, no matter how prepared we all are disasters happen. It’s important that you follow these important steps to avoid identity theft or fraud if your home is damaged or destroyed:
Contact your insurance company as soon as possible
Secure the property from further damage or theft
Contact creditors, banks, or appropriate agencies to report important documents (social security cards, tax returns, birth certificates), credit cards or banking papers that might have been scattered or lost in the disaster
Check your credit report to make sure nobody is using your personal information
Beware of “fly-by-night” work crews and contractors
Be skeptical of contractors encouraging you to spend large sums on temporary repairs
Attain recommendations and check the Better Business Bureau before hiring any potential contractor
Review the contract thoroughly and get written estimates
Avoid dealing with contractors that request money up front
Never pay a home contractor in cash – only pay by credit card or personal check
Do not sign over your insurance settlement check
Don’t be pressured or fall for “one-day-only” offers
Be cautious if approached by housing inspectors claiming to represent FEMA or the SBA
Keep or document receipts and other expenses if you are evacuated or forced to find another place to live because of damage to your home or apartment
Are you thinking about joining law enforcement? Are you thinking about getting a tattoo? You need to consider the implications of a tattoo if you are contemplating a career in law enforcement.
While some departments are getting more lenient about exposed tattoos, others are sticking to original policies against them, citing the rationalization that they can change the public’s perception of local law enforcement.
According to policechiefmagazine.com, only 8% of the public said they would accept visible tattoos with male officers and 5% with female officers. Also, 80% say that the public view of the police is shaped by their appearance.
Depending on your department, policies may vary. Be sure to ask before starting the hiring process. Even current officers should consider some of these tips before heading to the parlor:
-Check with your department to see what your options are.
– If they are allowed, ask if they can show outside the uniform.
– Ask if you will have to wear long-sleeves if tattoos cannot be visible.
If tattoos are acceptable:
-Consider the appropriate placement of the tattoo that abides by policy.
-Think about the subject matter of the tattoo to avoid termination.
With more people getting tattoos – 45 million Americans have at least one tattoo – its possible more police departments will adapt and accept the trend. Until then, whether or not to get inked is up to you.
Nick Magoteaux has been in public safety for over 15 years. Nick has experience in law enforcement, dispatching, firefighting, and emergency medical service. Nick currently works for four different fire departments in Southwest Ohio, including the busiest fire department per capita in the state. Nick is also the founder and co-executive director of Brothers Helping Brothers, a fire service 501c3 non-profit that specializes in equipment grants to small and rural fire department in the U.S. Contact Nick at nmagoteaux@brothershelpingbrothers.org.
Name: Wendy R.